Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Charity
He quickly escorts me into the building and rushes me past his doorman, probably afraid I’ll ask for help or scream or something. I did hit his friend after all. I’ve never hit anyone in my life, but I was just so mad at both of them and the injustice for Sarah who was so happy before. I guess I was taking it out on the guy because I felt the same way she did only to hit rock bottom in a matter of seconds. Just like she did. It doesn’t feel good.
As soon as he has the door open, I have memories assail me like sharp, rusty nails raking over my body. The memory of him between my legs, telling me how beautiful I am, and the feeling of falling in love all flashes before my eyes and makes me want to curl up and cry my eyes out. I realized it would be bad, coming back here, I just didn’t realize how bad it would actually be.
I turn and stare at the man who caused all the pain. The last time both of us were in this room I was dressed in one of his shirts and we were laughing, now neither of us are saying a word and looking grimly at one another.
“Let’s get this over with so I can go home.”
“You are home.”
I try to school my face so he won’t know how much his words shock me. What the hell does that even mean? I am home? I don't think so.
“Agree to disagree. Moving on. Assuming you have something other than that to say.”
His eyes narrow and he walks towards me. Actually, he prowls towards me like a big lion who has just spotted prey. I keep my eyes on his and move with him, every step he takes I match in retreat.
He tilts his chin, and I flicker of caution rises inside of me. He’s changing tactics and I'm not sure I can match whatever he’s about to try.
“Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, angel.”
Oh crap!
“I was your first kiss. I taught you how to make love with your mouth.”
“And how to lie to someone’s face. You were good at that.”
“Not telling you who I was is not a lie. It’s an omission.”
“It’s semantics. When were you going to tell me? After you took my virginity or were you going to keep me around until the end of the year? Find someone new to kiss on New Year’s Eve? Was that your plan? Where you ever going to tell me?”
“Eventually, yes.”
His answer is no comfort to me. In fact, it proves everything I was already thinking to be true.
“How many times have you done this? Pick up women at your Christmas party?”
“Never.”
“Another omission. You’ve never scouted your party, but you always take someone new for the holidays. You just find them in other places. What? A stewardess here, a model there. Guess, I was the only plain one, huh.”
“First of all, don’t talk about yourself that way. But what you say is fair.” My heart plummets at his words and I have to close my eyes to fight back the sting that comes into them. “You want to know my history. People who have done what we’ve done would normally share that.”
I open my eyes to find him closer. I don’t really want to know his ‘history’ and all the women he’s gone through before me.
“I don’t pick up women or have new ones on different holidays. I’ve not dated anyone in…maybe ever since I haven’t committed to anyone before. I haven’t been with anyone in years.”
“I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business.”
“Yes, it is your business. And you are far from plain, my angel. You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I saw you through the crowd and…it was like you were glowing.”
He comes to stand right in front of me and I can feel the anger melting from me -even though it shouldn’t.
“It was the stuff in my hair.”
“It was you.” His arms wrap around me, and he cups my cheek so softly. “It was from within. I saw it. Other people saw it. I just…didn’t want you to change if you found out who I really was.”
“Change?” I glance up at him through my lashes.
“Would you have left with me if I came out and told you who I really was?”
Crap again!
“I didn’t think so.” My answer must be written on my face. “You are the only woman I have ever taken to my diner. And the only woman I have ever brought home.”
“Really?”
He nods. “Melony realized as soon as she saw you what you were to me, how important you were.”
Our bodies brush closer to one another, my breasts bumping against his warmth. I should keep in mind that he lied to me. He used my best friend…
It’s that thought that has me pushing away from him or at least trying to.
“You used Sarah.”
“No, I asked Javi if he could find you. It just so happened he was spending his Christmas the same way we were, only with your friend. I don’t think he ever meant to hurt her. Not the way he looked at her.”
“How did he look at her?”
“The same way I look at you.”
I’m not going to touch that one. I let him pull me back in. “Sorry I hit him.”
He chuckles and takes my right hand in his to look at the scuffed knuckles. When he finds out some of them are bleeding and swelling, the smile drops off his face.
“Angel?” He has me up in his arms and heads to the kitchen before I can register what is happening. “Why didn’t you tell me you hurt yourself?”
He sits me on the island and goes for the freezer. I can’t help but push -just a little bit.
“Omission of truth.”
He turns his head and shoots a narrow-eyed glance my way. I think I gave my first genuine smile since I left him. He walks over with an ice pack and gently places it against my knuckles before sweeping me back into his arms. He carries me into the bedroom and more memories hit me. They hit the hardest in this room. It was in this room that so much happened.
Flashes of him kissing his way down my body as he undresses me, the first time he laid between my legs and used his mouth on me, the first time I came on his tongue. The first time I ever put a man in my mouth. That one makes my body turn molten and a throb starts at the juncture of my thighs.
“Barrett.”
I need to tell him to put me down, to go back to the living room or the kitchen. That I can’t be in this room. With him.
“Rhett." He corrects me.
"Rhett."
"The med kit is in my bathroom. Just the med kit.” He says it like he can read my mind. And maybe he can. Maybe it’s the same way for him. Maybe he is hit by all the things we did in this room just as I am.
He says the med kit is in his bathroom, but he sits me on the bed instead of taking me in there to patch me up. Doubt starts to assail me as soon as he walks away. I should run. Again. I could be at the door before he even knew I had moved. Right? So why am I sitting so still like I never want to leave? Oh yeah. All those memories. They weigh me down. Or at least that is what I tell myself.
It’s the memories.