Isolated Love Ch. 03

Hello all you lovely readers!

I'm sooo so so glad you're digging the story so far! I know, it'd be much better if I had an editor buuuuut I'm gonna focus more on getting the chapters out rather than just waiting for an editor to show up. I know exactly what I have planned for these characters so the story should flow smoothly, let's see. Also, from this point on, the chapters are expected to be longer and longer chapters means more time.. So don't be mad at me if it takes a while. Just know, I'm never done writing. I'm glad everyone hates Benji as much as I do by the way... he literally makes me wanna throw shit around the room.

[Thanks to my babies Kahlil, Curtis, Katie and Alea for pre-reading for me. Love you guys. ♥]

-ERC

xx

**

After she'd finished, Arabeth left the bathroom and went to return to the slowly accumulating "get-together". She'd gone downstairs and noted that more people had arrived, some she knew and some she didn't. Halley had found her again and they quickly went to find a spot to sit in so that they could chat and get to know each other since they both shared a mutual hatred for a certain prick. Arabeth had just finished telling her about the time she and Ina got caught in the art building late at night when a tall figure approached the two ladies.

"Enjoying yourselves?" the smooth, masculine voice asked. Of course he was coming to bother her some more. After what had happened in the bathroom, why not? Grayson waited until Halley finally spoke up.

"It's cool, could be better but hey, who am I to judge right?" she said easily, and was rewarded with a playfully grin. It made Arabeth uncomfortable the way he was standing there so nonchalantly as if he hadn't just barged in on her trying to use the bathroom. Grayson quickly turned his attention Arabeth who was trying hard not to stare up at him. In fact, he noticed that she was looking everywhere but at him. It made him feel a little bad... but not too bad. "What about you?" he asked, which finally got her to slowly raise her head to meet his awaiting eyes.

"It's fine." she said timidly. She really didn't want to be doing this right now. She was still embarrassed and wanted him to go away. Even though she found his sense of humor charming, she was almost certain that he'd seen her most intimate lady part and could help but shake the feeling that he was going to goad her about it.

Grayson didn't like where this was going. Was she mad at him for barging in? Sure, it was his house but maybe it really upset her. Well, she did call him a pervert... maybe she didn't want to talk to him? "Just fine? You sure? I'd say our little meeting in the bathroom should have lightened up the mood a bit sweetheart." Immediately, Arabeth felt her body tense. Oh god, no.. he saw it. Oh my god, oh my god I have to leave...

'No you don't. Don't leave. He's just trying to ease the tension. Relax...'

Arabeth stood up, ignoring what her mind was telling her and quickly brushed past him. Even as she continued to walk, she felt it. When she moved past him, her chest bumped into his arm and it immediately sent waves of pleasure through her. It was like a fire slowly building, sending a deep aching within her loins. The feel of his body against hers, even for a split second, made her want to go back and jump into his arms. She was almost to the door and was certain that she was going to leave but halted in her tracks when she remembered that Alex had driven them there and she'd have to walk back to the room. She turned around and noticed that Grayson had been on her tail the entire time, trying to catch up with her. That only made her want to leave more.

She felt herself lean back against the door as Grayson finally closed in on her. She couldn't handle this. She couldn't handle another man being close to her, especially a man she'd had fantasies about. They were standing face to face now, neither one of them saying a word. Arabeth was looking up at him as he stared down at her, his 6"3 frame easily towering over her 5"4. Why was he so close? Didn't he know what he was doing to her just by standing there? Arabeth could feel the heat radiating from him as he continued to look upon her, his breathing harsh. Her breaths were coming out short and much like him, she was awaiting the minute one of them would break the silence. God, he smelled so good. Like mint and expensive cologne with a little bit of Jack Daniels thrown in. His piercing blue eyes were eating away at her and she didn't know what to do. She didn't even kn

ow this man and already, she'd felt like they had a history together. As if they were a broken up couple waiting to get back together. Grayson, who was having trouble keeping his composure, raised his hands to place on either side of her head against the door and leaned his mouth towards her ear. Arabeth shivered as she felt his breath tickle her skin.

