Chapter 161

HENRY

My hands were clammy and resting on my lap. My breath came unevenly. Perspiration beaded all over my forehead. And my head was held low, weak eyes staring down at the floor of the car.

The car was in absolute silence, and the only sound that broke it was the smooth roll of the tyres against the asphalt.

I swallowed, tipped my head backward and stared out through the window, staring into nothing. Tears still rolled down my cheeks.

That poor man.

I sniffled and wiped the snot on my nose with the back of my hand, cleaning it on my jeans.

“What will happen to him?” I enquired in a weak voice.

“Who?” Shane asked, eyes never leaving the road.

“Him.” I said, “The man you just murdered in cold blood.”

“What else? He's dead.”

“That's not what I meant.” I mumbled softly, “His body. What will happen to it? Will it just decay over there? What if people find out?”

“Oh, don't worry about that.” His tone was reassuring. “My men are taking care of him as we speak.”

“So, you just have men that cleans up every mess you make. Must sure be nice.” I said in a curt, sarcastic tone, then hugged myself, “Will he appear on the news tomorrow with the headline saying he fell on a rebar of a construction site. Since he's a drunkard already, I doubt anyone will find that hard to believe.”

“Oh, no, Jones, there's no need for him to appear on the news.” He said with an air of nonchalance. “He's a senile, miserable, lonely drunkard. No one's gonna miss him or notice he's gone. In fact, I even did him a favor by ending his life.”

“So, the only reason Ace appeared on the news was that he had people who would notice his absence.” I said.

He nodded once. “Precisely.”

He’s so awfully thorough when he does these things.

“Are you gonna… try to… make me… kill someone again?” I asked.

“Do you still want to take control during sex?” He asked, then pulled his eyes off from the road and fixated them on me, that amused smirk playing on the corner of his lips. “If the answer is yes, then yes, I will make you try again.”

I felt my stomach churn, and I shook my head quickly, “No, thanks. You can take control all you want. I'm used to it anyway.”

He let out a low laugh and returned his gaze to the road, “Really? I have to admit, it was fun letting you take control for the first time.”

Gosh, he's so breathtaking when he laughs. I wish he could laugh more often. I love this whole new side of Shane I'm seeing. I just wish he'd be a lot less psychotic.

“Are you staying the night?” I asked casually, hoping he would say yes.

“Do you want me to?” He counter-asked.

“Yes!” I answered enthusiastically. Okay, maybe a little too enthusiastically. “I also… I also want you to cuddle me like you did the last time.”

He didn't say anything. He just smiled.

I'm gonna take it as a yes. My chest warmed.

Ahh, I have to be the absolute worst. Just a few minutes earlier, he was brutally and gleefully murdering a helpless middle-aged man. Now, I'm asking him to cuddle me.

Silence reigned in the car once more.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You already are.”

“Why did you…” I paused, hesitating for a split second, then let out a soft breath and asked, “Why did you save me back there?”

His face remained expressionless. “When?”

“Back there, when your… former teacher was trying to smash the vase on my…”

“It was a reflex.” He snapped at me, voice suddenly harsh. “That’s it. Don't read more into it.”

“Oh… okay.” I mumbled softly. I was disappointed by his answer, though. “Are you… are you okay? The vase looked pretty heavy, and it looked like you were hurt.”

“I'm fine.” He deadpanned.

“But… you made this face of…”

“I said, I'm okay, Jones!” He shot at me again, voice harsher and colder this time, “Enough with the stupid enquiries.”

“Oh… I'm sorry.” I muttered, glancing away.

What's up with him? Why did he get mad all of a sudden?

The rest of the drive back home was done in utter silence. A few minutes later, he finally pulled up in the parking lot. We took the elevator up.

I walked into the penthouse first, him behind me. I turned and stared up at him hopefully. “Are you coming in…”

“No.” He deadpanned, “I'll be sleeping in one of the rooms.”

He turned to head into the other rooms. That's when I saw it. The back of his shirt was drenched with blood.

“Oh, my God, Shane!” I bellowed.

He swung around sharply, alarm in his eyes as they darted to and fro, hands tightly fisted, “What?! What?!”

“You're... you're bleeding.” I pointed out.

“Fuck.” He muttered under his breath, then unclenched his fists, “It's nothing. Go to sleep.”

He turned to leave, but I ran past him and blocked his path. “No, it's not nothing. It needs to be taken care of so it won't get infected.”

“I said, leave it alone.” He groaned, jaw tightening.

Then he tried to sidestep me, but I blocked his path once more, persistently.

“No, you could get…”

He didn't wait for me to finish. His hand shot out, wrapping around my throat tightly, cutting off my words. His hold blocked my windpipe… just a little.

Something dangerous flashed in his eyes, voice low and steady, “When I tell you to leave it alone, Jones, you leave it alone. Just because I've gotten pretty chummy with you lately doesn't mean you get to forget your place. You're my fucktoy. My cum rag. Got it?”

I nodded quickly, desperate to be free.

Then he let go of me. My hand flew to my neck as I coughed and gasped for breath. He sidestepped me and disappeared into the room, the door shutting behind him.

Once again, I've just been given a reality check.

My hands dropped to my side, and I sighed, then pressed my lips tight and walked into my room. I stripped, slipped into my PJs and got into bed. I had already taken a shower before Shane arrived, and we had sex, but I still stank.

However, I was too tired to take another bath.

I turned off the light and lay down. I doubt I'll be able to sleep tonight. I had no idea how many minutes I lay there for, staring up at the dark thin air.

Suddenly, I heard a rattle on the door, and I sat up instantly. My hand flew to the nightstand and flipped on the light.

Shane stood by the door, shirtless. The only thing he had on were the pants of his PJs. He looked incredibly hot like that, but I decided not to dwell on that thought.

In his hand was a small container of ointment.

We both stared at each other for a moment before he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, close to me. He handed me the container.

“Apply it on my back.” He said calmly, not meeting my eyes.

My heart warmed, and I swallowed, then took the bottle from him. I stared at his broad back.

Whoa. The cuts were everywhere.

I rubbed the ointment between my palms, warming it, then set my hands on him. He tensed under my touch.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He snapped, “Just do it.”

I already knew he hated this.

I started at his shoulders, spreading the ointment slowly, careful around the worst of the cuts. My fingers traced the spaces between them, light and unsure.

He let out a quiet breath of frustration. “You’re holding back.”

He noticed?

“Sorry, I…” I paused, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” He gritted his teeth.

I pressed a little firmer, working the ointment in, smoothing it down the length of his back. He flinched once, then stilled again.

“Tell me if it’s too much.”

“It’s fine, Jones! Just do it, goddamn it!”

I moved lower, steady now, my hands finding a rhythm. I avoided the deeper marks, circling the rest.

His shoulders eased bit by bit.

The room stayed quiet, just the faint sound of my hands against his skin. When all parts of his shoulders were covered, I let my hands rest there for a second, feeling him.

“You know, Shane.” I began, “You can be vulnerable around me, too. There's nothing wrong with being vulnerable sometimes.”

“Are you finished?” He rasped.

Then rose to his feet and stretched out his hand for the container. I handed it back to him, staring up at him.

Shane couldn't hold my gaze, something unreadable in his eyes. He looked uncomfortable looking into my eyes for the first time since I'd known him.

Without a word, he spun around and walked out of the room, the door shutting with a soft click, leaving me bewildered.

I blinked.

What was that about?