43. Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Maeve Henderson
Over the last couple of weeks, it’s felt easier to be around Leon. I don’t know if it’s because he told me about his mom, he took care of me during my period, or just because I’ve gotten used to being here, but I can’t complain.
It was, however, embarrassing as heck that he had to see me like that. I tried to hide it, but I was bleeding too heavily to even get off the toilet, let alone to act like a civilized human.
So I was stuck in place the entire day. I sat on the toilet for so long that my legs went numb and my butt had a ring from the toilet seat, again, embarrassing. But I was so scared of ruining his floors or furniture.
I spent the entire day anxious and nervous for Leon’s reaction to find out that I was on my period, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was exactly the opposite of what I anticipated.
He was by my side the entire evening. Sure I was alone when I woke up and shamefully, I missed having him there, but I know I at least fell asleep on him before he snuck off.
I would complain, but I refuse to let him make assumptions about my willingness to be here. And he did sort of take the entire next day off of work to stay home and take care of me.
Maybe it’s a blessing and a curse that my periods are so severe yet so short. I cramp so badly that I want to curl into a ball and cry, but it’s over in a couple of days, and I’m left gaslighting myself into believing that it’s never really as bad as it was.
This period, however, I don’t think I can tell myself that it wasn’t that bad. I think I’d rather remember it as being awful than to admit that Leon holding me was welcomed as more than just a necessity to ease my discomfort.
It really helps that he hasn't said any more subtle digs at the fact that I'm a prisoner with a shock collar since our dinner, too. I'm frustrated at the same time that I'm happy. I shouldn't be getting along with my captor, I should be looking for a way to sneak his phone out of his hand and call the police, but I haven't even tried that once since he's taken me and I can't even logically explain why.
I'm telling myself that I am just desperate to be treated like someone who matters for once in my life, that for once I am not the quiet girl with the annoying restrictions that follows Carlie and Sean everywhere.
Leon might be my kidnapper, but he actually treats me like I am someone, it's sick I know. I just need him to say something cold like he did the last few times, something to snap me back into my sane mind.
Until then, I’m confused on how I feel and how I should feel, and it’s frustrating that I can’t differentiate between the two.
I'm on the living room couch finishing up my last exam while Leon makes dinner. I don't know what it is, but it smells phenomenal.
It almost makes me want to slam this laptop closed and stick my face straight in whatever pot or pan he’s cooking from, but this is my environmental conservation exam, and I can’t fail it.
I can’t survive another year with Professor Turner if I fail.
Well, would I?
I kind of doubt Leon will ever let me finish college…
That’s depressing.
Wait, why am I even trying if I’m never going to finish my last year?
I’m half tempted to give this professor the middle finger and slam his laptop closed, but I won’t. I have to give myself the false sense of hope that he’ll someday either let me go or let me finish college.
When there’s around ten minutes left of my exam and I’m simply sitting there making awkward eye contact with this woman, Leon comes around the couch with a wooden spoon in his hand and offers me a bite.
I stare at the concoction worriedly, I don't want to be sick again so soon. Usually I am so careful that it can be years between exposures, it hasn't even been a month yet, but he puts a hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Trust me, please." He begs.
I stare up into his eyes, the one warm and inviting, the other cold and clinical and ask myself why should I trust him?
Better yet, why shouldn't I?
He scrubbed the entire kitchen clean after I got sick, threw away full trash bags of things that even had the potential of being contaminated, and he even got all new wooden cooking utensils because he read that wood can hold things in.
He spared no expense to make sure that didn't happen again. So, logically I should just trust him, right?
I keep eye contact with him while I open my mouth and he touches my chin to guide the wooden spoon in. The eye contact we hold while I close my lips around this spoon shouldn't be as arousing as it is, but I even see his pupils dilate when he watches me.
Whatever Leon put on that spoon is phenomenal.
A variety of spices, sweetness, a touch of a kick, and a rich hearty tomato flavor burst onto my tongue. "Sweet potato and three bean chili, I know chili doesn't have beans in Texas but you need the protein. Is it okay?" He asks.
I smile up at him and nod. "It's amazing, and I'm not from Texas anyway, so beans are fine." I say with a casual laugh.
