Chapter Fourteen
A headache pounds inside my skull, the kind of throbbing that makes it hard to focus on anything else. My eyes hurt, my ears hurt, everything hurts, and I know it’s completely self-inflicted thanks to the amount of wine I drank the day before, but god, this is hell.
I keep my eyes closed, waiting for the headache to abate enough for me to move and go in search of hydration and pain meds. At least I’m comfortable, and warm and something smells really damn good. I let my hands run over the sheets under me until my fingers bump into something hard.
Huh?
That doesn’t seem right.
Popping one eye open, squinting through the light that floods the room, I finally latch onto what or rather who is lying next to me.
That is a man chest. A very nice man chest, his pecs and abs defined so perfectly it’s like they’ve been carved from stone. Swallowing, I let my eyes drift down, taking in every dip and curve before I see the waist band of flannel pants and the sheets.
Shit.
My eyes bounce up, only to find Malakai smirking down at me, one dark brow quirked, his blue eyes twinkling.
“Oh my shit!” I move so quickly I get wrapped up in the sheets, dragging them from him as I scramble, tangling myself up more. I’m in such a panic, I don’t see the edge of the bed and I’m tumbling off the side before I can right myself. I land in a heap on the floor, the sheets locking my limbs together, my hair falling over my face.
A deep chuckle has every hair raising on my body and I blow out a breath, trying to move the hair from my vision so I can start untangling myself.
I’m still struggling when Malakai’s feet land on the floor next to me and I look up to find him leaning his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees as he watches me struggle, that damn smirk on his face.
“What the fuck are you doing here!?” I snap.
“This is my bedroom,” He cocks his head, analyzing me.
“What!?”
“How’s the head, kitten?” He asks as he stands up, raising his arms above his head to stretch out his unfairly beautiful body. So many muscles, flexing and popping as he moves and I forget how to talk, letting my eyes drag down him. I’ve even stopped fighting with the sheets just to let myself drink him in, the six pack and the muscles at his sides, the veins that snake down his forearms and the V that carves up his hips. A trail of hair leads from his naval down to the waist of his pants and disappears beneath, right to his –
“That’s a dick!” I scream, coming to my senses as I scramble away, taking the sheets with me. That’s a very hard, very big cock tenting the front of his flannel pajama pants.
“Well, you can hardly blame me, kitten,” He steps toward me as I crab crawl backwards until I have nowhere else to go, my back hitting the chaise lounge, “Especially since you were rubbing yourself all over me all night.”
His finger curls under my chin, bringing my eyes to his.
“I was not!” I snap in indignation.
His tongue traces his bottom lip, “How are you feeling?”
“Can you please get your dick out of my face!”
He rolls his eyes and steps away, heading toward the bathroom, “I asked you a question, Olivia.”
I glance to where he’s disappeared into the bathroom, leaving the door open and I scramble to remove myself from the sheets, getting to my feet quickly. The headache is still knocking at my temples and my stomach is rolling, reminding me I really need to eat something and drink a gallon of water.
But first escape.
I look to the bathroom again, slapping my hand across my mouth when I see he’s dropped the pants and is currently brushing his teeth completely naked. His toned ass is staring right at me.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
The water turns on as he spits into the basin, almost finished with his morning routine so I bolt.
“Olivia,” He sighs, catching me making my escape. I throw the bedroom door open and run to the one I was staying in only to bounce right off the door. I shove at the handle, but it doesn’t budge and then I feel his body press up to mine. The warmth of his chest leaks through the shirt I’m wearing, searing my skin. I glance subtly behind me, loosening a breath when I see he’s at least put a towel around himself, so his cock isn’t rubbing up all on me.
“This room is now off limits,” He whispers close to my ear, “It’s my bedroom or nothing at all.”
“I’d rather sleep in the stables,” I grumble stubbornly.
“That’s not what it looked like last night,” He drawls.
“I was drunk,” I hit back, “Drunk me and sober me are not the same person.”
“Get back in that bedroom,” He orders.
“No.”
“Olivia.”
“Malakai.”
I can hear his teeth grinding together, “Your dentist must hate you with all that grinding.” I point out, “Maybe you should get some of those guards or something.”
“You are the most irritating woman I have ever met.”
