Chapter 8 Part 8

Lectures have already started. It's hard to believe Haisley has been living with Gilbert and Nathan for a month now. During this time, she only met Nathan a few times. Those meetings never lasted more than five minutes and were just casual greetings from the hosts to their guest.

Haisley was busy with her new life, making friends and socializing with people her age. Gilbert helped her with that. The third-year student introduced her to a group of American students and his other friends, whom Haisley started to like.

As for Nathaniel? She knew he was trying to avoid her. When she was at home, he preferred to lock himself in his office or leave the house and come back late at night. Haisley didn't want to speculate about what he was doing out there. Even though Gilbert often teased her about women who might be spending time with Nathan.

And of course, she and Gilbert knew that Nathan was a normal guy. That meant it was unlikely for Nathan to go out with a woman and just hold hands. Haisley was not naïve. Although she kept herself from being touched, it didn't mean she didn't know about the 'games' between men and women.

That evening, Haisley, who had fallen asleep early, woke up in the middle of the night. She glanced at the digital clock on her phone. It was one minute past one in the morning. She looked towards the balcony, which she hadn't closed the curtains for, and saw the dark night sky. Her stomach growled. She couldn't remember what time she had gone to bed the previous night, but she was sure she had missed her dinner. And because Gilbert wasn't home due to an event with his friends, there was no one to wake her up for the meal.

Haisley reached for her bedroom slippers and got out of bed. Hopefully, Aunt Jody had prepared something she could heat up. Haisley went down to the kitchen and opened the pantry. However, it was empty. Then she looked at the refrigerator and noticed a small note stuck on it. Aunt Jody had made macaroni casserole for her. Suddenly, her stomach rumbled loudly. Haisley chuckled at her own behavior, grabbed the heat-resistant glass bowl, and put it in the microwave. Just five minutes, she murmured to herself. In the meantime, she would make a drink to accompany her meal.

Haisley opened the refrigerator door again and searched for the lemon she had bought at the supermarket the other day when Gilbert was buying groceries as per Aunt Jody's request. She looked for the citrus juicer, a glass, and some sugar while waiting for the water she was heating to boil.

Haisley hummed as she squeezed the oranges and let out a yelp when the lemon she was squeezing slipped from her grip due to its slick surface. As she attempted to pour hot water into the glass of sugar, the microwave beeped loudly. Haisley pulled out her oven mitt and placed it on the bar table before continuing her activity of dissolving sugar in the glass.

Next, she poured a bit of cold water into the sugary glass, followed by the lemon and, finally, ice cubes until the glass was full. The scent of lemon mixed with sugar made her mouth water even more. She smiled.

Haisley washed the citrus squeezer and grabbed a tray from the bottom drawer. After living there for a month, she felt like she was in her own home. She knew where the kitchen utensils and spices were kept. Yes, she often helped Aunt Jody when she had free time. And indeed, she had always enjoyed cooking.

Haisley placed a glass bowl, a small plate, a knife, a fork, a bottle of hot sauce, and her drink on the tray and then walked towards the backyard. The wooden swing that used to be on the porch had been moved by her and Gilbert to the backyard per their request. That was because Haisley preferred spending her days there, sitting. Just lying down or reading, occasionally chatting with Aunt Jody or Gilbert. Yes, even though she had friends now, she still didn't dare to invite them over. As comfortable as she felt living here, she was still just a guest, not the homeowner.

Haisley reached for her phone, which had been tucked in the pocket of her knee-length shorts. She swiped the screen and started playing the movie she had just downloaded, turning up the volume to the maximum. Unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching her all this time.

******

Nathan heard the faint sound of a door opening and closing. The silence in the house allowed him to hear it clearly. He could hear heavy footsteps scraping against the wooden floor above. He could guess who the owner of those steps was. None other than Haisley. Because he knew Gilbert wasn't home.

Nathan walked towards his office door, which wasn't tightly shut. From there, he could see Haisley's unsteady steps. The girl was wearing an oversized long-sleeved shirt that almost covered her thighs. The neckline of the shirt appeared wide, revealing her slender neck and part of her shoulder. Instantly, Nathan's body tensed.

Nathan squinted his eyes; he didn't see the thin straps that were usually present on a woman's shoulder. Was the girl not wearing a bra? His thoughts were confirmed when she lifted her long hair and tied it back with chopsticks she found nearby. For God's sake, what was on that girl's mind? Did she intend to tease him? The pulsating sensation between his thighs grew stronger. He felt irritated with himself.

No. The girl had no intention of teasing him. The girl knew that Gilbert was not at home, and she must have thought that Nathan was not home either. Or, even if the girl thought Nathan was at home, she knew he wouldn't care about her, as usual.

He also paid attention to the girl's bottom. See if the girl wasn't wearing pants either just because her long t-shirt covered most of her thighs. However, when he saw the girl standing on tiptoe, looking for something at the top of the cupboard, Nathan could see black shorts that only covered part of her thighs. Oh my God, his hands were so itchy to feel the smoothness of those thighs. He growled again. Looks like tonight he has to take a cold shower.

But even though his brain told him so. His body was still rooted to the spot. He was like a perverted boy who was snooping around. Seeing Haisley working in her kitchen somehow gave him a strange vibe. As the girl tried her best to squeeze the lemon, he imagined that he was behind her. Her small body must have only reached Nathan's chest. He could easily help the girl squeeze the lemon even though his hands might wander elsewhere while his lips could roam around, touching the curve of the girl's neck and shoulders.

Oh my God, what dirty thoughts. Nathan tried to clear his mind by shaking his head. He really needed a cold shower. Nathan went back into his office. He needed to clear his mind. He couldn't possibly rush to his room while the girl was still standing in the kitchen and could notice his state of arousal.

Nathan chose to walk to the sliding door in his room. The door led directly to the backyard, right where his swimming pool was located. If he couldn't cool down with a cold shower, he would opt for a swim to curb his desires.

Thinking about his desires brought his mind back to Haisley. Was the girl still in the kitchen? Or had she gone back to her room? Contemplating her presence in the kitchen made him imagine what it would feel like if he lifted her petite body, undressed her, and then merged his body with hers. Moving together simultaneously until they found release and exhaustion.

Thinking about his desires brought his mind back to Haisley. Was the girl still in the kitchen? Or had she gone back to her room? Contemplating her presence in the kitchen made him imagine what it would feel like if he lifted her petite body, undressed her, and then merged his body with hers. Moving together simultaneously until they found release and exhaustion.

Damn! Nathan was losing his mind. Completely losing it. He needed to immerse his body in cold water.

Quickly, he removed his shirt and pants, leaving only his tight underwear covering his arousal. He walked towards the pool and chose to submerge himself in the deepest part. Yes. He had to do it.