Chapter Six #3
…nineteen-one thousand, he lurched off the couch, tangled in the blanket and cushions, heaving.
I staggered, racing to put the bag under his mouth.
My stomach rolled as he blew his first chunks, grabbing the bag from me.
By his second heave, I was swallowing rapidly.
“Three, two, one…” Cole’s deep voice reverberated from behind me.
A hand appeared in front of my face, holding another trash bag just as I started to choke. I snatched it quick, bent over, and started retching. Brent and I’s gags filled the room. What a mornin’.
“That’s just fucking gross,” Zane mumbled after a few ticks, making a gagging sound himself.
Cole slipped an arm under my waist, supporting me. His fingers pushed my hair back between heaves. “Still think that was the best plan?”
“Shut up…” Heave! “Dad.”
Cole actually chuckled. “I’m not acting like a parent, Ember. I’m acting like an adult.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled, and then started dry heaving. Almost done. Hallelujah.
“Damn. That’s some impressive puking.” Stash observed with way too much spunk. I’m thinking he’s a strange one.
“What the fuck?” Brent choked from the ground.
“Morning, sunshine,” Ally jibed, still picking up trash. The woman never puked. It was against her religion or something. Although, she had deserted us to clean the other side of the room. She may be able to listen to it without repercussions, but she had a very sensitive nose.
Brent groaned and rolled back on the rubble, closing his eyes, blanket and cushions under and over him. “I feel like shit.”
“We never would have guessed,” Zane commented dryly, green around the gills. He had the funniest expression of disgusted horror of his face. I would have laughed if I had felt a mite better and wasn’t holding a puke filled bag.
“You done now?” Cole asked softly.
“I think so,” I murmured, spitting into the trash bag. This wasn’t one of my finer moments.
He took the bag-o-puke from me and tied it off, holding it with one hand.
“Hold on to me,” he ordered. That was all the warning I got before he stepped in front of me, close enough that our shoes bumped, and bent down, wrapped his free arm under my butt and lifted me off the floor.
I squeaked, automatically throwing my arms around his neck and legs around his waist.
“Ember?” Brent’s eyes cracked at my pathetic sound, but didn’t really focus.
I ignored him. I had a rock-solid man keeping me suspended off the ground as he hiked through wreckage to deal with. “Cole, what the heck are you doing?” My head spun. Too much movement.
Head falling to his shoulder, I groaned.
He paused. “Are you going to puke again?”
“No,” I moaned. I had done my puking. I only ever did it once after too much drink. “But you’re movin’ too darn fast.”
He grunted and trekked on, but taking shorter, smoother strides.
“Thanks,” I grumbled and he squeezed my thigh. We passed the doorway. “Where in the Sam-hell are you taking me, anyway?”
“Ember?” Brent moaned behind us, his voice faint in the increasing distance. “Where the hell did you go?” I could hear Ally say something to him, but couldn’t discern what it was.
All Cole said was, “You need a shower and we need to talk.”
We entered the bathroom and he dimmed the lights. I don’t think I said out loud that they had been too bright, but it helped nonetheless. For such a large man, he was very gentle as he sat me on the edge of the Jacuzzi. I leaned over and held my head in my hands as he closed and locked the door.
He sounded uncertain when he finally decided to tell me what this was all about. “Ember, last night at the art gallery…” he trailed off, and I peeked at him through my fingers.
“What?” I asked. “If you think I’m going to make a big deal about us having sex, I’m not. It was just a one off. You know that. I know that.” I shrugged. “No biggie.” Yeah, that sounded good. Just what a guy would like to hear.
He scowled. And it was aimed right at me.
Okay, maybe not what a guy liked to hear.
Irritably, he asked, “When did either of us say it was a one-time deal? It’s not like we had time to talk afterwards.
” He shook his head while my pounding brain tried to comprehend what the heck he was grumbling about.
“Never mind. That’s not what I wanted to talk about right now. I need to tell you something.”
He stared at me like I was supposed to have a response to that. “Okay?”
He sighed and ran a hand over his face. He opened his mouth, then seemed to reconsider, and closed it. He cocked his head and asked, “Are you on birth control?”
Oh! Right. My mind was a little slow this morning. I definitely wasn’t firing on all pistons if I had forgotten about the darn condom breaking. That’s what he was fretting about.
