𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟖

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT addict to addict

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I TOOK IN the scent of Rafe's cologne as I rested my head on his shoulder, the padding of his suit jacket accompanying the emotional comfort I was growing to feel. The yellow lighting from the street lamps casted across both of our faces, highlighting our equally bright smiles. Ignoring how tired I had been, my eyes stayed wide open; I wanted to bask in the sight of him for hours on end.

His hand was playing with the satin on my thigh, taking pinches of the material and rolling it between his fingers. Even if I preferred when he touched my skin directly, there was something about the pure look of pride he gave me every time he saw the dress. Spending all this time together helped me realise how much Rafe actually cared for appearances- be it his own or others- and only made me grow that much more adoration for him.

The same turning feeling remained in my stomach each time I caught him staring in my direction. Considering he was driving under the influence, it would've definitely benefitted both of us for him to keep his eyes on the road. However, I couldn't deny that I enjoyed the silent affection he was giving me.

"Something wrong, gorgeous?" he shifted his focus from the road once again.

"Since when am I 'gorgeous'?" I referenced the use of the pet name, choosing to ignore the question he voiced.

"Since always." he grinned. "I answered your question, now answer mine."

"You're gonna crash the car." I used my hands to physically move his head, knowing there was no other way for him to tear his eyes away from me.

"Too bad. I'm serious though, what's up with you?"

His constant persistence clarified to me that there was little to no chance of avoiding an answer. Before he had even asked if I was okay, I didn't even make myself aware of the fact that there was something bothering me. The happiness I felt heavily outweighed any concern I had, but it never erased it.

"What did you take earlier today?" I said softly, well aware that this wasn't the answer he was necessarily expecting.

A quiet sigh came from between his lips. Both Rafe and I weren't strangers to drugs and alcohol, yet we never really discussed the topic upfront. I could only presume we used them for similar reasons- if not for the same one. Frankly, I hadn't ever spoken about my side of the problem to anyone, and couldn't stop myself from suddenly feeling selfish for asking something I knew I personally would never answer.

"I know you're drunk, but apart from that." I added on. "Please be honest with me."

"I just did a few lines, that's all." his hand trailed up my thigh, letting it rest on the inner part.

The mention of coke made me bite down on the inside of my cheek, remembering what happened when I took the drug. It seemed like Rafe handled it better than I did- and better than Noah, for that fact. Regardless of my bad experience, it would've been hypocritical for me to look down on him for doing it whilst I would continue to get drunk. There weren't great memories associated with either substance, so why should I feel differently to one than the other?

"I want to get clean." he resumed. "I don't even know why I do coke, I just do. Like, without thinking about it, y'know?"

"I wish I wasn't drunk all the time."

I was telling the truth, once again. There wasn't anything I hated more than being sober, but equally, I hated how I acted when I wasn't. I saw a part of May in me when I drank; I was careless, ignorant, and fucking sad. The only reason I started was to get over all the problems I had, and eventually, the only problems I had were caused by it.

Like mother, like daughter.

"You're not a bad drunk." Rafe removed his hand from my dress, using it to link our fingers together.

"Don't lie in order to make me feel better."

"I'm not." he reassured. "You really aren't as bad as you make yourself out to be."

"You love saying these things like you even know me personally." I tightened the hold between our hands.

"Have you given me the chance, Camille?" he laughed shortly, attempting to hide the truth behind his statement.

Now that he mentioned it, I realized just how little both Rafe and I knew about one another. We only knew the versions we were when in each other's company, and it didn't take an expert to know that was far from reality. Everything I had learned to feel for him was solely built off what he wanted me to know about him, and vice versa. Although, if only knowing select things meant I could preserve whatever there was between us, I could make an exception.

"Spend the night with me." I spoke on impulse, my words snapping Rafe's vision from the road yet another time.

"What did you just say?"

"Spend the night with me." I repeated, determination growing in my tone of voice. "You want the chance to get to know me, so here it is."

"Is this about getting to know you or something else?" he smirked.

"Do you want it to mean anything else?"

"Maybe." his face came closer to mine, only for him to start reversing the car.

"Then maybe it will."

I pressed my cheek against the car window, looking out onto the Tannyhill porch to try hide my broad grin. Ward had previously made it clear that only I was meant to sleep in the guest room, but what's the fun in having rules if they weren't meant to be broken?

It's not like we weren't used to keeping each other a secret anyway.

