Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
As soon as I get inside, I head straight for the shower, telling Xavier to make himself at home. He seems to have taken that literally because as I walk back into my bedroom, I find him lying on my bed.
"Woah, boundaries. What are you doing?"
"Lying in your bed, though by the feeling of it and how hard it is, I am guessing it doesn't get used much," he says, bouncing on it.
I roll my eyes at him, tugging my towel tighter.
"Am I right?" he asks.
"I usually sleep on the couch with the TV on. I like the noise," I tell him.
He nods, his eyes running up the length of me.
"I dare you to drop the towel," he says, smiling deviously.
I glare at him. "This isn't some slumber party to play truth or dare."
Walking over to the dresser, I snatch out my flannelette pajamas before stalking back to my bathroom. I quickly change before walking back to my room to find he is still comfortably in my bed.
"Sexy," he says, wiggling his eyebrow at me, and I fold my arms.
There is nothing sexy about my pajamas, which is exactly why I chose them. They had holes in them and yellow ducks; nothing is showing except my feet and hands.
He laughs, putting his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, I will stop. But can I borrow your shower?"
"Sure, towels are in the linen cupboard next to the bathroom," I tell him, and he jumps up, wandering off.
I sigh looking around my room. If my brother catches him here, there will be hell to pay. There already is hell to pay over the incident earlier, but I don’t think Brian truly believes them. He knows me too well and knows I am not stupid enough to get involved with anyone.
I am a private person and I don’t like people questioning me or digging into my past. Brian and I have a deal I intend to keep because I can’t afford the truth to get out.
Brian knows this, knows it better than anyone; he also likes to remind me of it every chance he gets, using it against me.
And I have no choice but to give into his demands.
Brian is erratic and slightly unhinged, and I owe him.
Until that debt is paid, I have no choice but to do as he asks.
Sometimes, I wonder if it will ever be paid.
Will he ever give up tormenting me? But at the same time, he is my brother, and despite the pain he causes me, I still love him, and I know he loves me in some way.
Flicking the lights off, I grab my blanket from the basket and my pillow before climbing on the couch and flicking the TV on.
I turn the volume down, so it is background noise.
I rarely sleep in my room unless I am exhausted and know I would pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow, which is rare.
I am pretty sure I have slept at work more times than here since moving to the tech floor.
Nothing worse than coming home to an empty house with nothing but the tumultuous thoughts in your head.
I am just dozing off, my eyelids becoming heavy, when I feel arms move under me, plucking me off the couch. Opening my eyes, startle. I grip Xavier's shoulders, not expecting the motion and how quickly he moves as he reaches over the back of the couch.
“Ah, I am a little too big to fit on the couch with you,” he says.
“No, you can have the bed. Like I said, I rarely sleep in it as it is,” I tell him, kicking my legs and trying to get down, but he ignores my attempts.
“And I am not sleeping alone. I always sleep with Blaine. I like being the big spoon, so tonight you are my little spoon.”
“I am not sleeping in the same bed as you.”
“Why? Are you worried about what the neighbors would think? Oh, the scandal when your neighbors see me creeping out of your room,” he taunts. “Pretty sure the neighbors are hoping you invite them to your bed.”
I roll my eyes, and he turns the lights off before dumping me on the bed in a not-so-gracious manner. I bounce off with a squeal, landing on the floor at his feet.
“Geez, I said I would spoon you. No need to beg at my feet,” he says, clicking his tongue.
“You did that deliberately,” I snap at him, getting to my feet.
The room is so dark, I can hardly see since he’s shut the bedroom door.
No light creeping in, and I hate the dark.
I know. At my age, you would think I was over the night terrors, but getting older only brought more.
Only instead of the boogeyman, I dream of real monsters, the ones that aren’t a figment of your imagination, their threats real, and their sins darker.
“Are you scared of the dark?” Xavier says as I feel along the bed, trying to get to the other side of the room so I can at least open the door for some form of light.
“No, of course not. Don't be ridiculous,” I lie.
“So, why are you feeling around like a blind woman?”
“It’s dark. I can’t see.”
“Oh, I was just wondering if you were trying to give me a rubdown. Cock is higher if that's what you are looking for.”
If I could see him, I would punch him. Maybe not. I am not a very violent person, but I can always imagine punching him.
“Warmer, get warmer.”
My hand comes in contact with his thigh, my hands jerking away.
“Are you naked?” I ask him, outraged when I feel no pants.
“Yep, as naked as a wee baby. Though I can assure you it is bigger than a baby’s.”
I roll my eyes at his crude joke when I feel a hand wrap around my wrist.
“Forget looking for the door. I swear no monster is scarier than me in this room. I shall protect you from the things that go bump in the night unless you want to go bump in the night. I won’t say no; I am happy to do the bumping.”
He laughs, ripping me onto him.
I push off his chest, slightly embarrassed at how easily he’s just manhandled me. Am I really that piss weak?
“Hmm, I like you on top,” he says as I try to climb off him, his hands holding me in place.
“And I like personal space,” I tell him, sliding off him and lying beside him.
There is a man in my bed. It feels shocking because I can’t remember the last time I had someone other than me in my bed. My first and last boyfriend rarely stayed over. Once Brian found out about him after showing up unannounced, he Brian made sure he was never to return.
Since that incident, it hasn’t been worth getting involved with anyone.
Brian is a ticking time bomb and loved nothing more than showing me how much he controls every aspect of my life.
My only reprieve from him was when he was in prison.
But even then, he would ring just to remind me he would get out and be back to ruin what little sense of freedom I have.
Xavier shifts, tugging the blankets over us before ripping me to his side and wrapping his body around mine. It is oddly comforting, besides his dick pressing into my back when he shifts impossibly close. I try to escape his clutches, but he chucks his leg over mine to keep me there.
“Chill, Bella, I won’t fuck you unless you ask. Feel free to ask,” he says, and I elbow him.
“Sleep, or I will go back to the couch.”