"You really shouldn't stand there, darlin'... Someone might knock you over trying to come inside. You do.. want someone to come inside, don't you?" he asked, and they both knew exactly what he meant. It was the way he said it that made Arabeth let out a whimper that she couldn't control and close her eyes. It was a very low, husky whisper and it burned her. What the hell was he doing to her? She felt it deep in her stomach and it traveled through her entire body. She could feel the moisture rising in between her legs and wanted nothing more than to grab his shirt and pull him closer, grinding her aching womanhood against his leg.

Grayson could feel himself about to do something he knew he would regret later, but he just couldn't help himself. She was so... tempting. And she looked so good tonight. Her hair was down, but styled in a very exotic looking curly afro curving around her face. Her makeup was done lightly and enhanced her already beautiful, soft features. She was wearing a pair of dark jeans that fit her curves nicely and her shirt, a low cut v-neck framed her upper figure just right. He had to stop himself from looking straight down into her shirt, otherwise he was afraid he'd scare her off, if he hadn't already. The pregnant pause between them would have been disturbing, if not for the fact that they both knew what was happening.

"Well well, I see you move on fast..."

No.. fucking no. Not right now. Not here and definitely not now.

Grayson stood up straight, willing himself to look away from the beautiful creature in front of him and turn to the direction of the voice. Of course, it was Benji... Fucking Benji. Who the hell invited him to this? Didn't he know it was by personal invitation only? And what the hell was he talking about? He was always deeply disgusted when Benji came around because it meant his cocky attitude and stick figure, uptight girlfriend were usually following. Grayson sized Benji up before turning back to a tense Arabeth who looked like she was damn near about to cry. He looked back and forth between the two and immediately put two and two together.

"I need to go." she said, the edge in her voice giving her away. Without another word, she turned towards the door and opened it, rushing out and not even caring that she would have to walk back to campus.

**

"Y'know... you walk awfully fast hun, I don't think my car can keep up. " Grayson joked as he drove along side Arabeth. After he gave Benji a quick shove that sent him sailing into the nearest wall, he went after her. That kid should have known he was unwelcome in his home. Fucking bastard. He immediately went after Arabeth to discover her marching her way down the street. He could have easily run after her, but felt it better to hop in his car and convince her to get in so he could drive her home, even if it wasn't that far. He wanted to be near her. He wanted to apologize for blowing her off.

Arabeth scoffed and kept walking. "Awfully fast for a big girl, right?" That hurt him. It hurt him because he could tell that she was the kind of girl, that although beautiful, had self-esteem issues. It cut him to the core because she was absolutely stunning and should know it. He didn't find her big by any means, she was the perfect size to him, curves in all the right places and a beautiful face to match.

"Arabeth, please get in the car. It's dark out here and it's late.. and no offense honey but you're way too attractive to be walking around at night. This is a college campus..." he pleaded.

"I can handle myself. And attractive? No. I'll be fine... you can go now." she hated to admit it, but the only reason she wasn't getting in the car was because she was afraid that he'd want her to finish what they'd started back at the house and she wasn't ready. Her thoughts were cut short when she noticed Grayson stopping his car and turning it off. She stopped walking only to watch Grayson get out of the car and lock the doors. "Wha-.. You can't leave your car right there! They'll tow your shit!" she chastised him.

"And I'll go pick it up in the morning. I don't want you walking around here at night and I'd be responsible for you if anything happened." he replied casually, stuffing his keys in his pocket.

She could laugh at his boldness. Responsible for her? Who the hell did he think he was? She was a grown ass woman.. she didn't need him trying to walk her home. She also didn't want him to know which dorm she lived in... Okay so the real reason she didn't want him walking her home was because she was afraid he would try to invite himself inside and... She sighed dramatically and it caused him to laugh. "Grayson..."

"Arabeth..." he said, mocking her tone and dodging a blow to his arm. He couldn't help it, she was cute when she was frustrated. "Look, I just wanna make sure that you get home safely, ok? Now, we can make this super difficult and I could easily stuff you in the trunk, or you could just get in the car?" he offered, cocking an eyebrow and waiting for her response.

"If you put me in the trunk, how are you going to get me home jackass? Hmm? I'm not telling you where I live." she replied defiantly crossing her arms. Did she just roll her eyes at him? Well shit...