My fingers fiddled with the seatbelt, unbuckling as soon as the engine switched off. Rafe rushed out of the car, the sight of him sprinting to open my door scrapping any chance of further hiding my smile. He met me with an identical expression on his face, laughing about his actions.

"You're never gonna let me open my own door, are you?" I shook my head, stepping onto the front lawn.

"Never."

I reached up to peck his lips, wanting to savor the affection without running the risk of getting caught. Having spent my whole life thinking I was tall for a girl, my height certainly felt humbled when it came to trying to kiss Rafe. He pulled his face back with the same beaming expression, allowing me to stop standing on my tiptoes.

"Did Camille Fox just make the first move?" he placed his arm around my bare shoulder, planting another kiss on my temple. "I must be dreaming."

"This is just the beginning."

"Is that a warning?" he glanced back at me before opening the front entrance, heading straight for the staircase.

"Would prefer the term 'threat'." I nodded, to which he raised his eyebrows.

"So it's like that, huh?"

"You'll see." our hands intertwined, following Rafe's lead to my bedroom.

After a matter of a few seconds, the sound of the lock closing sounded behind us. My back was pressed on the door, the exposed skin making direct contact with the unusually cold surface. The boy's hands held onto each side of my waist, studying my position against the painted wood.

His lips connected onto my jaw, not wasting any time when it came to kissing me. I tangled my fingers into his hair, keeping his head in position for a moment before pulling him away. He eyed my body up and down, eventually landing his dark-blue pupils onto mine.

"Not so fast." I exhaled, my chest already warming up from just his kiss. "I want to get changed first."

"I can help." he reached over to the ties on the back of my dress, undoing them with a simple pull.

"You wish." my hands clutched over my chest, securing as much coverage as possible.

Keeping my left hand glued to the material, I used my free hand to rummage through the pile of fresh laundry on the desk chair. It was times like these where my laziness proved itself useful, helping me find something to change into with the obstruction of my loose dress.

I caught sight of a black bralette amongst the mess of clothes. Even though it wasn't particularly the most modest thing to wear around Rafe, that factor definitely wouldn't matter by the end of the night anyway. My feet carried me to a further corner of the room, not wanting to waste any more time or effort.

The blue satin dropped just below my waist, exposing my entirely bare upper body. Having the freedom of both hands, I was quick to pull the bralette over my head and gather any hair that got caught in the process. I stepped out of the remaining dress, revealing the matching lace underwear I had on.

"Don't start drooling." I threw the clothes back onto the chair, catching a glimpse of Rafe's reaction in my peripheral vision. "Or am I saying that too late?"

He stood up from the bed he was sitting on, inching his body closer to mine. Despite still being fully clothed, I noticed he had taken off his suit jacket, leaving only his white shirt and powder-blue trousers. His hands gripped onto my waist, spinning me around to face him directly.

My fingers trailed up to the buttons spread down the middle of his chest, undoing each of them one by one. Ignoring Rafe's eyes darting up and down my figure, I added his shirt to the collection of fabrics on my chair. I traced over his toned build, my hands eventually meeting down at his belt buckle.

Whilst continuing to undo his belt, I kept my eyes fixed on his face. His jaw was hung open slightly, combined with a hungered look in his dilated eyes. I could tell that, for once, it was my touch that was driving him insane- and not the other way around.

"I'm so fucking crazy for you." his hands held onto mine, helping remove the last item of clothing he had on.

"You're not the only one." I curved my lips into another smirk, wanting to keep him on edge.

"So you're telling me all the other guys you've been with can make you feel as good as I do?"

"What if they could?" the lie came from my lips, only for the benefit of watching Rafe's jaw tense up.

"They can't, and I'm more than happy to prove that to you."

"I want to play a game first." I moved away from his hold, sitting down against the headboard of my bed.

He stared back at me with his eyebrows raised, not grasping the concept of my proposition. Regardless of how much we desired each other's bodies at that moment, I knew there would only be a matter of time before we had to go back to pretending we were strangers.

Something that was harder than usual, considering how obsessed we had become with whatever thing there was between us.

All of my hair gathered over my right shoulder, exposing the strap of the bralette on the other side. My fingers toyed with the thin material, continuing to admire Rafe's crazed expression with every movement I made. There had been countless times where he kept me on edge, and it was time for me to make him feel the same.

"Truth or dare, Rafe Cameron."