Page 25 of Shattered Hope
I just hoped I didn’t have more nightmares tonight. I don’t think I could handle that. Not again, so soon.
By three o’clock in the morning, I just got tired of tossing in bed, so I went to the kitchen to get some cold water. I knew I wasn’t going to sleep, but with Wells sleeping not far from the kitchen, baking was out of the question.
While I was living with Daniel, I had learned that baking could be a very soothing activity. But I couldn’t risk meeting Wells in the middle of the night. It felt too dangerous for my peace of mind. The man was starting to affect me in the strangest ways.
Two hours later, I was going insane. Sleep still eluded me, and I hadn't been able to focus on anything. I just couldn’t relax. Fed up, I took a shower and headed to the kitchen. If all the walls in the apartment were soundproof, Wells wouldn’t hear me in the kitchen, and I really needed to do something.
I had seen some chocolate chips in the pantry, so I decided to bake cookies. It would keep me busy enough for a while, just what I needed. I was removing the last tray out of the oven when he walked in.
11
“Am I smelling chocolate chip cookies?” he asked, picking one from the plate on the table.
“Yes… I was bored… I hope you don’t mind,” I said, feeling a bit awkward.
The man was only wearing his pajama pants. His broad, chiseled chest was on display, and my heart skipped a beat while my eyes feasted on the display. He was too handsome, too manly, too much of everything. I could hardly believe how my body was responding to his mere presence in the room.
When the hell had this started? How could I feel so attracted to a man? Men only wanted sex, and I had established a very long time ago, sex and I were a terrible mix.
He leaned against the kitchen counter and bit the cookie, moaning with pleasure as he savored it. “These are delicious… why would I mind?” he asked, as he finished eating the cookie, turning every bite into a sensual act.
I cleared my throat and looked away, astonished with the wetness I was feeling between my thighs—unheard of… utterly incomprehensible… and yet quite real.
“I don’t know… I thought you might… this is your kitchen after all, and I’ve used your ingredients,” I mumbled, wriggling my hands nervously.
“As long you share them with me, feel free to bake whenever you want,” he assured me, picking up another one. “Do you have plans for today?” he asked, changing the subject.
I turned to look at him, and my eyes got stuck on his naked chest, once again. “No… not yet…” I managed to answer after licking my lips.
“Do you like art?”
“Art? Yes… of course…”
“There’s a new show opening today, in a friend’s gallery. Would you like to go with me? The painter is a new impressionist, and my friend tells me he’s outstanding.”
“That sounds interesting… but why would you want to take me?” I asked, finding his invitation intriguing, at best.
“I had forgotten all about it, and it’s too late to ask someone else,” he explained, in a blatant tone.
“But not me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, not sure if I should be feeling insulted.
“You live here… and you wouldn’t expect anything else, right?” he replied, twisting his lips in a sardonic way.
“What could I possibly expect?” I asked, matching his sarcasm.
“Exactly… so what do you say? We could have lunch somewhere in town before we headed there.”
I opened my mouth to say no, but I didn’t. I wanted to go. I couldn’t remember last time I had done something like that… going out, like a normal person, without having to worry about my behavior or what I said… it sounded a little like paradise.
Each time I went out with Daniel, it felt like an endless nightmare. I had to consider every word that came out of my mouth… every gesture I made… everything I ate or drank…
“That sounds perfect, thank you.”
“Great!” Can you be ready at twelve?”
It was only nine in the morning, so of course, I could. “Certainly. I was about to make breakfast. Would you like some?” I offered, turning around to get what I needed from the fridge.
“It’s your day off,” he pointed out.