"Are you ticklish?" he asked, completely changing the subject.

"What?"

"Are. You. Ticklish?" he repeated, adding a stress to each word. He could tell by the look on her face that she was and he knew he had her.

**

"How old are you?" Grayson asked. They were sitting outside of her dorm in his car and he wasn't ready to let her go just yet. Of course, it hadn't taken them long to get back to her dorm, it was only right down the street but it settled him knowing that she was safe in his car instead of walking the streets at night.

Arabeth sighed. She just wanted to go in her room and go to sleep. The night had ended on a bad note with Benji showing up and on top of that, Grayson was constantly pushing her for conversation. "Twenty." she answered. Grayson was hoping that she'd talk more about herself but then again, he'd just asked her a close-ended question.

"What's your major?" he continued, resting his head in his hand that was leaning on his knee. He was watching her curiously, wanting to ask her about what had happened back at the house, but decided against it. If she wanted to talk about it to him, she would.

"Look, Grayson... I really just wanna go inside and sleep. It's late, I'm tired and quite frankly... I'm uncomfortable with just sitting in your car. No offense, you seem nice but I don't really know you and you kinda blew me off two weeks ago and I never heard from you. So this is to say that I don't really wanna just sit here and try to make convers-..." was all she had time to finish before Grayson was instantly on her. He'd leaned over to her side, causing her to push herself up against the door. This made him smile and it caused her stomach to flutter. His smile was killer and it was doing a number on her sanity. She shouldn't even be in the car with him still, but she was and now he was so close to her face, she wanted to melt into the interior. He was almost like a lion stalking his prey... a very attractive, dominating lion. Just the thought of him between her legs was causing her breathing to come out short and choppy, she was trapped. She should have been more afraid of whether or not he was a serial killer but instead, she found herself wondering what his favorite position was. Arabeth had to squeeze her thighs together in order to settle the painfully arousing ache between her legs. He wasn't even doing anything, just leaning over her, staring into her deep brown pools, staring into her soul it felt like. "Do I make you nervous?" he asked, but it sounded forced, as if he was trying to keep some sort of restraint.

And he was.

This girl just didn't understand what she was doing to him just by sitting in his car. Her smell was invading his deepest thoughts and causing him to want her now more than ever. She smelled like vanilla and roses and it made his dick stir. He'd been trying to get her to have mindless conversation with him just so he could hear the smoothness of her voice. He wasn't sure why exactly he'd leaned over her, but it was comforting to know that she was attracted to him. Even if she tried to deny it, it was evident. He could hear the way her breath was coming out short and the rapid rise and fall of her chest only further confirmed what he believed. When she didn't answer him, as uncomfortable as it was for his body, he leaned closer to her, their faces now only inches apart. If either one of them moved, their lips would touch and he was hoping that she'd try to move her face closer just so he could capture her lips in a searing kiss.

"Hmm? Tell me Arabeth, what was happening back there? Before that asshole showed up, something was going on inside your head. Does me being this close to you make you nervous?" he asked again in a voice so low, she felt herself about to swoon. His tone was dangerously suggestive and she couldn't help but bite her lip in response. Her eyes had become hooded with desire and she was waiting on him to make another move. She should have been trying to climb her way out of his car, but something about him made her want to stay a little longer. "Y'know... you really shouldn't bite your lip like that..." he continued, only to move his lips to her ear like he had before in the house, "It does things to me, sweetheart."

Arabeth let out a breathy moan just before he'd moved his face back to hers and captured her lips with his. She didn't even try to stop him as his lips claimed hers, theirs mouths moving in a passionate synchronization. His lips were hot on hers, fueling both of their passions with fire. When she felt his hand on her leg, she nearly jumped out of her skin but that didn't stop him. He took it as a sign of encouragement and just being caught off guard. He slowly moved his hand in between her burning thighs and was surprised when she broke the kiss. Their breathing was heavy as they ended and Arabeth felt herself slowly starting to regain her sense. Kissing him felt like pure ecstasy and although she wanted nothing more than to continue... she just couldn't do that to herself.

