Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Waking up the next morning, I am alone in my bed, my hands are no longer tied but faint bruises remain. If it wasn't for them, I would believe I just had another intense fantasy.
I struggle to slide off the side of my bed as my muscles quiver like jelly.
I’m sore and unable to even hold myself up.
I need to rehydrate, desperately. I stumble my way to the bathroom and quickly pee.
Standing and flushing the toilet, I make my way to the shower and freeze.
There, in the corner, the garden tub is filled to the brim with a bubbling fragrant concoction of steaming water.
Hopping in, I flinch at the hot water stinging my skin. I wash quickly, my tense muscles relax in the soothing water. When I run my loofah over my neck, it stings, and I rip my hand back. My scrub is stained with dark blood. I push it to the side, determined to finish my bath first.
Tobias has to be the one who set this all up and though I am pissed at him, I appreciate it as much as I can before I start my hell of a day.
Once cleaned and relaxed, I hobble over to the fogged-up mirror above the sink basin. I wipe my hand across the mirror. I can't stop the gasp escaping my lips. A giant bite marks my skin. This is no fucking hickey, this is like a fucking vampire went at me. I didn't know Tobias is that kinky.
Thankfully my bathing hasn't disturbed the scab that has formed over it, but it still isn't pretty. It is red, angry, and ugly, bruising around the edges. I pat it and the sting makes me bite my lip. “Argh I’m going to fucking kill him,” I scream to the void.
I storm out of the bathroom and look for some clothes, not giving a single fuck about how much I hurt.
Thank god today is Friday, I'll get a chance to be away from those assholes for two whole days. Hopefully, this thing will disappear by Monday. And if I’m really lucky, no one will notice it today.
Grabbing my makeup bag, I walk back into the bathroom and start applying my makeup, trying to conceal the bite mark.
At least I know I didn’t imagine it; the bite mark proves he has indeed been here.
Shit, what if Theo finds out? Will he be pissed off that I got hot and heavy with Tobias?
We didn't fuck, though my body feels like it has been, thoroughly.
I didn't even know you could come that many times without losing the ability to think.
I toy with my hair, trying to hide the mark that’s impossible to cover completely.
I wear my hair down; it’s my best chance to escape notice.
Finding my clothes, I put on a high waisted black skirt and a white blouse, tucking my blouse into my skirt before grabbing my perfume and quickly spraying my wrists and the side of my neck that isn’t a bloody mess.
I slip my heels on and grab my purse. I don't even get to the door before I hear them knocking. “I’m coming, jeez,” I complain.
How am I supposed to face Tobias after last night?
The door opens, giving me no time to prepare. Theo gives me a little wave before leaning against the door frame, a smug smile tugging his lips. “Good morning, Imogen.” He whistles. “Damn, Tobias really gave you a good one.”
My head hangs. Even with all that prepping I still can't hide it? “Where is Tobias, anyway? I need him to answer for this.”
Theo chuckles at my anger. I thought he would at least be jealous that his boyfriend has gotten all hot and bothered with me. Instead, this guy sounds like he’s cheering us on. “Tobias and I don’t have secrets.” I huff, annoyed he thinks there is nothing wrong with any of this.
I stare at Theo.
“Calm down, you’re always so angry. What did you think?
I’m gonna fight for you?” He bounces up and down, shadow boxing.
I can't hold back, I laugh. This is why I like Theo.
Yet I also know he has a darker side; I have only seen it a few times, but Tobias is always there, sending me home, or in my case, back to my car.
Unlike Tobias, I have only seen Theo angry twice in the time I have worked for them.
Once when we were in a meeting, everyone seemed to scatter, and I was sent home.
The second time when he and Tobias had a huge argument.
I can’t remember what it was about though.
Actually I can’t remember what it was that set him off at any time.
Theo stops jumping and wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me toward the foyer. “You don't want to be late, do you?”
Tobias isn’t anywhere to be seen. I get the one thing I wished for so vehemently. A safe ride to work. I can't believe it when we get into the garage safe and sound and I haven't had concern for my life even once!
I even have time to scan my newsfeed on Facebook. When we arrive, Theo opens my door and escorts me inside.
