Page 38 of Dark Things
Rebelle
My eyes crack open, and immediately I shut them. The curtains peeled back, and the sun feels like a laser beam set to increase the pounding in my head.
I roll over and look at the clock. It’s eleven a.m. on a Friday. Since I don’t have classes today, I should really go back to sleep, but I need pain meds and food, stat.
Groaning, I get out of bed and make my way into the ensuite bathroom. The shower is already running, but Haunt doesn’t notice me. I take full advantage of the alone time and strip down. A shower will help with the headache.
He glances over as I open up the glass door and he smiles, pulling me to him and hiding his face in my neck. “Good morning,gioia mia.”
I groan, resting my forehead on his pec. “Morning, my love.”
He chuckles, putting his hands on either side of my face before making me look into his eyes. “Hungover?” he asks.
“Yeah, too much bourbon. I think I finished the bottle at one point; I have no idea where it is, though.”
He grabs the shampoo and turns me around, washing my hair in slow, circular movements that make my scalp tingle. It feels more than amazing. I groan and lean back into the sensation.
“Want to tell me what’s bothering you? I’m getting the vibe,” he says.
I squeeze my eyes shut and wish that I didn’t have to do this, but it’s becoming a problem, and I need my ride or die. Last night when I was wallowing in my own pain, I realized I’ve never kept a secret from Haunt, and I don’t think I can start now.
“It’s going to make life harder if you know. I don’t want to put you on the spot. I can handle it.”
He rinses my hair before putting conditioner in and twisting it into a bun at the base of my neck. I remember the first time he washed my hair and forgot to twist it up. I hate the feeling of the slippery conditioner on my shoulders. Since then he’s got my routine down to a perfect science. It's one of the small reasons I love him, he always knows what I need and if he doesn’t then he learns how to make me happy.
“We’re a team,” he says, tuning me around and scanning my face. He must see the pain, because he pulls me back into a hug. “Tell me who hurt you. Justgive me their name. All you have to do is hand me the match.”
He kisses my forehead before taking the loofah and putting some body wash on it. He creates slow circles, starting at my shoulders and working his way down to my stomach. There’s nothing sexual about the movements. Haunt makes me feel comforted.
“It’s about the guys. Colter, Stafford, and Brooks,” I whisper.
He looks up at me from his kneeling position as he washes my legs and feet. “Did they do something? You know I have no problem making them disappear. Or is it that you’re interested and we should have a conversation about adding to our relationship?”
I compose myself for a moment, trying to find the best way to phrase this. We’ve always had an open policy when it comes to more men added to our relationship. Usually it’s only for a one-night stand or a few times before we move on. There’s not a lot we can offer in terms of a relationship, but having fun is something we both enjoy.
“They are…they’re…” I try to get it out, but the tears start to fall, and I don’t stop them in time before he sees.
He drops the loofah and stands, grabbing onto my biceps. “What did they do?” he growls.
I try to stop the tears to answer him, but I can’t get the words out. Why does this hurt so much? I thought I was over them, over the whole mess. I’m so angry, butmy soul doesn’t understand what I need to do. It doesn’t understand that we can never be together again.
I exhale and place my hands on his chest. “I knew them before,” I hiccup. I try to stop the shaking, but I can’t seem to control my body.
Haunt rinses my hair quickly before he shuts off the shower and steps out. He dries off quickly and then motions for me to get out, where he wraps me in a towel and dries me off, placing kisses on my skin as he goes. Love pours into each one.
He wraps the towel around my chest and leads me back into my room, making sure the door is locked before leading me over to the bed. He lies down and pulls me with him, then begins to finger comb my hair over my shoulder and away from my face. I must be making him wet again, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Before juvie?” he asks. There’s a hesitation in his voice. I wish I knew what he’s thinking. There’s never been an issue before because Haunt is my person, and what we have could never be broken. He’s it for me.
“They were the boys who crushed my heart. They were…Haunt, they were my life, and when it all happened, they left me to deal with the fallout. I haven’t seen them in five years. That first day in the courtyard, I saw Colter, and it was like being punched in the chest with a sledgehammer.”
He pulls me closer, making me shift until I’m lying on his chest. He holds me for a momentbefore speaking. “You should have told me. You know there is nothing in this universe that would stop me from making you happy and safe. If you need revenge, know I’m right by your side until I’m no longer breathing. There is nothing that could happen to make me walk away. I love you, Reb. Through everything and anything.Dimmi cosa vuoi fare, gioia mia.”
The tears are back running down my cheeks and onto his chest. It’s making my headache worse, but I can’t move. His arms are the only place I feel like I’m not losing my mind.
“I don’t know. I want revenge. I can’t stand that they get to walk around like nothing happened, free and living their best lives. The rage I have is like a simmering fire in my gut, always on and never going away, but then they talked to me, and it was like my heart and soul reacted like it always did. I’m fucked in the head.”
He kisses my head before rubbing my back. I know he’s not mad, but I need to see his face. Need to see what he’s feeling.
