| C H A P T E R - 11 |

LARAIn the stealth of darkness, I moved through the men's locker room, my heart pounding in my hand. There was something I needed to find out—something I had been searching for a long time.Heath.Seven months, nine weeks, and thirteen days.Heath had been missing.And I couldn't blame myself enough. If I hadn't involved her in all this, she wouldn't have come to light, and none of this would have taken place. Despite my attempts to keep her safe, I had failed.Seven months ago, after the incident, we found only a letter from her, stating she wanted to leave the city for a better future. Even though my mother wasn't worried, I was. I still felt she hadn't left willingly. Family meant everything to her.So I suspected Oliver might have a hand in this.With the boys occupied in a basketball match, I seized the opportunity for a little investigation for myself. If Oliver was involved in Heath's disappearance, I needed proof to put him behind bars. The police would demand evidence, and I couldn't afford to lack it.Fortunately, Ana revealed the truth about Preston to Detective David. I thought David was more than just a friend. But Ana told me otherwise. Nonetheless, I am sure they both are going to help me in this. But without proof, I can't ask her to do so.Maybe if I find something against Oliver here, perhaps she could help me out in this case if I could present some evidence.The men's room was a stark contrast to the girls'—filled with the smell of sweat, showers, and manly cologne.But I was here for a purpose.After five painstaking minutes of searching, I stood before the locker I was looking for—Oliver's.I had been keeping a close eye on him since Heath's disappearance. Every chance to delve into his belongings was a chance for me to find something—anything—to prove he was the culprit.I recalled the night before Heath disappeared when she called me, sharing that someone from Preston had contacted her, threatening her to help me out.As I stood before Oliver's locker, the atmosphere shifted, and a sense of anticipation hung in the air. My gaze lingered on the cold, empty metal door, wondering if the answers I sought might be concealed within.What if...?I sighed. Maybe the information I sought lay concealed behind the metal door of Oliver's locker, potentially holding the key to the truth. I stretched my hands to open the locker, my heart beating loudly in response.This was nothing less than a soldier on a mission. Anticipation and frustration grew with each passing second.However, my hopes plummeted when I discovered that it was securely locked."Shit," I muttered under my breath. What secrets was Oliver guarding? Could anything in there aid me in unravelling the mystery? The uncertainty gnawed at me, leaving me at a crossroads.I did not have the key or the knowledge of where he would have hidden it. I tried to find it through a few of the others' belongings, but it was no use.Finally, with a heavy heart, I sighed in defeat.Perhaps today wasn't my lucky day. I decided to retreat, planning to return another day to crack the mystery hidden within Oliver's locker.As I turned away, my attention was unexpectedly drawn to the adjacent locker. In bold letters, "Mark Jonas" adorned the door, a stark warning beneath it – "Stay away."I chuckled and exhaled. The audacity of the message infuriated me. Who did Mark think he was, wielding the power to intimidate others at will? Despite his monstrous demeanour, or perhaps because of it, I found myself entangled in a conflicting web of hatred and desire for him.I hate him as much as I want him.Every fiber of my being reacted to his presence, and the internal struggle intensified with each interaction. Why did he affect me so deeply? Why did he look at me the way he did? Was he even human?Regardless of the inner turmoil, I stood before Mark's locker. The urge to unravel his secrets surpassed my initial mission. What was he hiding? Was he a nocturnal monster in disguise? The possibilities intrigued me.Taking just one look wouldn't hurt, right?As my hand inched toward the locker, my stomach churned for some reason. An unknown subtle tension gripped the air. It was frustrating and intriguing at the same time.The silence was heavy with suspense. But here it is. Now or never.Who knows, I might find him as the skinwalker. Or maybe some alien technology he is hiding. I mean, something that should prove that he is a monster and not a true human. But another thought crossed my mind. Would he hide any information about his lover? Or his ex? Or maybe someone he might be seeing right now?The thought alone boiled my blood. For some reason, I didn't like the idea of him dating someone else, even though I am one hundred per cent sure I have