Chapter Fifteen: In Which He Can Look But Can’t Touch

As Arden moved back into the world of the conscious he could tell from the smells around him that he wasn't in his bed—it smelled too feminine, too sweet—too intoxicating. He wasn't exactly sure where he was or how he got where he was—most of the night was blur after getting to his mothers house. He opened his eyes slowly, squinting against the dull sunlight pushing through the dark curtains that covered the window on the wall across from him.

Arden felt the ache in his hands as he curled them around the sheets. He groaned softly at the effort it took him to lift his hand up. Clenching and unclenching his fingers, he examined the damage. He obviously had gotten into some kind of fight from the state of his swollen and bruised knuckles but he couldn't remember what he had been fighting about. He let his arm fall back down onto the mattress beside him.

He closed his eyes as the pounding sensation began to build in his skull. Arden hadn't been drunk enough to have a hangover in a long time, and the fact that he had one now only served as another sign to how out of control his life had gotten. He laid in the quiet of the strange room for a couple of minutes before deciding he needed to try to piece back together the events of last night, hopefully he hadn't done anything to embarrass himself.

He pushed himself up, having to catch himself with the bedside table as the world shifted and turned around him. He frowned as when he felt cold air wash over him, looking down he realized he was completely naked. His eyes slammed shut and he groaned louder—wonderful, just wonderful. He reached back and ripped the duvet free from the bed, wrapping around his waist as covering because he had no idea where his clothes were.

Arden turned his face toward the bedroom door when he heard the soft sounds of someone moving around. He had no idea who he had gone home with and the thought of having to interact with them set him on edge. He sucked in a breath before pushing himself to his full height and moving towards the door, he pulled it open like ripping off a bandaid—quick.

He heard the feminine yelp before his eyes locked on the startled vision of Glory. They both stared at each other for a silent moment, neither of them moving. Her eyes slowly drifted from his face and roamed down the length of his body. He felt himself jerk to life under her hooded look, tightening his grip on the duvet. Memories of last night began to stir through the haze.

Glory's slender fingers brushing over his heated skin as she unbuttoned his shirt—turning him on.

He cleared his throat, shaking his head slightly hoping to clear it from the images that would only cause him more problems, "My clothes?" He croaked out. Her eyes snapped back to his, cheeks slightly pink, "I had to throw them into the wash. You threw up on them..."

"Right...of course I did..." He had made a complete fool of himself. This is why he tried to avoid his family at all cost, nothing ever good happened from spending time with them. His mother would drive anyone to drink. He walked over to her couch and sat himself down, shoving his head into his hand unable to handle the pounding anymore. He closed his eyes and listened to the soft padding of her feet across the room. Cabinets opened and closed, water was turned on and off.

"Here—" She was suddenly standing before him again. He opened his eyes and lifted his face to see she was holding a glass of water in one hand and white tablets in the other. He lifted a brow but didn't want to question her kindness. Instead he took what she was offering him and was thankful for it, tossing the pills into his mouth and downing the water. They were thrown into silence and it was filled with tension. She was looking at him like she had something she wanted to say, nibbling on her bottom lip.

He pulled the glass back from his mouth, "Out with it Glory—we both know holding your tongue has never been your forte." He set the empty cup down on the coffee table. Glory snorted at his comment, "To think I expected you to be a little more grateful..." She mumbled under her breath. He looked up at her realizing he might have been a little harsher then he had meant to be. She had obviously taken care of him. He let out a heavy sigh, "You're right Miss Novacek...I apologize for my attitude. I'm just unsettled by the level of my own stupidity at the moment. I know you might have your feeling about me but this isn't a usual thing for me. I don't even remember how we got here..."

"What do you remember?" She glossed over his apology.

"I remember..."

Glory watching him as he showered—hungry eyes traveling over his body as he touched himself.

His eyes drifted toward her plump lips and his cock pulsed to life, knowing exactly where he wanted them—the same thought that had plagued him in the shower last night. He forced himself to look away from her, "I remember going to my mother's with you but most of that is a blur...a couple of hazy things..." He looked down at his hands, frowning.

"Did I happen to get into a fight?" He questioned, clenching and unclenching his hands. Glory let out a small chuckle that turned into a full blown fit of laughter. Arden turned his attention back to her, watching as she wrapped her arms around her stomach as if she was holding herself together. Her eyes glittered with merriment at his expense which had him frowning but he couldn't find the anger, not while she looked the way she did at this moment.

It took a moment but she got herself under control enough to answer him, "You got us thrown out of your own mothers party for fighting with your brother...Charles, I believe was his name."

He stared at her blankly for a moment, "Did I win at least?"

Her smile grew brighter at his question, "With a little help from yours truly—consider it a tag team effort." Arden found himself smirking at her comment. He couldn't remember what he had fought with him about but he was certain Charles had deserved it. He groaned internally as he thought about the damage control he'd have to do though. His mother was not going to let this indiscretion go easily, not only had he brought Gloriana but he had beaten on her favorite child.

"Is there anything else you might remember from last night?" Glory questioned again after a small silence developed. The tone of her voice sounded slightly huskier, as if she had just roused from a night of rough love making.

Arden felt his cock hardened at the thought, "Is there something that you want me to remember Gloriana?" He questioned back, peering up at her through hungry eyes. Her lips parted slightly and he watched the way her pulse ticked quickly in her slender neck. Her breast heaved up and down as her breathing exhilarated. He pushed himself up off the couch, making sure to keep his grip around the duvet, "Are you thinking about what you watched me do in the shower? Thinking about how you liked it..."

Her pupils dilated and she swallowed hard, "You obviously don't have a problem remembering certain things it seems..."

Arden smirked knowingly, "It hard not to recall how hungry you looked for my cock. Any man would remember something like that despite how out of his wits he may seem..."

"You're incorrigible Mr. Fox..." She frowned at him but that didn't deminish the fire in her eyes. She wanted him, he could see that as clear as day. He wanted to get her hotter for him. He wanted to burning the same way she had him burning.

Arden shrugged his shoulders, "I think you should repay the favor. In the spirit of fairness and hospitality..."

She narrowed her eyes, "In your dreams." He chuckled at her expected response--she was such a predictable person. He knew just what to say to set her off but he wasn't about to give up. He was certain losing himself in Gloriana Novacek would be the perfect remedy to his hangover, "I want to see you spread your legs for me Gloriana, right here on your table. I want to watch as you pleasure yourself. Your fingers pumping in and out of your tight little hole, getting slick with your desire..." He growled with barely contained hunger.

Glory wet her lips, staring at him for a moment. To his genuine surprise she brushed past him and slowly lowered her shorts down over her legs. His eyes drank in the sight of her ass encased in black lace. She cast a seductive look over her shoulder at him, "You can look--but you can't touch..."