I see Tom in the foyer. He waves but puts his hand down fast when he sees Theo walking beside me. He turns his back, going back to mopping the already clean floor. I think it’s strange that Tom changes around both of them. I’ll have to remember to ask him about it.
We ride the elevator upstairs but Tobias is still nowhere to be seen. And here I was, thinking he would come early and torment me. It’s very unlike Tobias to not show up at work at all. I open his office door and peer inside, but the lights are off and the room is dark.
“Looking for me?” His voice whispers behind me, making me jump. My heart skips a beat. I turn around, he stares down at me before he steps into his office and flicks the light on. My heart is going crazy just seeing him.
I wait by the door, gathering my anger at seeing his smug face. He knows I’m pissed. Theo must have warned him I’m on a warpath and want blood, his in particular. He sits on the edge of his desk and motions for me to step in.
“Let’s have it then, I’m ready,” he says, rolling the sleeves of his shirt up. Theo steps in behind me. Is he here on my side, or to stop me from running after I finish Tobias off?
“Should I get popcorn?” He leans his hip against the door, closing off any escape.
“What was it you said this morning?” he asks me, the picture of complete innocence.
Innocent my ass, I want to kick him. Theo pretends to think, and I roll my eyes.
“Oh, that’s right, she would like to give you a piece of her mind, and to think, all this over a little love bite,” Theo mocks with a shake of his head.
“Love bite? Does this look like a love bite to you?” I demand, pulling my hair off my shoulder. Theo looks and his face splits into a grin as he chokes on his own laugh.
“Why would you do that? You better hope it doesn’t scar.” Theo laughs again, making me glare at him.
“What the fuck is so funny, Theo? I don’t see you walking around with your neck looking like it has been bitten by an animal.” Tobias doesn’t say anything, but I can tell he thinks it’s just as funny as Theo. Am I missing something?
Theo straightens and walks over to me, slowly unbuttoning the top two buttons from his shirt, eyes locked on mine.
The smile is still on his lips as he pulls the first one open and then the second.
Grabbing the fabric, he slowly, teasingly pulls it away from his neck and cranes it to the side, exposing it to me, and pulls his shirt from his neck and shows me.
He has an identical bite mark to mine, only it isn't red and angry.
His mark is a few years old at least. Fuck, does that mean I'll have a scar forever, too?
Body shaking, I ignore the smug Theo, launching all my rage at Tobias.
My eye twitches. The nerve of this man! “You just go around biting people? Branding them like cattle? And you let him?” I jab a finger at Theo but he dances back out of my way, buttoning his shirt back up. He shrugs. I open my mouth, ready to scream like a banshee again.
“Let me remind you, Imogen. You didn't seem to mind.” My face burns and I can't even look at Theo, dipping my eyes to the ground. Does he have to bring up anything from last night in front of Theo? Does he have zero care about his boyfriend? When I peek back at Theo there’s no rage, just a mocking eager smirk, his eyes drifting from one of us to the other, licking his lips as if it all excites him.
“How could I mind if I didn't even know you had done it? I didn't find out until this morning! You want me to just bite you randomly without telling you I'm leaving a fucking scar on you for life?”
Theo’s composure breaks and I turn and glare at him. I can tell I’m getting nowhere with this argument. “Will you stop laughing, Theo? It isn’t funny!”
“You will understand soon enough.” Tobias interrupts me. “And I don’t go around just biting people, I have only marked you and Theo.”
“Understand what? That you’re a cannibal?” I hold a hand to my poor neck. “And what the fuck do you mean by marking? This is more than a scratch or some tiny mark. It's like you tried to give me a tattoo with your teeth. You didn't tell me you were into that type of kinky shit.”
“Like I said, we will explain this later. I have a meeting, but we will sort this out tonight. You’ll be joining us for dinner. I don't have time to scour through your apartment to make sure all of the bottles are gone.” Tobias explains everything calmly, a faint smile on his lips.
“Hell no! I’m not going to your apartment! What, so you can bite me again?” I whirl on Theo. “And same with you; you’re just as sick in the head as he is. You both need to just stay away from me, I’m sick of this little game you’re playing,” I whirl, done with talking to these two.