This chapter took a bit longer than I had hoped to get out, but things have been nuts with school this week. Thanks to Michchick98 for editing me, since I don't have the time to do it myself right now-without her invaluable help, this would not be up right now. School ends tomorrow, so hopefully will be able to get chapters done quicker. Happy Holidays!!!
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Elizabeth sat on the bed, wondering what just happened. Here she was, giving herself to Chase, her virginity, something she had held onto for so long, and he rejected her. It was bad enough to leave her alone on the bed in the nude, but he then fled the hotel suite. Tears welled up in her eyes and she slowly rose from the bed and gathered her clothes.
This was why she closed herself off to men and why she had barely dated in college. She couldn't deal with the rejection when a guy found out that she wasn't going to allow herself to be used as his fucktoy. And, here she was, finally opening up to Chase and entrusting him with her heart, and he tossed her aside.
She went into her room and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror-nude with mascara running down her cheeks. She began the shower, cleansing herself of his touch and smell. She scrubbed her skin to the point that it appeared red in an attempt to wash him away. The tears began to flow more freely as the reality of what had just happened began to sink in further. She leaned against the wall and cried herself out.
When there were no tears left to squeeze out and the water began to cool, she exited the shower and toweled off. She threw on jeans and a t-shirt and began heaving her clothes into her suitcase. When she had all of her belongings packed, she called for a car and took one more glance around the hotel suite.
Well, it was nice while it lasted,
she thought. The doorbell of the penthouse rang and the bellhop took her bag to the elevator for her. She closed the door and headed home.
Elizabeth stared out the window as the car drove into the country. Her expression was tired and blank. Her hurt would soon dissipate and turn into anger, but she knew that this could not happen soon enough. As soon as she got back to the castle, she would send Chase's belongings
to London, so that she never had to see him again.
^^^^^^^^
Chase didn't know where he was going when he left the hotel suite, but he knew he needed to get air. He wanted her so badly, but was not going to have her first time be a drunken romp in the sheets. He left the hotel and went across the street to Hyde Park, walking the paths illuminated by the moonlight. He needed to get his bearings. He knew he should have explained things to her before he just ran out of the hotel room, but knew that she would probably try to convince him to keep going, to take her virginity. Knowing that she was a virgin, that he would be the first to fill her, made him want her all the more.
He left the park and went back to the hotel bar. He knew he needed to go back up to the suite, but was stalling. He knew he handled things poorly and would need to again make amends. He ordered a beer and sat at the bar, frustrated. Why was he doing everything wrong with Elizabeth? He never had problems when it came to wooing women, why were they starting now?
A petite, pretty blonde came over and sat on a stool near him. She smiled at him and gave him a wink, but he strangely was not interested. He wanted to be upstairs with Elizabeth, he needed to explain things to her, and he left the bar without finishing his beer.
The penthouse was dark and quiet. He first went to his room, but she was not there. He then went to her bedroom, and saw that the dresser drawers were left open and empty. She was gone.
^^^^^^^
Four days later:
Chase stayed in London. Elizabeth had his bags dropped off at the hotel that afternoon, making it obvious that his presence was not welcome at the castle. He had tried calling her several times, but Gerard kept telling him that she was unavailable. So, he spent his days and many evenings in the studio, trying to finish the album.
But when he was alone, Elizabeth haunted his thoughts and dreams. He was miserable without her. He snapped at the guys in the studio several times. He was drinking a lot and basically feeling sorry for himself. Several women had made passes at him, but he showed no interest. He only wanted to be with Elizabeth and finally decided that he had sat around feeling sorry for himself for too long and needed to take action.
Elizabeth's hurt had finally channeled into anger, and when she was angry, she needed to keep herself busy. After she had Chase's bags taken to London, she began cleaning her room, and downsizing her possessions. It was obvious that she and Chase were not going to be, and she needed to find a job and a new place to live and rather quickly. She had several appointments to look at flats the next day and had an interview set up for the following week. She knew she could survive on her savings for awhile if she could not find a job, but hoped that she would not have to exhaust her finances.
In the meantime, she was separating the clothing that she was getting rid of. She had a pile that was garbage and another that she was donating to those who were less fortunate. A gentle knock rapped at the door before it slowly opened.
"Gerard, you can just throw the bags on my chair," she said, not bothering to turn around to look at him.
Footsteps slowly crossed the room and came to stand behind her. As they lingered, she could feel him, feel the heat he emanated on her body, and feel his eyes staring at her back.
"You can turn around and walk right back out the way you came in," she said blithely.
"I'm not leaving," he said, "There's a lot we need to talk about."
"I have nothing to say to you."