“Aw,” I pout and look over my shoulder, fluttering my lashes at him, “Thank you.”
His gaze narrows before he drops it to my lips and it’s right about now, I’m going to nope the fuck out of there. I slip under his arm and bolt back into his bedroom, slamming the door before he can get inside, twisting the lock to keep him out.
His fist slams into it. “Olivia!” He roars.
“Yes, Malakai?” I call, heading to the closet.
“Open this fucking door, right now!”
“Sorry, I can’t hear you.” I pull some clothes from the racks inside our shared closet, choosing some leggings, an oversized sweater and a pair of knee-high socks since it looks like it’s going to snow today. A frost covers the ground, and the sky tumbles with grey clouds.
“Olivia!” He yells, pounding his fists hard.
I roll my eyes; he’s being very dramatic.
I strip out of my PJs, throwing them onto the bed and reach for the underwear I got out at the same time when I hear the wood of the door splinter, a cracking sound that zaps awareness down my spine. If he gets through that door…
“Shit,” I hiss, rushing to get my underwear on. I hop on one foot as I drag the leggings up my legs and shove my head through the hole in the sweater. I’m out of breath as I tug my long hair into a messy bun and then I’m rushing to the door.
And breathe…
I unlock it and throw it open, “If you wanted in,” I say sweetly, “All you had to do was ask nicely.”
I pat his chest condescendingly as I saunter down the hall away from him. I can feel his glare boring into my spine and knew I’d find burning anger etched into his face if I were to look back.
Poking the bear probably isn’t the wisest idea but getting him riled up and out of control gives me a thrill. Payback, I like to think of it as. Getting some of my own control back.
I find Louis in the kitchen when I make it downstairs, cooking up something that smells good for my neglected stomach.
“You’re like an angel,” I whisper, drifting towards him.
“Mrs. Farrow,” He beams at me, “Good morning.”
“Well, you were like an angel,” I pout, “Why did you have to go and say that for?”
His brows tug in confusion, “Sorry?”
I wave my hand, “Don’t worry, do you know where the painkillers are?” I ask.
“Are you okay?”
“Too much wine,” I say by explanation.
“Ah,” His face softens in understanding, “Well sit down, let me get you some and then something to drink.”
I breathe a sigh of relief as I take a seat at the island counter, rubbing my temples. He places a glass of fresh orange juice in front of me alongside two little pills which I take immediately, and then he places a plate of bacon, eggs and French toast on the counter, and I don’t wait a second to devour it.
I am starving.
He watches with amusement for a while, “Will Mr. Farrow be joining?” He asks.
I shrug, “Maybe, I don’t know.”
“I will be,” His voice sounds from the doorway behind me and I purposely keep my head forward and down, focusing on the eggs on my plate.
The stool scrapes across the floor as he pulls it out, grating against the headache still to abate, sitting right next to me. I see one dark suited leg and one high shined Prada shoe resting on the cross beam of the stool. He’s dressed impeccably, and that scent that is inherently him is stronger now, wrapping around me.
“You should cut down on the cologne,” I tell him, “It’s stifling.”
The lie falls so easily from my tongue that I can’t help but glance at him, seeing a smirk tugging up the corner of his mouth.
“I’ll be going into the city today,” He tells me, thanking Louis for the food he passes over, “Try not to get into any trouble.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I roll my eyes.
I feel his eyes staring into the side of my face but when I don’t give him what he wants he relents, starting his food. We sit in uncomfortable silence, the sound of our forks scraping the only noise between us. The tension is enough to even make Louis uncomfortable who finds an excuse to leave the kitchen.
“I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” Malakai places his empty plate next to the sink and I shake my head at him.
“The dishwasher is right there,” I tell him.
“Goodbye, Olivia.”
With him looking elsewhere I let my gaze travel down him. He’s just as beautiful dressed as he is undressed. It’s unfair to make a man like him that attractive. Dressed beautifully in a black suit and black shirt, the clothes fit him like a glove, showing off those threateningly broad shoulders and the dark fabric contrasts with the neon blue of his eyes.
“I can feel you staring.”
“Goodbye Malakai.” I snap back at him and then all I’m left with is the lingering echo of his chuckle.