Page 16 of Ensnared By Silence
She chuckled and shook her head. “Yeah, right. A crazy woman attacks you in your sleep and it’s a good night.” She tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear and continued, “I get that you’re just being nice to me, but it’s really okay. I understand, and I don’t blame you.”
Her smile was the same one she wore after our passionate encounter in my office last night, a facade of happiness while she kept her words hidden.
“Nothing changed as far as I’m concerned, but if you need space, I’ll give that to you. For a few days, then I want to take you out to dinner. Maybe dancing.”
She snapped her gaze to mine, and I winked, hoping to relay how much I didn’t want her to push me away. She smiled as Mathias walked into the room.
“You ready to head home?” he asked, and she nodded.
“I’ll return you clothes to you later this afternoon,” she explained as Mathias walked outside.
Offering her my hand, I helped her stand from the couch, and she tossed the blanket onto the back. I brushed my hand across her cheek and fought the need to kiss her. She licked her lips, and I shortened the distance, pecking her lips softly.
“Keep them. I like the thought of you in my clothes.”
She blushed, and I took her by the hand, escorting her to the waiting truck. I wanted to take her home but knew she needed her friend more than a ‘clingy man’. My internal caveman was screaming to keep her locked up until I could destroy her demons, but the rational side knew she needed space to deal with whatever tonight was.
Stopping at the open door, I saw Mathias and Skid at the rear of the truck while I stood awkwardly with Aubrey.
“I want to hug you, but I don’t want to upset you,” I admitted, and her eyes filled with tears again.
“I would really love a hug,” she replied, and I pulled her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her and folding my head over hers, cocooning her. Her small arms wrapped around my waist and she rested her head over my heart.
After one of the guys cleared their throat, she reluctantly pulled back from me and I kissed the back of her hand before helping her climb into the truck. Mathias climbed in behind her and I nodded to Skid as he rounded the back of the truck. Realizing I didn’t give her my phone number, I placed my hand on the door and she looked at me with confusion.
“I don’t have your phone number.”
“I’ve got Mathias’s and yours, and I’ll make sure everyone is connected. I’ll be back in a few hours,” Skid remarked, and I watched from the small yard as his big red truck pulled through the tree-lined driveway and out of sight.
I went back inside and entered the hot tub enclosure to find Aubrey’s skirt, shirt, and bra still laying on the small table against the fence. Lifting the shirt to my face, I inhaled her scent and it calmed the rage stewing. Needing an outlet for all my frustration, I quickly sprinted upstairs and changed into a pair of workout shorts.
A few months ago, I set up a heavy punching bag on the back deck overlooking the lake to work-out when the urge stuck. Grabbing a water, I opened the sliding glass doors to let the morning air in and made quick work of pulling on my gloves. I played my workout playlist and went through my normal warm-up before I started swinging on the bag.
With each punch into the thick leather, I imagined it was the person who hurt her. I didn’t have a face to associate with him yet, so I punched harder and harder, needing to expel the rage and hate that was filling me.
No one deserves to have that happen to them, and to see the aftermath of someone else’s callous actions and selfish needs destroyed the last bit of naivety I still carried. My heart was racing and the sweat dripped down my body, stinging the cuts and scratches covering my arms and fueling my need to destroy.
My arms hung heavy against my sides as I threw one last punch into the bag. Flinging the gloves off, I paced the desk, huffing with my hands behind my neck, waiting for Skid to return. I collapsed into a chair and slowed my breathing as I looked across the lake at nothing.
