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Torrie smiled, an odd shyness coming over her as she pulled the blanket up and around her nude body.
She could hardly believe what had just happened between herself and Matt. It had been so sudden, so unexpected... Yet so unbelievably nice.
The blonde's mood dampened a bit as Matt got up from the bed to retrieve his clothing. She watched him with an instintively sinking feeling, thinking he should have been focusing on *her* at that moment - basking with her in the afterglow.
"So, you'll try again when?" he asked, throwing Torrie for a loop yet again. She couldn't believe he was right back on the original topic at hand. It was upsetting. However, she didn't want him to see through the tiny veneer of facade she was putting up.
"Tomorrow," she replied evenly. "I'll do it tomorrow, first chance I get."
At this point, Hardy was getting dressed.
"Good girl," he said with a smile. In a moment, he was once again fully clothed, and he stepped back over by the bed, surprising Torrie further by gathering all of her own garments and setting them beside her. Her heart sank even further, if such a thing were possible. In no uncertain terms, he was telling her he wanted her to dress and leave... So much for cuddling after sex - so much for intimacy.
The elder hardy brother eyed the blonde woman as she timidly slipped the blanket off her body, then slowly began to dress. He supposed he could allow her to stay over all night, but he'd always slept so much better alone.
Torrie felt more self-conscious than ever as she stepped into her jeans, buttoning and zippering them with a feeling of shame. While she'd wanted it to happen, she'd never envisioned Matt to be so cold and unfeeling toward her afterward! She hated the thought that was prevalent in her head - that what they'd done had been a mistake. And yet... Her feelings for Matt had not changed. If anything, now more than ever, she wanted and craved his approval and affection. She didn't need to be put on a pedestal or anything ridiculous like that, just... acknowledged and appreciated.
Once Torrie had her shoes on, Matt walked her to the door. An uncomfortable emptiness was in her stomach as he unlocked and opened it for her.
"So... I'll see you tomorrow?"
She forced a smile for his benefit as well as her own.
"Yeah." She bit her lip, her heart thundering like a double bass drum as she acted on impulse - she kissed him. A small measure of relief shot through her as Hardy kissed her back, his tongue pressed against hers. She wasn't normally so aggressive with men - but they'd already had sex, and if she hadn't taken the initiative and kissed him, would *he* have kissed *her*? Torrie wasn't so sure she wanted to know the answer.
Matt was the one to break the kiss, and the platinum blonde felt her heart breaking.
"Goodnight," the dark-haired man said softly.
Torrie raised a hand to wave.
"Goodnight," she whispered. She started down the hallway on her way back to her own room and glanced back over her shoulder, but he had already closed the door and was now locking it.
She stopped in her tracks, her gaze dropping to the floor as she felt the tears begging to be set free. His quickness to close the door immediately after she left and not watch her as she went was anything but promising. It was a definite sign - a sign that he in no way felt the same toward her as she did him.
Running a hand through her long blonde hair, Torrie hurried along the corridor, her need to retreat to her room greater by the second. Never before in her life had she felt quite so humiliated and used. Her self-esteem was just about as low as her sneakers.
She didn't notice the two people at the other end of the hallway who'd happened to notice her as they were making their way to their own rooms.
Torrie was relieved when she finally reached her door. The tears were already coming and practically
choking her as she dug out her room key and swiped it through the door. In an instant, she hurried
inside, closing it behind her. She stood there, pressing her back against the door as a sob tore from
her throat. She raised both hands to her face, trying to drown out the harshness of her crying, all the
while wondering why it hurt just as badly as it did.