Page 11 of His to Cherish
“Ollie?” I whisper, gaping up at him, praying he can explain this in some way that makes sense. His expression shifts from angry to regretful. In fact, he looks a bit sick.
Ollie says something to the stranger at my side but I can barely hear over the rushing sound in my ears. A secret club.Not for the faint of heart,the man had said. And then that word—submissive.
“Come with me,” Oliver says, his hand wrapping around my elbow. I blink, trying to wake myself from the overwhelming haze of confusion that has settled over me. I glance over to see the stranger is already halfway across the room. I have no idea what Ollie said to him, but it was enough to get him to leave.
I tug my arm away from my friend. “I’m not leaving until you tell me what this is all about,” I say. “What is this place?”
He glares down at me. There’s a tick in his cheek, his jaw clenched tightly shut, and I feel a sudden shiver creep up my spine. He looks angry. He looks like it’s taking everything he has to keep in control.
But then his expression softens slightly and he reaches down to take my hand. “I didn’t say you were leaving,” he says. “I just want you to come with me.”
I want to argue some more—why can’t he just tell me what this place is right now?—but there’s something pleading in his gaze that I can’t help respond to. He tugs gently on my hand andI follow him as he leads me to a leather booth on the far side of the room. It’s slightly quieter over here, most of the tables in this section empty. Ollie runs a hand through his hair—which looks much messier than it did when he left me—and gestures for me to take a seat before sliding in across from me.
He stares at me over the table for a long moment. “How did you get here?” he finally asks.
“I drove.”
He raises an eyebrow and I shift in my seat, trickles of guilt stirring in my stomach over my sneakiness. “I followed you.”
“Youfollowedme?”
I shrug. “I wanted to know why you were in such a rush to leave me.”
His jaw clenches again, that angry look coming back to his eyes. “I wasn’t in a rush to leave you,” he bites out. “I left because I had to.”
“Why?” I press, ready to scream with frustration. I swear if I don’t get some answers soon, I’m going to lose it.
He gestures around the room, eyes flashing, and I think he might be as frustrated as I am. “Look around, Lilly. You don’t need this shit in your life.”
“What shit? What is this place? Why did that man call me a—” I break off, unable to say that word out loud. Every time I even think it I get the strangest stirring in my belly.
Oliver closes his eyes and lets out a loud sigh. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“But you should?” I place my hands flat on the table, leaning towards him. “If this place is so awful, then why are you here?”
“Because I belong here,” he barks, eyes snapping open. I can see the angry flash in their chocolate depths. Maybe that anger should scare me, but it doesn’t. If anything, it makes me want to lean even closer.
“Ollie,” I whisper, reaching my hand across the surface of the table. “Please just tell me what’s going on. We’re not supposed to keep things from each other.” I swallow. “Aren’t we best friends?”
He lets out a bitter laugh. “I have a feeling you won’t be saying that after tonight.”
My stomach drops. “Don’t even joke about that,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes. “You can’t just…Ollie, please don’t even hint that we might?—”
“Hey,” he says quickly, taking the hand still resting on the table and squeezing my fingers tightly. “Don’t cry, Lills. I can’t handle that.” I blink rapidly, trying to rid my eyes of the tears, but it’s no use. I’m overwhelmed and freaked out and still stinging from the rejection of earlier.
Ollie curses, releasing my hand. Before I know it, he’s out of his seat and around the booth, sliding onto my bench. He grips my hips then swiftly pulls me up into his lap. I nestle into his chest, the feel of his strong arms around me calming me immediately. “Don’t cry, sweet girl,” he croons. “Please don’t cry. Of course we’ll still be best friends.” His arms tighten. “You’re the most important person in my life. You know that, right?”
“You’re the most important person in my life, too,” I whisper. “Which is why I don’t understand any of this.” I look up at him, his face only inches away. God, he’s so beautiful. Even when he’s angry. Even when I’m messy crying on his lap. “What are you hiding from me, Ollie? Why do you feel like you can’t trust me?”
His jaw clenches. “I’m afraid this will make you feel differently about me,” he admits.
“What will? This club?”
He shakes his head. “This isn’t just any club, Lilly.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I kind of got that impression when the guy outside told me I needed a member to come in.”
His fingers tighten on my arms at the mention of the stranger. “He shouldn’t have brought you in here.”
