Read Exit Stage Six: A Contemporary New Adult Romance Novella for Free Online

Stillness, silence and the rustle of cloth
came again. His breath was warm against my lips and my eyes flew open as his
touched mine, soft, chaste, asking permission.
    I debated for only a heartbeat before opening to him. His
mouth was warm and firm against my own, I drew in a shuddering breath. He
tasted of his clove cigarettes, spicy and underlying that masculine. His hand
grazed my ribs, smoothing down along the black of my top, dipping under the
hem, calloused fingers warm and rough against my skin as he moved beneath it.
    I whimpered softly into his mouth and he swallowed it with a
throaty moan that had me melting. He drew back from the kiss with a gentle nip
to my bottom lip and looked me in the eyes.
    “I told you I would kiss you.” His tone was deep and dark,
decadent and I smiled.
    “Yeah, you did.” I whispered back, afraid of shattering the
moment.
    He brought his lips back to mine and heat unfurled from my
middle, traveling languorously through my veins, stealing the breath from my
lungs. My panties grew damp and though I wasn’t ready to admit it out loud, I
wanted him.
    I wanted Evan Lake to touch me, wanted to feel his lips on
the most intimate parts of me… I dragged in a slow breath and he broke away
from me.
    “God you make it hard to breathe.” He growled.
    “So do you.” I uttered.
    “You better go London, or I’m not going to stop.” He said
gently. I nodded but didn’t move.
    “Please…” and it was the note of pleading in his voice that
got to me. I sat up.
    “I won’t stop and you deserve so much better than what I am
right now.” He swallowed hard.
    I stood up and picked up my meager pile of belongings.
    “I’ll leave the window unlocked.” I said, before slipping
out the door. His noncommittal grunt was his only reply.
    I went into my apartment and was good at my word. I
immediately went and made sure the window was unlocked.
    I let out a shuddering sigh and stood for a moment,
fingertips pressed to my hot and swollen lips. God he was hot. I bowed my head
and got myself together before changing for bed and washing the remnants of
makeup off my face. I got under the covers and switched out my bedside lamp,
wishing he would come.
    He didn’t that I know of.
    I was so tired that I slipped into a deep and dreamless
sleep.

 
    Stage 4
    Depression

Chapter 10
     
    I didn’t see Evan again for almost a week after that night
and I think my heart broke from it a little. I tried to tell myself with
conviction that it wasn’t me, but uncertainty and insecurity gnawed at me.
    Finally, on my way to class one morning I saw him, out on
the landing, cigarette between his fingers, staring off into oblivion once
more. He turned to look at me and his expression was drawn, shuttered. I chewed
on my bottom lip and finally turned to lock up my apartment.
    “You’re fucking incredible.” He said. I turned and arched a
brow.
    “You… It’s like you know what I need even when I don’t. You
give me space to figure things out and I know… Fuck I know this has got to be
playing Hell on you…” he stopped and looked at me helplessly.
    “Are you done?” I asked softly.
    He blinked, deliberately.
    “London…”
    “Because if you’re done I really need to get to class.” I
said. I was torn up. This was playing Hell on me whatever this was we
had going on between us. I was incredibly attracted to Evan Lake, but I had to
admit to myself we didn’t know dick about each other and his rejection had
hurt, even as well intentioned as he’d claimed it to be.
    “No I’m not done.” He said, flicking his cigarette over the
rail, he stalked toward me and for the first time I was a little bit afraid of
him, I backed up against my door and he crushed me to it, mouth covering my
own. I was still beneath him, didn’t try to kiss him back. Confusion wrapped me
in a strangle hold. He drew back enough to look me in the eyes.
    “I want you so bad it’s killing me.” He whispered and I
closed my