Chapter Forty-Three
I couldn’t get back to sleep after Ice left, it felt strange just lying in his bed without him, so I got up with the intention of heading to my room for a quick shower and to get changed, and then I figured I'd go find Mason.
But when I climbed out of bed, I was mortified to see the sheets covered in blood.
Blood that had also since dried on my legs.
I had quickly thrown on my clothes, but I didn't know what to do with the sheets.
I spent ten minutes in his room, crying as I tried to figure it out, I was so embarrassed.
Once I'd managed to calm down, I stripped his bed and then raced to the laundry room, throwing his sheets in the machine, hoping that it would come out.
It wasn't until I was finally in the shower that I realised I was a little sore down there.
It wasn't anything I couldn't handle, but I did wonder if it would hurt the second time I had sex.
I would like to think that was going to be with Ice, but I know these guys don't really settle down, so I'm not expecting anything.
If I don't expect anything then I won't be disappointed when it doesn't happen.
I'd wandered around the clubhouse for a little after my shower. I’d found Mason in a big cinema room with Georgia, but as I'd sat next to them, chatting for twenty minutes, I realised that I really wanted to be somewhere else. Making sure Mason was okay and that Georgia didn’t mind me leaving him with her, I had wandered off.
I sit in front of the now shiny black Grand Piano; someone has dusted it since the last time I was here. My mind wanders back to last night and how Ice made me feel, how gentle and caring he was. I smile when I remember how he kept checking on me.
I place my fingers on the keys, and without thinking they begin to play Für Elise by Beethoven.
I let the music take over, my fingers dancing across the keys as I get lost in the melody that was created by Beethoven to impress a woman.
I let the sound wash over me, the notes giving me a sense of calm.
As my fingers tap out the last notes, I'm startled when I hear people clapping. My cheeks flush as I turn to see Ice, Nitro and Wrath, along with several of the other men, watching me.
I quickly push up from the stool. "I'm so sorry, I just saw the piano and thought I'd play, I hope that’s okay, I didn't mean to overstep," I rush out, not really sure why I'm worried.
"Sweetheart, please don't apologise. I think that’s the first time that thing has ever been touched, I didn't even know it was in tune," Nitro tells me. "You're amazing. What was that you were playing?" he continues as he walks over to me and leans on the side of the piano.
I glance over at Ice and his brothers, all stood near the entrance, before looking back to Nitro. "Erm, it's music by Beethoven," I tell him, suddenly feeling a little shy.
He raises his eyebrow, and I think he is about to say something but Mason races toward me.
"Nova," he cries out, and I turn to see a grin on his face.
"You're playing the piano again," he states, racing at me and almost knocking me over as he wraps his arms around me. "I haven’t seen you do it for ages."
I pull him into a hug. I can't even believe that he remembers me playing piano, he would have only been about four the last time I played. "Mase, you remember me playing?" I ask him. He smiles up at me and nods.
"Yes, with Mum," he tells me. "Riley showed me a video too."
I let out a small sigh as he lets go of me and climbs onto the stool. After our parents were killed, our uncle tried to throw out a lot of the videos that our parents had recorded of us over the years, but I saved them and took them to Riley’s for her to keep safe for me.
Movement catches my eye, and I look up to see Ice stride toward me.
I give a small smile, not really sure how I'm meant to act around him now.
But the moment he reaches me, he pulls me to him, grabbing the back of my head and lowering his head to place a small kiss on my forehead.
I feel myself heat with embarrassment as everyone watches us.
I drop my head and clear my throat, not really sure what to say when Ice breaks into my thoughts.
"Prez, I have something I want to bring to the table."
I look up at him and then over to Nitro who grins at him and then gives a small nod.
"Church, one-hour, brothers. We have a few things to go over.
" He turns to Ice. "We'll give you two a bit of privacy.
" He winks at him and begins to walk away, before turning back to us.
"Nova, feel free to play that whenever you wish. Mase, come on, kid, let’s go.
" He holds out a hand for my little brother, who jumps from the stool and follows them out of the room without so much as a backward glance at me.
Ice grabs my face in both of his hands, his eyes flick back and forth over mine for a few seconds before his lips crash onto mine, his hands tangling in my hair, his tongue pushing its way into my mouth as our teeth clash. I fist his T-shirt, pulling him to me. My stomach flutters with need.
He pulls away from the kiss, leaving me breathless. I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling nervous that the guys have left us alone in here.
"Dragonfly, I need to tell you something," he says as he takes a seat on the stool, pulling me into his lap.
"Oh?" I say, a little croaky.
"I need you to remember that you are safe here.
That we're going to protect you both," he states, his eyes locked on mine.
They are steel grey today. I love how his eyes change colour with how he feels, like right now I can tell that he's worried and angry all at the same time.
I'm just hoping that he's not angry with me, although I don’t think he has a reason to be.
"Okay?" I respond in question.
"Your uncle was here—"
"Oh my god," I rush out, cutting him off. I push on him, trying to stand, but his arms wrap around me, holding me tighter.
"Baby, breathe, he's gone and you're safe," he tells me, trying to get me to calm down. But I don't know that I can, I'm starting to freak out.
"Does he know we're here? Do we need to leave? Oh god, Ice, he's going to kill me. I need to go, I need to get Mason out of here." My words rush out of me, my heart racing as I feel the panic budling up inside of me.
My body heats, my breathing becomes erratic, and my visions begins to blur as the panic attack threatens to engulf me.
I feel Ice grip the back of my head and pull me forward, resting his forehead on mine. "Dragonfly, I need you to breathe, just one breath at a time. I've got you, you're safe, just breathe, baby."
I feel his other hand rub up and down my back as he pulls me closer to him. He repeats over and over again that I'm safe and to breathe with him. I fight through the panic, and within what feels like minutes, my breathing slows and my vision returns.
"Are you okay?" he asks, worry lacing his voice.
I nod. "I'm sorry. I'm so scared, Ice," I admit.
"I know, baby. But I promise that you're both safe here. We will protect you. You have to believe that, I need you to believe that."
"I do. But I don't want you all to think that I expect you to, or that I'm using you. What if you guys end up with shit because of me?" I tell him.
"Any shit we get will not be on you, it will either be something of our own doing or something your uncle does, but neither is your fault. You are not responsible for the actions of others. You're giving yourself way too much power, baby," he says with a smile.
I drop my head and rub my hands over my face. "What did he want?" I ask.
Ice grips my chin and lifts my face to look up at him.
"Some shit about wanting to thank us for helping you and wanting to know if we knew where you had gone, claiming that he just wanted you both back safe.
I could have lied and kept his visit from you, but I don't want to do that, I won't keep things from you.
But I don't think we should say anything to Mason. "
I bite the inside of my cheek again. "I don't know how I feel about keeping things from Mason. I know he's only nine, but is it right to keep this from him?" I ask.
Ice grabs both sides of my face. "I'm not saying we never tell him, just not right now. He spends so much of his time worrying about you, I think we should let him be a nine-year-old boy for a while. Just for a little bit. Let’s give his little brain a rest from the worry."
I smile. "You've been amazing, Ice—"
"Max. We're alone, please call me Max."
"Max. I really am grateful for everything that you and your club are doing for us. Thank you," I tell him, then lean forward and place a gentle kiss on his lips.