absolutely zero fucking interest in dating him in the near future.Thus, I decided to give it a try.As I turned the lock, I realized unlike Oliver, he didn't lock his locker. The sound of the metal lock crashing together, and the small metal door creaking open. But suddenly, a hand forcefully closed the door before I could peek inside."Damn it," I gasped, muttering under my breath. My heart jumped in my chest with the sudden force of the metal shutting. What the heck?I couldn't move. I couldn't turn around as my heart almost was in my throat. Was it Oliver? Did I just get caught?But the as distinct cologne wafted through the air, and my senses heightened. I knew that scent; it was unmistakable. Mark Jonas.I gasped. He was insanely close. My heart still beating like a crazy horse. I waited for him to move or say anything so I could defend myself. But all he did was stand behind my back. Extremely close. His breath hit my neck, and all I could do was control myself from not turning around and kissing the heck out of him. What? That's insane! I hate him.And now I hate myself for even desiring such a thing."What. The. Heck. Are. You. Doing. Here?" His slow heavy voice reached my ears as if it were a warning. I didn't dare to turn around, but I could feel him standing right behind me. His body heat reached me. He radiated some kind of animalistic heat that pooled warmth in my core.Crazy!But what am I supposed to say now? I can't tell him the truth. So, I bent the truth. "I-Uh.. I am waiting for someone."He fell silent for a second before whispering, "Who?""Someone I'm currently involved with." I quickly lied.Instead of stepping back, he growled. What in the world? I could sense him closing the gap between us, his torso brushing against the contours of my back and I pray that I don't do something stupid. As soon as his chest brushed against my back the hair on my neck rose. Alright, he was dangerously close now. I could feel his breath on my ears, and it wasn't doing any favours for my ovaries at all.Mark's laughter reverberated, a mockery that hung in the air. "You're the type who never learns from their mistakes, huh?" he taunted. "Who's he?"I frowned. What in the hell is he talking about? I tried to push me to face him, but he didn't move away. He was very much invested in my personal life, and I hated the judgy look his eyes might holding now. "Why do you care?" I retorted."That's not the answer to my question!""Well, neither is mine." This time I was successful in pushing him as I turned around to face him. And just as I did, my heart leapt out of my throat.He stood there shirtless, abs gleaming as if they'd been highlighted with a truckload of highlighters. My eyes reluctantly looked up, realizing there was only an inch gap between us. Our lips were in a dangerous proximity that seemed to spark a thousand possibilities in the charged air.His brown eyes bore into me with an intensity that threatened to turn my knees into jelly. But I refused to yield. I was Lara Garcia, and I would not be intimidated by the Brown Eyes monster.  I maintained eye contact this time. "I don't owe you an answer," I asserted, attempting to move past him. However, his hands swiftly landed on the locker, right beside my head, enclosing me within the strength of his arms.My gaze involuntarily drifted over those well-defined muscles, and, my, my... Shut up!"Don't push me, Miss Garcia," he warned in a low growl. His gaze intensely looking at me, yet something in the heat of his warning tempted me to defy him, to provoke the consequences of disobedience that lurked beneath his words.But I controlled myself."What are you hiding in the locker? Some kind of animal kinky stuff?" I teased, changing the topic.But he didn't seem amused. "What makes you think I'm into kinks?""Are you not?" I frowned. "I thought gays are more into kinks." This time I perfectly managed to get under his skin. His nostrils flared, eyebrows raised in surprise, and he chuckled almost in disbelief. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your darkest desires," I teased but secretly hoped it didn't turn that way.He was too good to be a gay.But instead of getting angry, he smirked a sinister one as he suddenly leaned forward. I gasped, my hands clasped in front of my chest as he leaned further. His lips brushed over my ears as he whispered, "Why don't you test yourself if I am gay or not?"Fuck. I thought it wouldn't turn me on more, but it did. Every teasing word from his foul mouth turned me on.His hand crawled up to my neck as he caressed my collarbone, tethering with his hands as he whispered again, "I know you would love it, as you have been dreaming to fuck me all these months, haven't you?"My eyes shut tightly against