I know he knew I wasn't from Texas, but I guess he needed the reminder. That or he thought I would only want authentic Texas food, if that was the case I wouldn't be vegan.
I turn my attention back to the computer, barely missing the professor rolling her eyes at our small moment, but I choose to ignore it, and Leon walks away to go back into the kitchen.
When the buzzer finally signals that the exam time is over, the professor takes a look at the background of my camera view. I assume she's looking for Leon. "Dr. Aldon is a brilliant mind, you know? It's a waste for him to end up with the person you hire to mow your lawn." She says when she doesn't see him in view.
I don't even have the chance to respond when I feel Leon pull on my bun, effectively tilting my head backwards until I'm staring up at him. His fingers dive into my bun and tug at my roots while he closes the distance between us and presses his lips against mine.
I can taste a hint of bourbon on his breath, mixed with the chili, and his intoxicating cologne surrounds me, but what surprises me is the butterflies that erupt in my belly and the chills that overcome my body at the feeling of his lips on mine.
He puts a hand around my throat, making me almost gasp in surprise, but he isn't squeezing, he's just holding me by my throat in some kind of possessive show for the professor.
When he breaks the kiss, I'm left staring up at him, stunned. Based on how dilated his pupils are, I have a feeling he feels the same way, but he breaks our eye contact first and focuses on the laptop across my legs.
"My future wife will not be a gardener, she wants to be a sustainability consultant. I know you know nothing about that, but fun fact, it pays more than a low level psychology professor that will never be good enough to get tenure.” He states firmly.
This woman doesn't even have the chance to respond before he continues. “Even if she wanted to be a gardener, I would support that and my office would have the nicest property in all of Houston because I would be her top client." Leon brags.
I don't know if I'm more shocked that he's sticking up for me or that he just claimed that I will marry him someday.
I’m pretty sure I have to be willing to do that.
This professor just gapes at us for far too long, not responding but also not moving, and I love that he’s stunned her into silence.
"How about we get those results? You're stressing out my dessert." Leon says with a cocky grin while his hand remains on my throat. His thumb keeps rubbing my pulse point, I assume to make sure this professor knows that I am his dessert.
I blush deeply, embarrassed that he felt the need to comment on the remark I made earlier, but honestly, I’m not even sure why I said that.
I’m not sure why I’m so jealous that a much more successful and age appropriate woman is hitting on him, but I am.
This woman clears her throat and focuses on the screen rather than on the camera view for a few minutes.
"You passed." She announces flatly.
I'm grinning like a darn fool, I passed all my exams? I passed my third year of college!
"What's the score?" Leon asks, his voice is cold and clinical like when he reminds me of our situation, it's somehow even more terrifying when it isn't directed toward me.
He's a terrifying man when he needs to be.
I visibly see this woman pale at his tone and her eyes shift toward the screen again. "Environmental Conservation, 98" She reads off. She continues to read off all the scores from all of the finals I took today with my lowest score being in biochemistry, and it was 78%.
So I passed all my classes this year!
Leon gives a short nod, seemingly not impressed with my scores.
It sends a wave of shame through me that he's not proud, but why would he be?
He's a freaking doctor! I'm sure he passed all his exams with flying colors, and I bet none of them were about plants like the professor pointed out.
"Are we done here?" He asks her. His voice is still void of any emotion, and frankly, I don't like it. I want to cower away from him and the way he's staring at the laptop with so little emotion.
"We are done." The professor answers, but Leon has the laptop slammed shut as soon as those words are uttered.
His entire face changes to a softer one as soon as the computer is closed and he finally breaks out into a smile. "You did amazing, ma fleur." He says warmly.
I look up at him, smiling back and feeling my shame melt away at his praise. "Thank you." I say genuinely.
I don't know if I'm thanking him for telling me I did well, letting me take my exams, or for sticking up for me, but it doesn't matter.
Leon offers his hand to me, one that I take willingly as he guides me to the kitchen table. "I just have to pull the cornbread out of the oven and we can eat, okay?" He asks.
“Okay.” I say quietly. I have to give him the trust that he’s begging for, I’m still scared of being sick, but I’m too hungry and too tired to put in the effort to make something myself, so I’m telling myself that Leon wouldn’t let anything happen to me.