4

Although it was long past morning, I was the first to wake up; I stealthily removed myself from his bed, taking all traces of my presence out of his room. A shower was necessary before I did anything else. Last night left me wanting more of him, but I knew I could never have him. I was never going to bring up what he had said to me in a drunken stupor. After I had showered and changed clothes I checked on Ezra before I left to pick-up what we needed. When I returned, he still wasn't awake, so I left two bottles of water on his nightstand and a bottle of Advil for when he woke. If he wasn't awake by the time I finished cooking I was going to wake him myself.

I stood in front of the stove staring down into the skillet where the bacon sizzles and the grease pops. My mind replays the events of last night; he wants me just as much as I want him. I almost let him eat me out. I almost let Ezra Aaron Dagliesh eat me out. Thank goodness I put an end to it before it could go any further. Oh, how I wanted it to go farther, but I wasn't ready for him; I would probably never be. Ezra was blessed in the dick department, he always exuded BDE and last night proved it. I mean I been knew, I always peeped that shit in the grey joggers he liked to wear. I would stare hard as a mug at the silhouette. He almost gave me the vitamin d and I turned that shit down. I was feeling hella foolish not to mention my kitty cat been on leaky faucet.

I remove the bacon from the skillet placing it on the paper towel covered plate. Breakfast was going to consist of waffles, bacon, eggs, grits, with fresh fruit, and orange juice to wash it down.

It was going on three in the afternoon, I turn off the stove and plate the last waffles. It was a gross misuse of dishes as I grabbed two more to make our plates. I turn to see him standing in the doorway I nearly drop the plates I am holding. His hair was wet letting me know he had showered, he was shirtless wearing a pair of grey joggers. Attempting to do my very best at not eye-fucking him I sit the plates on the island in the kitchen.

"Do you enjoy sneaking up on me or is this something you do with everyone?" I inquire in an effort to placate my nerves.

"Just you." A charming smile graces his face and I do my best to ignore the shiver that runs down my spine.

"Well I hope you're hungry because I kind of went over board on cooking." I say ignoring my raging hormones.

"I could eat."

He pulls out one of the stools and takes a seat, "what would you like?" my body was on fire as I tried to keep my eyes focused on his.

"Sit, I can make my own plate. You've done enough."

"It's no problem I'm happy to help." I keep the half smile on my face as we share eye contact.

"Camilla sweetheart, have a seat."

"Really it is not a big deal." There he goes with pet names, keep that shit to yourself Ezra I can barely contain myself as is.

"It's fine sit." The edge in his voice leaves no room for argument, I'm left to wonder if I did something wrong.

I swallow down my retort and comply. I pull out a chair next to him and begin to make my own plate. He does the same. The silence we eat in is tense; I do my best to ignore it. I'm not sure what his problem is but it can't be my fault, and he shouldn't be getting an attitude with me .

"Are you okay?" fork paused mid air he focuses his blue eyes on me.

"I'm fine. Why do you ask."

"You seem like you have a problem with me all of a sudden." Like what is the reason. "Are you tired of me being here?" Just tell me to leave and I'm gone jeez. "I'm real tired of walking on eggshells around people close to me."

"Never mind it doesn't matter." No longer hungry I hurry and exit the kitchen, with the sound of Ezra's voice calling me back.

I'm aware that I'm probably overreacting, but when I look at him now all I see is our early morning escapade. Sharing the same space as Ezra is not a good idea, my hormones and emotions are raging all over the place. Where else could I go? Throwing myself on the plush bed, I bury my face into the pillows and let out a scream of frustration. I am swimming in uncharted territory and it feels like the sharks are closing in, if I can't keep it together then everything will be ruined. Outside of my dad Ezra is really the only other male person I trust. I don't want to ruin the friendship I have with him because I want something more with him. For multiple reasons our relationship should stay exactly how it is. One being it would put an even bigger strain on the relationship my father and I have, two who would I complain about my father too now, three he has lived a lot more of his life than I have. I don't want to deny myself any of those experiences.

After I've calmed down a bit, I remove myself from the bed, I need to apologize to Ezra he has no clue why I'm freaking out on him. I take a deep breath and open the door to find the object of my affection and desire standing before me. His hand is raised to knock on my door, I take a deep breath and start my apology.

"Sorry about earlier, that was weird. I was being weird and awkward, you didn't do anything wrong. Just ignore the entirety of my being."

I haven't looked in his eyes once I just want to retreat back into my room and not come out until I've moved into my new place. I clear my throat, "well that's all I wanted to say so..."

"Camilla." The way he says my name should be against the law.

"Yes?"

"Camilla." I know where this is going, I relax my features and look up at him to meet his gaze. He has this annoying habit of wanting eye contact any time I talk to him. His words verbatim are 'it's a sign of respect to look someone in the eye when you talk to them'.

"Apology not accepted."

"Umm what?" No really what.

"You shouldn't be apologizing for anything; you didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who should be doing the apologizing. I assume it was you who left me the water and the Advil?"

I nod my head to his question.

"I saw the chair next to my bed, you stayed by my side the entire time?"

"Yeah, I mean your friends dropped you off and said make sure he doesn't choke on his vomit? So I was kind of freaking out about that."

"Those idiots." He mutters to himself more than me.

"Adrian was nice, but I do agree that Silas is an insufferable idiot."

"I am sorry that you had to deal with him."

There it is again, that feeling I wish would stop trying to rear its ugly head. When he looks at me like that my body overheats.

"Well apology accepted."

I back away to close the door, but before I can do so his words stop me.

I'm hardly done apologizing Camilla."

"What else could you have to apologize for?"

"I invited you into my home as a guest, yet I have not been a very good host. I'm sorry if it seems like I've had an attitude towards you; that's hardly the case at all."

"Ezra this is your home, if I have done something that displeases you then you should voice your concerns. I'm the one who has put you in an awkward position."

"Earlier you said you were tired of walking on eggshells around people you care about. I'm sorry I never noticed it. I just thought that was part of your personality. You can be yourself around me is all I'm saying."

"Thanks?"

He gives me a nod and walks away back down the stairs. What the hell was happening here?