Page 37 of Encircled in Darkness
“Natalia!”
I was shaken awake. “Amaya. Baby, wake up.”
James soft voice pulled me from the pain, and I blinked into the dark room, finding him leaning over me, his hand stroking my cheek. I felt the tears flowing and I sat up, wrapped my arms around his neck, and sobbed.
“Shh. It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here. It’s okay.” He rubbed my back and rocked me slowly as I cried. “Talk to me, Amaya.”
I sat back and he reached over to turn the lamp on. Sitting next to me, he took my hand into his and waited me for to catch my breath. “I was... I was dreaming of Natalia. I need to call and check on her.”
I went to reach for my phone, but he stopped me. “Sweetheart. Its six fifteen in the morning. I’m sure if there was a problem, they would have called.”
“It seemed so real. She was right there, but I couldn’t reach her. I kept trying to reach her, but I couldn’t.”
“You can call them later and see how she’s doing, and we’ll go to visit her tomorrow. That way you can see she’s okay.”
He pulled me against his chest and leaned against the headboard, softly stroking my back as the tears finally stopped. I fell asleep with him humming a soft tune and the steady beat of his heart against my face. His phone rang, startling me as he reached to pick it up from the end table.
“This better be important.” His voice had a hard edge to it, and I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I tried to orient myself.
He looked at me and I could see the monster flash in his eyes before he stood from the bed. Kissing me on the head, he whispered. “I’ll be right back.”
I nodded and laid back down, pulling the covers up to my neck. I didn’t want to be awake, but the dream from earlier was so real I could still feel her fingers on my face. I touched my cheek as I heard muffled yelling coming from the backyard. Pulling on my sleep clothes, I walked into the living room and saw James pacing in the backyard, his hand clenching at his side.
He turned, saw me standing in the dining room, and quickly disconnected the call. I stepped out on the deck and he slipped his phone into his shorts pocket before pulling me into a soul crushing hug. His body was full of tension and I reached around his waist and rubbed his back as the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon.
“I’ve got to go, and I won’t be back until later tonight. Skid can’t be here until noon, so I want you to stay inside until he gets here.”
I leaned my chin on his chest and could feel the rapid beating of his heart. Trying to force away the fog I was existing in at that moment, I smiled and promised. “I don’t have anywhere to go until work tonight. I plan on spending the day lost in a book.”
James had bought me a reading tablet and downloaded every book from my favorite authors and about fifty from new ones. I loved reading and to have an entire day where I could fall for my next book boyfriend sounded nice. Maybe it would help me snap myself out of the funk.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” I replied honestly.
With James by my side, supporting me and holding me up when the pain got too much, I could survive anything. I followed him inside and watched as he got dressed. He was so sexy with his defined chest and muscular arms. I was never a beard woman until I felt his rubbing between my legs. Now, I loved beards and couldn’t get enough of his.
James walked to me as stroked my cheek. The intense look he gave me had a shiver running up my spine. He leaned in and kissed my lips softly, speaking against them. “When I get back, everything will be better. I promise.”
Confusion and worry raced up my spine as he walked to his truck and pulled away from the house. There was a moment when the darkness whispered,‘Say goodbye, whore. You’ll never see him again.’
“Shut up.” I spoke into the empty house and locked the doors behind me.
Sighing, I started a pot of coffee, knowing I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep until I saw James again. I settled on the new couch on the back porch and enjoyed a cup of hot coffee as I watched the bright rays of sun begin to light the yard, pushing the dreary night away.
