Chapter 10 Lily
Lily
Coming to, I jerk and sit up quickly, my brain a mash of differing sensations. My head is starting to pound and my joints are aching. The warning signs are there that I’m about to have another flare-up and I groan, staring around the unfamiliar room.
“Where the hell am I?” I ask, my heart pounding and my eyes wide. None of which helps how I’m feeling.
But memories flood back to me quickly and my cheeks turn pink as I realize that some of my aching parts are in areas that don’t usually get such a workout.
Areas that I absolutely worked out last night. Or rather Mark worked out last night. I fall backwards and my mouth curves. I grasp the silky sheets and pull them tight to my body, wincing at the slight scratchy feeling.
These aren’t my silky thread count and I feel that little niggling feeling that says I’m about to start itching. Grimacing, I sit up again.
Damn it, I don’t want to make him feel bad again! It’s not his fault that my body keeps going to war with itself.
But, where the hell is he? Sitting up again, I throw my legs over the bed and then slip my feet to the cold wood floor, hissing.
His side of the bed is already cool so that means he’s been gone for a while. A frown scrunches my brows as I really, really hope that he’s not disappointed. I mean, he didn’t seem disappointed when he woke me up last night to take me yet again.
But men are weird critters. Who knows what will set them off?
I turn around and search for my clothes but I remember that most of them were scattered around downstairs and once again, heat hits my cheeks.
He wanted me so much, we didn’t even make it upstairs. Surely, that means something.
Glancing around in the dim light coming in from the hallway, I see a t-shirt of his and pull it on.
It hangs all the way down to my knees and I chuckle, running my hands through my hair.
It’s not as soft as my sweater though and I start to feel that itch along my spine that signals bad things coming.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter under my breath. My joints are so sore that it hurts to step and I want to go back to bed but I need to get home and hole up for however long this latest flare-up takes. Just let it run its course.
But I need to find my boyfriend and tell him what’s going on first. And I can’t hear him either.
Shuffling painfully out the door, I pick my way downstairs, grimacing when I find my clothes scattered on the steps.
Until I think about why and my smile grows so big it looks like that old cartoon of the green creature at Christmas.
Faint mumbling hits my ears and I follow the sound to the kitchen doorway.
“I’m telling you that it was the most amazing night of my life and that’s all I’m saying, Liam. No details. I’m not that kind of guy.
Giggling under my breath, I study his long, lean, muscular body as he leans against the counter and sips at a cup of coffee.
“You gonna tell Chris that you won the bet?” Liam’s voice is coming from Mark’s phone on the counter.
“What bet?” Mark grumbles, taking another long sip and rumpling his dark hair. I can’t see his eyes but he looks a little testy and I’m really struggling not to just sneak out the door and talk to him later.
“You know, the kiss. You bet that you’d kiss your woman before he found one to kiss.”
My heart stutters at the words and I freeze. Bet?
“I never bet anything of the kind. That was all him.”
“You better let him know that. You didn’t say no.”
“I’m sure I did.’
“I don’t remember hearing you actually say no. He thinks it’s on.”
“Well, Chris is an idiot.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“So how did the kids do last night?”
The conversation continues but I can’t think beyond what he said. A bet? Was last night about a bet?
Shaking my head, I slide backwards and smack into the doorway, grunting in pain. Every single part of me hurts like a mother right now.
But especially my heart.
Mark’s head whips around and he smiles, all toothy happiness. But then the smile melts off his firm lips and he mutters something into the phone.
“Hey, princess. You’re up early.”
Nodding my head, I can’t meet his eyes. Can’t see the hidden emotions that I’m sure are there, just out of my reach.
Disappointment, regret. I’ve seen all of that before. Maybe even a faint memory of last night.
But there won’t be bubbling happiness like what I felt when I got up. Until I realized that once again, I may have been used. Played like a fiddle by another man with another agenda that doesn’t include love for me.
My hand slips up to cover my heart like I can physically block it from the pain scorching me.
“I-I need to go home.” My mouth feels like it’s full of cotton wool and my head is throbbing to beat the band. But none of it hurts as much as my heart.
“Oh. Ummm. I thought maybe we could go and have breakfast together. Then I’ll take you home before I go to work.”
Shaking my head, I fight the tears threatening to slip down my cheeks. “That’s really not necessary. I mean. We both know you got what you wanted.”
His dark brow lifts and I finally look up into his eyes when he mutters, “And just what do you think that was, little one?”
“The bet.” My flat answer tells the tale and I expect him to flush in embarrassment at getting caught.
But he doesn’t. He growls under his breath and tunnels his fingers into his hair, pulling at it. “I did not have a bet. I know what you heard and I know I told Liam that Chris is nuts. I didn’t make a bet so I can’t win a bet. It’s all in his head.”
Tears crowd my eyes again and one slips down my cheek on a silent sob.
“Damn, princess. Don’t do this to yourself. It’s not true. And I can’t bear to see you cry,” he grumbles, stalking towards me, trying to touch me.
But I back away, my lips twisting. “Can you just take me home? I don’t feel well and I can’t think?” Another sob and this time Mark’s face scrunches up. He stares at me like he can see inside me to all my insecurities and pains.
“Are you sick?”
“Yes, I’m…ummm, I’m getting another flare-up. I need to go home,” I wail, unable to keep it together even one more second.
“I’ve got you, princess. I promise you that this isn’t what you’re thinking it is.” My hand comes up and he flinches. “But you need to get home and rest in your own bed until this goes away. I can stay and take care of you.”
Shaking my head so hard my teeth rattle and the pounding in my head grows to epic proportions, I grit my teeth and groan under my breath.
“I hate that you won’t let me take care of you,” he whispers. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about what’s best for you. And that’s getting you home to rest. You need your clothes?”
I’m shaking my head before he finishes the sentence. I just want to go home. I need my bed, my pillow and all my heartbreaking thoughts to keep me company until I finally feel better. At least physically.
“Come on, baby. I’ll take you home.”
He touches my arm gently but let’s go as soon as I flinch away. We walk out quietly to gather my things and head back to my safe haven. My home.
The only safe haven I think I’ll ever have.