the low whispers, and his fingers danced on my skin, attempting to coax a moan of pleasure from me. I resisted. I couldn't let him win, but I also couldn't withdraw.Amid the tantalizing taunts and torturous touches, he suddenly moved away. I frowned, missing the warmth, and as I blinked and opened my eyes, I saw him leaning against the other side of the locker, looking at me with a teasing smirk. "So predictable."Lara 0. Mark 1.The heat was long gone, replaced by anger. He had always been like this. First, pulling me close, and then pushing me away. I hated him for it. Embarrassment and anger flushed in my veins as I gritted my teeth before replying, "You weren't worth trying. I'd rather use my pink vibrator than have a dick's dick."Lara 1. Mark 0.We held the staredown until the boys returned. Their laughter and faint whispers echoed through the space, disrupting the charged atmosphere between Mark and me. I turned my attention to the source of the interruption."Lara? What are you doing here?" Kyle's eyes widened with surprise as they darted between Mark and me.I took a deep breath, extricating myself from the thoughts of Mark. A sweet smile played on my lips as I replied, "Nothing special. I came here looking for you."I walked toward Kyle with deliberate seduction, fully aware of the eyes, including Mark's, on me. Pulling him closer by his collar, I leaned in and whispered, "I'm bored. Find me in the computer room."With that, I left, without looking back. **** Kyle and I had been indulging in a casual fling for a week now. We met at a party, both seeking something non-committal. My reputation preceded me, making serious connections unlikely, not that I cared. However, Mark's taunts and judgments always stung, making him a mysterious figure I simultaneously wanted to avoid and desired.Waiting for Kyle for half an hour now, frustration crept in. After the tension in the locker room with Mark, I desperately needed release, and Kyle was my go-to for that. But where was he?"Where the fuck are you?" I muttered, pacing the small space in agitation. Thoughts drifted back to the intense moment with Mark. His gaze suggests desires not exclusively mine. But could any of this be true? Did he feel the same pull as me, or did he think of me all the fucking time like I did?But sadly the answer to these questions remains a mystery to me.I know this is only a story I am making up in my hate. Mark Jonas hates me. And so do I.But for a fleeting second, I wished I could turn back time and ask if he felt the same temptation. The same tension and maybe this time, I would have gotten what I desired. Maybe one taste would have been fine.Maybe.Hypothetically.But reality held me back. I can't do that. I don't want to do that. Maybe I want to. But I won't. Checking my phone, it was three o'clock—forty minutes gone. Where the hell was Kyle?A sinking feeling crept in. Did he ghost me again?  I took out my phone, dialling his number, but it went engaged all three times. Frustration boiled over, and I muttered angrily, "Fuck," preparing to leave when the door swung open. Before me, stood the formidable figure of Mark Jonas once again. Thankfully, this time he was fully dressed, clad in denim paired with a stylish blue jacket. His hands were casually tucked inside his pockets as he strolled in."You?" I gasped at his sudden appearance. He didn't reply to me as he walked inside, making me walk back involuntarily. The tension was back. So was the temptation. What is he doing here? I frowned. It wasn't a very good time and place to meet him like this. At least not when I am still horny for the gorgeous-looking person standing before me. Fuck, stop it.But what made it even more intense was that we were alone in this dark room, where I had been waiting for Kyle to give me the release I needed originally due to Mark. I gulped.The atmosphere felt honestly awkward."He stood you up again?" Mark mocked, walking lazily towards me. "What an ass!"This time, instead of letting his words provoke me, I shot back, "And what brings an ass like you here, huh? Came to laugh at me again?" I couldn't control my anger for him. "What do you want, Mark?"Emotions poured out raw, and I couldn't suppress them. Every word, every thought tangled in my brain, all leading to one question: What does he truly want?Within a mere second, he closed the gap, almost towering over me as I backed up against one of the tables. His brown eyes looked at me with such intensity, that I swear I might have an orgasm right here. "What do I want?" He asked in his husky, cold voice, sending shivers down my spine. "I want so many things that you can't even imagine, Miss Garcia."What is happening?I didn't know what he meant by that or why he was so unnervingly