Chapter 17: Waking up in the Devil's lair.

Laura's POV:

The soft warmth of the sunlight crept over my skin, waking me up. I stirred. Creaked my eyelids slowly— The light was blinding— and for a moment I struggled to adjust to the light.

I savored the clean, white sheets covering me. My eyes narrowed, I looked around.

Where am I?

I bolted up right from the bed with a daze. The room was unfamiliar— I swallowed the panic welling up in my throat and sat up.

“Where is this place?” I asked aloud, to no one in particular.

This place looked nothing like my room, for one I always had a portrait of Ria, Gwen and I hanging just inches from the bed.

Did something happened last night?

I scrambled up from the bed with a jolt, pulling off the dark blue duvet that covered my legs and stood up. My head was throbbing like a large band was rehearsing inside making me uneasy.

I slipped my feet into the plush rug on the floor, wrinkling my nose.

“What is this foul smell.” I muttered and then I was taken aback by the bitter taste in my mouth.

I looked down, noticing my clothes were soiled up with…

Wait!

I peered closely, grabbing the fabric.

Was that dry vomit?

I wrinkled my nose, as the stench hit me harder in the gut.

What really happened last night, huh?

My heart was panting at an even faster pace than my throbbing head.

All I could remember from last night was going to that coffee shop and there was…

Williams!

I looked around the room.

Did I end up spending the night with Williams?

A knot tightened in my stomache, clawing at my insides down to my skirts. I flexed my leg, checking for any soreness in my thighs.

There was none.

I breathed a sigh of relief— but the fowl stench enveloped me again. I clasped a hand to my nose, looking round the house.

I had only gone to the coffee shop, then the club. So how did I end up here?

What happened at the club?

I could vaguely make out fuzzy images, the bar and the dance…

I looked through the room, taking in the wide window with silvery curtains hanging on the walls. It was spacious and even more larger than my room, but it looked just sophisticated and expensive like mine.

Whoever lived here, had good taste. And money.

I caught sight of an ensuite bathroom in a corner and quickly took advantage of it. It was best to get rid of this stench first, before thinking how I got here and then finding my way out.

When I was done, I slowly crept to the bathroom door and peeked out. Someone had dressed the bed and changed the sheets and even dropped a dress on the bed.

The rest of the room was just as before— sleek and modern, bright sunlight slanted through the tall and wide windows that face some random paintings hung strategically across the concrete walls.

I walked out into the room and slipped into the dress. Then slowly— pulled open the bedroom door. There was a hallway that opened into another wide open space.

I stood outside the bedroom for one moment still trying to process, where I was and how I got here.

Was this William's place?

Hell! My heart thumped even harder— what happened between us last night?

Although I couldn't feel any soreness..but did he….?

I swallowed hard, afraid to complete the thought. I sauntered through the hallway. It led to an open kitchen.

There was a bar on the left side of the room with barstools tucked underneath.

The sight of it made my head throb even harder.

“You're awake?” A voice called from behind me, I leaped up with a start, my heart hitching in my throat.

I Wheeled about with a thumping heart to face who ever was there.

He was a tall barechested masculine figure— my jaw dropped as I caught sight of his biceps, the color rose to my cheek.

My breathing was becoming hard.

I looked up… and my eyes froze, widening and almost popping out.

“Jaxon?” What was he doing here?

Why was I here.

“You look like you just saw a ghost.” He smirked, walking slowly past me. His shoulder brushing against me.

Tingling something, I couldn't quite place in me.

“Huh!” I stood there, nervous and panicked— and breathing so slow.

This was not happening!

I shut my eyes.

This is a dream, alright. A bad dream. If I open my eyes now I'd be back at home with my baby.

I swallowed hard, eyes firmly shut for I-don't-know-how-long. Then I opened it, slowly. Peering at the white paint on the wall.

I was still in the same kitchen. The same sleek industrial kitchen.

I Wheeled about.

Jaxon was perched on a barstool, sipping whatever liquor was in the glass in his hands and he was— god damn shirtless.

I looked away quickly.

I could see his tanned skin and muscles rippling when he moved his arm from the corner of my eyes.

God damn. How could I have woken up in this devil's lair?

Oh God! Oh God!

I looked back at him, he grinned as if he had all the time in the world, his gaze leisurely traveled from the top of my head to my toes, then back to my face.

I felt my toes tingle.

The heat rising to my chin.

“Are you just going to stare at me all day?” He drawled.

“I should be asking you that.” I retorted back.

Then I suddenly thought about something..

My gaze hardened at him.

“Did we…? Did you…?” I stuttered crossing my arms to hide my chest which felt exposed under his gaze.

It wasn't something above him after all.

And I was going to definitely sue him this time.

He chuckled.

What was funny?

One dark brown lifted as he waited for me to finish my question. My mouth felt dry, and my head throbbed even harder.

“Just tell me!” I snapped.

“Tell you what exactly?” His eyes were laughing at me.

He knew exactly what I was talking about.

He knew!

I gritted my teeth— he skipped off the bar stool.

“Stay away from me.” I stepped back, something feral and dangerous rising in me.

He took a step closer, frowning. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

I ignored him while frantically looking out for a weapon nearby. Just incase he decided to assault me— I could grab one of the pans on the hanging pot rack if needed.

“Why am I here?” I asked, taking another step back while still glaring at him.

His eyes narrowed, he stepped closer muttering softly, his voice barely audible. “You don't remember?”

My back stiffened, something growled in my stomache. Beads of sweat poured out from the back of my neck, swarming over to my face. “Remember what exactly?”

His face darkened. “Some pervert almost took advantage of you last night. I saved you.”

I didn't believe him. I couldn't, I glared at him. What if he was actually the one who wanted to take advantage of me?

He shook his head. “He could have raped you— if I didn't reach you in time.”

The bitter taste in my mouth suddenly spread through my body, as if awakened by the word— rape.

The throbbing in my head tripled up— pounding so fiercely that I couldn't even differentiate if it was my heart heaving or my head.

The pain was intensed. I held one hand to my head, to steady myself. Little slips of memories where pouring in.

“And you threw up all over my jacket.” He added.

And Williams was holding me in his arms, kissing me…

Did he try to rape me?