Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven
CANDY’S POV - 11
The last thing I expected to be dealing with on top every other thing this night is breaking and entry. I mean why in hell’s name does my room look like a deranged bear got into a stash of cocaine, ate it all and then went to town in it while caught in the high?
Any other day, I’d have been pissed, whirring with anger at the perpetrators, but after the eerie, disturbing moment I’d just spent being tortured by the mere presence of that man back at the restaurant, I’m filled with terror inside. I can’t shake off the feeling that he might have done this to get at me for refusing his disgusting advances even though I’d only just met him and there’s literally no way he’d have had enough time between then and now.
Shaken, I stand to the side while my hot neighbor talks to hotel security on my behalf. He’s good at it and knows all the right things to say, leaving me to just nod or shake my head no when they direct a confirmatory question at me. He looks so good right now standing a head above everyone else, his jacket lost somewhere in the mess that’s my room. His pristine white and finely pressed inner shirt is tucked into his fitted pants, the sleeves rolled back to display his nice forearms covered prettily in tattoos.
He looks like safety and If things aren’t as they are with us, I’d have flung myself into his arms and stayed there until this too goes away and I feel secure and safe again. The things this man makes me want to do just by being, things I never thought I had in me. Brent fired and shaped me into an emotionally detached woman that found any sign of dependency or feminity repulsive and I didn’t even notice it until he left.
But it’s different with him.
He makes me want to lean into my feminine side and let him take care of me. He makes me want to depend on him even if only a little, while he shows me that isn’t such a bad thing……
He’s obviously used to being in charge, it’s evident in the way he’s talking to the security. That authority rolls off of him in waves even when he’s not trying, but he doesn’t suffocate or smolder me with it.
Or maybe I’m getting ahead of myself and he’s only like that cause I’m not his to beat into shape, I’m just his fun on the side and a ready body to fuck.
Just like I wanted it, I have to remind myself.
Another shiver goes through and I instinctively wrap my arms around myself. When everyone leaves, do I have to sleep in here knowing that whoever was able to get in the first time even with my locked doors can do it again and might actually try?
Before I can voice the thought, hot neighbor comes to me, standing close enough that I can notice him but not touching me or doing anything that might worsen my anxiety. Well, I guess hot neighbor is going to be his name for now since we never seem to get around to exchanging names.
“Can you pack a bag? Get anything you’ll need for tonight and come stay at mine. We’ll come check this out in the morning and see what’s missing.”
Nodding, I move like a battery powered robot to the front of my closet where all the things that had been neatly packed inside now laid scattered on the floor. Picking up my portable luggage bag, I dump it on the bed, tossing in a few things I don’t really look at. Moving still, I go to the dresser and throw in a few more things and then to the bathroom to get my toiletries.
After a few minutes, I reappear in the room with a bag I can’t account for what’s exactly inside, just in time to see him finishing up with security.
“Ma’am we’ll do our best to get to the bottom of this. We’ll check camera footage for leads and we’ll keep you posted on our progress.”
I nod.
“And if necessary we’ll involve the Local police.”
I nod again before watching the two uniformed men go back outside and disappear into the hallway.
“You’ve had one hell of a night. Come let me get you out of this mess.”
Like a sheep with its shepherd, I follow obediently beside him to his door. Using his keycard, he opens the door, keeping me behind him as he goes in first. I follow quietly, watching as he carefully goes around the entire rooms to make sure no one is hiding in it and waiting to wreck havoc.
His room, unlike mine, is in perfect condition that reminds me everything mine should have been and is not.. How can someone be that mean to a stranger? I don’t even have anything in my possession worth all that trouble yet here we are.
“I’m sorry about what happened, I’ll sort it out tomorrow.” He apologizes for the umpteenth time.
I nod again, it’s all I seem to be doing since I opened my room door to the disaster it was. I dump my bag next to my feet, my leg begging me to get off it. I’m sure it’ll be a little swollen by morning, I should have been resting the damn sprain not letting it carry my weight this long.
I didn’t even notice he’d moved at all until he reappeared in front of me with one of his gentle smiles, my bag gone from beside me.
“Come, before the water for your bath goes cold.”
Isn’t he just so thoughtful and sweet? Any other time and I’d have gone on my tippy toes to kiss him.
I follow him into the bathroom, slipping off my dress like someone caught in a trance. His eyes move to me, following my every movement. Unlike I expect though, he does nothing about it when I end up nude before him besides help me into the huge tub in his bathroom.
And just like the last time I was in one, he helps me wash my entire body, his hands gentle and careful like he was handling a child.
Some sort of anger starts to grow outrageously inside me as he continues to do that, taking care of me like I matter to him because I know I fucking don’t. He’s breaking our agreement! He’s supposed to just want to fuck me to within an inch of my life and then pass out snoring like a pig so I can stay unattached easily.
But no, he’s doing all these niceties to lure me into falling for him so he can add me to the number of girls who couldn’t resist his charms and play.
Standing angrily, I towel dry, ignoring the fleeting surprise that cross his eyes and my burning ankle.
It doesn’t matter, none of it does.
I match into the bedroom, rummage through my bag and settle on my flimsy sleep shorts and a mismatched top I tossed in earlier, throwing them on.
“Are you okay?”
He asks following me into the room, coming to stand in front of me, next to the bed.
“Of course, why won’t I be.”
I rub off angry tears from under my eyes before they start to spill. I’ll breakdown if it does and that’s the last thing I want to do in front of him.
“Okay.”
He disappears into the bathroom and I swear it’s better for the both of us. I don’t need him here playing the good guy. Fighting tears, I climb I to bed, telling myself that I’m not the problem. I can’t be. Bad things just happen to have a strong affinity for me and it’s making me scared of everything even potentially good ones.
It's a while later before I feel the bed dip to announce his presence. He’s probably showered too because the soft scent of soap finds its way to me. I expect him to stay away from me because I’m something even I don’t recognize this night. But hopefully when I wake this jumbled mess of emotions that’s fucking with me will be gone and I’ll go back to the me he knows.
But no, he’s not a smart one after all, because he reaches for me, his hand hovering as he whispers,
“Come here, you angry bird.”
And this stupid, old body of mine quietly goes into his waiting arms against my will, my face buried into his bare, muscled chest that feels like comfort just before the waterworks take over me, the tears washing away the pain while his arms hold me close, his voice telling me soothingly that everything will be okay, that I’ll be fine.
Like he understands beyond my façade.