"I'm sorry..." she was surprised when he spoke first. He'd moved back to his seat and threw his head back, running his hands through his dark, shaggy hair. "I'm really sorry about that. I-I don't know... I'm sorry. That wasn't supposed to happen." he turned to her and noticed that she was still sitting in the same position, her back still against the door. "You okay?"

She nodded slowly and cleared her throat. "I'm fine."

Grayson nodded once and leaned forward, putting both hands on the wheel and resting his head there. "That shouldn't have happened. Dear lord, I wasn't supposed to do that." he kept saying, more to himself than her. "Look", he started, sitting up to face her again, "I'm not gonna lie. That was probably the best kiss I've ever shared with someone. And don't think for one second that I regret kissing you, even as I'm saying it shouldn't have happened, I'm glad it did. I just... we both seem to be in a really bad place right now."

Arabeth couldn't speak.

"I'm sorry for blowing you off. I was just.. I wasn't ready to talk to another girl after her. You're very attractive and I really just..." he stopped and turned to her, noticing for the first time that tears were falling from her eyes. "Arabeth?" he asked, his voice laced with worry that he'd hurt her somehow.

"I really should go..." she said, wiping the fallen tears from her face and turned to let herself out. Grayson didn't try to stop her.

**

The next day, Arabeth found work to be the perfect distraction from the previous night's encounters. She worked the day shift, so it was easy for her to busy herself with customers and such. Anything to get her mind off of Benji, Grayson and that kiss... She shivered just thinking about it.

"Cold in here, mami?" Only one person was allowed to call her that. Armando Alvarez was working beside her today and she couldn't have been more grateful. His goofy personality and upbeat perspective on life always added to her smile. She glanced over at him and tried not to give anything away but before she knew it, he was going on. "Ahhhhh... don't even try not answering me skank! You and I both know it's not even cold... Spill. What'chu you thinkin' about hmm? I pray to God it's not about the shrimp dick pendejo..." he rolled his eyes and Arabeth laughed. In the time she'd known Armando, she always found his uncensored ways in speaking very comforting. It was nice knowing that not everyone always tried to keep things so sugar-coated.

"No, it's not him Manny." she said, putting an end to his approaching rant about how she was too good for him. "Thanks, come see us again." she told the customer who was easily interested in their conversation and wasn't ashamed to do a little eavesdropping.

"What'chu staring at, huh? You got something gluing ya feet to the floor?" Armando all but yelled at the customer. Nosy people were not his thing. The customer, seeing that he was not wanted there anymore quickly gathered his things and left. "Nosy fucking fucking... ay!" he raved in his thick, Dominican accent. Arabeth couldn't help but chuckle, one of these days.. Armando was going to be fired. "Don'tchu even gimme that look, ok? I ain't gonna get fired because Donald wants to fuck me and he don't wanna let go of his eye candy." he winked at her and Arabeth nearly lost her shit. It was sort of true though, everyone knew their boss, Donald, was gay.. except Donald. Armando was the only one who could push his buttons without getting talked back to and it pissed the other co-workers off to no end, minus Arabeth.

"I'm just sayin' Manny, one of these days... Donald is going to get real sick of your shit." Arabeth said, busying herself with a magazine.

"He'll have to eat it first in order to get sick of it... He can start tomorrow." Armando retorted, causing Arabeth to burst into a fit of laughter. Yes, she absolutely loved working day shifts.

**

"See y'all later!" she hollered as she made her way out the back door. She checked her phone and it was only 4:07pm. There was still time to kill in the day, but she had no idea what she wanted to do. She could easily call Ina and tell her to drag her ass away from that fine specimen of a man Alex, but she didn't. Ina deserved some happiness in her life after all the shit she'd put up with the last couple of semesters. Arabeth reached her car but not before dropping her keys and having to pick them up. After she retrieved them, she unlocked her car and eased her way inside, closing the door. She didn't want to start the car until after she'd decided where to go, gas wasn't cheap and she wasn't rich. She scrolled through her phone, looking for someone who'd want to hang out and keep her busy. She settled on calling Halley, her new friend. Maybe they could get together and go see a movie or something. Her thoughts were interrupted by a tapping on her window. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw who it was.