What to say, what to say…
I didn’t want him freaking. That was for sure. I, also, couldn’t take an in depth conversation right now. My hammering head wouldn’t allow it.
So, I lied. “Yes. I’m on the pill.”
His eyes shut and relief practically pored off him in waves. Well, that had definitely been the right answer.
I rubbed my temples, thinking about last night with Brent. Had we used protection? As hard as I tried, I couldn’t remember Brent putting one on. I had only had the one and that had proved useless.
I wondered if Brent would even remember. There was no need to alarm anyone. Stressed out men brought a whole helpin’ of headaches with their nonsense. Besides, if I did turn up pregnant – which wasn’t likely, I would tell them. Oh, so not a thought I wanted to have right now.
Cole’s baby blue opened. And he smiled. Oh, goodness.
But, just as abruptly, his face turned serious and he stepped closer, kneeling in front of me.
“Ember, the condom broke last night. I noticed when I removed it. What I told you is true. I’ve been tested within the last month, with no partners after that, and I have a clean bill of health.
” He paused and looked a smidge uncomfortable.
“Were you telling me the truth?” He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
I wouldn’t either if I had just asked someone that.
I think I growled.
“Get out.” I pointed at the door. “I may be branded with the word whore, but I’m not one.
I would never lie about something like that.
My last partners were Brent and Ally five years ago, and yes, I tested afterwards and I’m clean.
In fact, you and they are the only people I’ve ever had sex with.
” I shook my finger at the door. “Now, like I said. Get on out.” I was furious and it was killing my head.
His jaw clenched. He stared at me.
He could look all he wanted, the big jerk. I wasn’t backing down. What he had asked was uncalled for. I would never lie about the possibilities of disease or death. That was wrong on so many levels.
Stiff as a board, he stood, staring down at me while he spoke coldly, “Ember, what I asked wasn’t unreasonable.
We don’t know each other. This is a normal, adult conversation when a condom breaks.
You may be from a small town, but you’re not stupid, sweetheart.
Asking someone if they were honest where STD’s are concerned isn’t calling them a whore.
It’s calling them a liar.” He paused. “I would have thought you more mature with your obvious past. But, I was wrong. You need to grow up.”
He turned to leave, done saying his piece, but now I wasn’t through saying mine.
“You hold on there a minute, mister. If I’m offended to have my honor questioned about risking someone’s very life, then that’s my right.
I’m not a liar. Or a child, as you certainly found out last night.
You don’t know me enough to pass judgment. ”
He put his hand on the lock, unlatching it. “That was my very point. I don’t know you. And everyone’s a liar. Don’t fool yourself.”
I gawked. “You’re a cynic.” I was shocked. I’m not sure why, but I hadn’t picked that up.
His eyes met mine. “No. I’m a realist. You should try it. It’ll help you see people for who they really are. What they will do, or say, to get what they want.”
Now, if that wasn’t the story of my life I didn’t know what was. It was almost laughable that I was getting lectured about it. Or even needed to be lectured about it.
He swung the door open.
And stopped.
Brent rested with a shoulder against the opposite wall with my bags at his feet.
He wore nothing but the blanket wrapped around his waist, arms crossed, muscles bulging.
His eyes were bloodshot, but alert and watchful.
He stared Cole in the eye for a few moments, both saying nothing, before his gaze slid to mine.
It looked like Brent had regained his inner calm.
“So you’re taking birth control?” he asked, his gaze unflinching.
My jaw dropped.
I threw my hands up in the air in exasperation, even if I felt slightly guilty. “Does everyone ask things twice here in New York?”
“Yes. Sometimes three or four. Cole wasn’t completely unjustified in what he said.” He glanced at Cole and back at me. “Now answer the question.”
“Yes. I’m on the darn pill.” I hoped a lightning bolt didn’t strike me down. I didn’t glance at Cole, figuring that would make me look guilt-ridden after his little speech.
“I’m clean, too, by the way. I was tested three weeks ago and haven’t had sex since.”
At my look of disbelief, he explained, “Sarah’s been out of town.”
My teeth grinded. “Sarah is Supermodel?”
He didn’t look away. “Yes.”
Lord, my head hurt.
“I think I’m done talkin’ with men for a while.” I leaned out the door and picked up my bags, pushing Cole out with a hip bump and banging the door shut with my foot. Good riddance.