close. All I did was try to be sane and not lose my mind.I was pushed against a table as he leaned further, towering over me, and I instinctively leaned back, trying to create some distance, my back aching from the proximity.But even so, my daring nerve didn't give up. "What are those things?" I asked, challenging the beast, matching his gaze. With a swift movement, he lifted me up with his strong arm and placed me on the nearest table. I gasped at the sudden attack, marvelling even more when I realized he had effortlessly used only one hand. Damn.His brown eyes locked onto my olive ones as we both stood caught behind the ticking of time. Why did he have to look so good? Why did he have to hurt me so much? Why couldn't we just...There were too many voices in my head, and his close proximity only intensified the chaos. His hand traced the outer line of my thighs, his fingers feather-light, as he whispered, "Why can't you just stay the hell away from men, huh? Why do you need them all the time?"It was a whole goddamn zoo that was running in my stomach right now. What is he possibly talking about? Does that mean I wasn't the only one suffering from this temptation's burn? Or was this his usual teasing?Despite the turmoil in my stomach, I didn't falter. I needed answers, and Lara Garcia would have them. "Isn't it obvious?" I asked. My voice quivered, but I held on. "I'm an adult. I have needs!" I almost whispered that last part.His brown eyes immediately flashed something indecipherable. He parted my thighs, positioning himself between them, and my heart raced so fast I feared he might sense how much he affected me. I gasped. My eyes widened in surprise."These needs?" He whispered in his hushed, angelic voice, sending a shock through me as he began to caress the contours of my thighs with one hand and with the other, he gently pushed my hair back accessing more of my neck."Tell me, Miss Garcia, what more do you need to please yourself?" Leaning in, he whispered in my ears, his lips grazing my already burning skin as I closed my eyes in pleasure. The warmth pooling in my core. "Is this what you need?" His hand ventured into my inner thighs, tracing their contours, going closer to my most scared part that I so want him to worship someday. He didn't stop, but he was undeniably slow as he circled his figures on my inner thighs and my head leaned back in pleasure.He had barely touched me, yet he had ignited a desire that I hated to admit was there. Despite our mutual animosity, it felt like we were both relishing in the intoxicating dance of pleasure and conflict. We both somehow enjoying this. His other hand tangled in the strands of hair near my neck, pulling my head down, exposing more of my neck as he whispered against my skin, "Is this what you need?"I waited, anticipating his lips on my neck, but he continued to tease me. "You asked me what I want, Miss Garcia. Now, I ask you, what do you want?"I bit my lip, struggling to resist giving him what he wanted, but an involuntary moan escaped when his hand gripped my waist so hard I yelped in response. This wasn't the kind of behaviour I expected from the infamous monster Mark. Yet here we were, entangled in a tantalizing dance of temptation.Not that I regretted it.His hand travelled further up towards my breast, inside my sweater, touching my burning skin, reaching just below the cup encasing my ribs, as he traced the contours of my back with a feather-light touch."Tell me, Garcia, do you want me to kiss your neck, lick it, and bite it until you lose your mind?"Hell yes, I do. But..."Tell me, is it my mouth, my hand, or my dick, that you want so bad right now?" He asked again.My mind crashed down. I didn't know what to say or how to stop this anymore. Goddamn it, I wanted him. So this time, I gave him a nod."Manners, Miss Garcia. You need to say please with your words," he breathed on my neck, torturing me. His lips tethering and hovering above my collarbone."Fuck," I muttered. "I want you," I said, unable to hold back any longer. "Please!"I waited for him to finally quench my thirst, closing my eyes. But in the next instant, the warmth that had engulfed me vanished, and I was left with the cold air surrounding me. My eyes shot open, a frown forming as I saw he had backed up a few steps, a satisfied smirk on his face. What the hell!But before I could unleash a verbal storm, he whipped something out from his jacket, casually dropped it on the nearest table, and strolled away in ominous silence leaving me flushed and angry at the same time.What the hell!My eyes landed on the object he abandoned, and they practically popped out of their sockets.A pink vibrator!Well, isn't this just the cherry on top of my absurd day?Bastard.----X-----