Page 38 of Rivals
I grab her a glass and bring it to her. “Revna, drink,” I command gently. She sits up and downs half of it. Then she lays back down on my pillow and closes her eyes. I sit on the corner of the bed and watch her carefully while gently holding the ice to her face. She takes a shaky, deep breath and releases it. The rest of her body begins to relax, submitting to the aftermath of the adrenaline and drug high. I should have known she would do something like this.
She’s sneaky, and I haven’t slept a lot last week. The only times I seem to be able to sleep is when she’s around. I look at her and hold the ice a little longer, deciding to go back to my part of our work. I won’t be able to sleep now. I’m too amped up.
I feel like I failed her. I know I didn’t actually do anything, but I should have known she would try something like this. She was reluctant to stay with me from the beginning. I just…I wanted her closer, and for once, I didn’t want to tell myself no. She makes me feel better just by being here. The sense of utter panic that filled my heart when I realized she wasn’t here was not something I wanted to experience again.
She is my muse, though she doesn’t know it. The longer we work together, the more nervous it makes me because when this is over and we part ways, all of my inspiration could follow. Then, I’ll be left with nothing but the black, deep ocean of my mind. Only I won’t have a boat to navigate the waters anymore, and then I’ll drown in all of it.
Chapter 28
Lachlan
Thenextmorning,rather,a few hours later, Revna’s phone goes off to wake her up for work. She rubs her eyes and sits up in my bed. There are bags under her eyes, and she looks hungoverandbeat up.
I’ve been awake this whole time. I’ve almost finished the architectural aspect of the painting in shades of white, black, grey, and a hint of light pink. I figured out where we should put the gold leaf as well. Hopefully, Revna will be pleased.
I hear her shift in bed and set my things down to check on her. Her eyes are glassy, and all I want to do is to comfort her, but I’m not sure if I should. She may not want to be touched right now. A sob bursts through her lips, and she spins around, hiding under the covers. “Revna,” I say and sit down next to her.
“I’m going to call in for you. You’re not going to work today.” She sniffles and sits up.
“No, I am. I just need a minute.”
“No, you’re staying home. End of argument.” Her bottom lip trembles, and I lift my thumb, swiping across it. She doesn’t jump. She doesn’t push me away. She locks eyes with me, and then it feels like another wall has broken between us.I want to taste her again.I want to know how she feels under me, on me. I am falling for this woman. Except I don’t know if it’s the way she inspires me or if it’s something more.
It’s much more than that.
My body freezes, that was….that was the same voice I hear when I’m high, and I definitely did not take anything. I shake my head, trying to ignore it and refocus on Revna. She looks at me funny while I reach for her phone and type in the passcode I’ve seen her use. I find the diner in her contacts and hit dial. A woman picks up and asks what she can get me. I think it’s the same woman that Revna was working with when I came with her to work.
“Hi, Revna won’t be able to make it to work today. She’s sick.”
“Let me talk to her right now,” the woman says.
“I don’t think that’s—“
“Now, little boy. I know exactly who you are, and if you did anything to her …” I pull the phone away from my ear and frown, not sure what to make of this woman’s response. Maybe Revna told her something.
She lifts her hand and holds it out, asking for the phone. I put it in her palm, and she raises it to her ear. “Hi, Betty,” she rasps. “No, I’m fine. Yes, I am sick. No, I just need a few days. I’m sorry it’s last minute. Thank you. No, I’m not…” she pauses and looks at me before returning her eyes to the wall. “No, I’m not home. Yes. I swear, Betty, I’m in good hands. Ok, talk soon.”
“Good hands?” I smirk. She rolls her eyes, and a ghost of a smile falls over her face. My heart sparks to life, and then it falls as quickly as it came. Her eyes turn a little glassy, and silent tears gather in her eyes.
I don’t know what we are, but we feel like a lot more than partners in a competition. I crawl into bed behind her and spoon her into my front. My arms wrap around her middle, and she seems to be ok with it. Then she surprises me and turns to put her face in my chest.
“This doesn’t mean anything,” she says into my shirt.
My chest thuds at her words because I think it’s the complete opposite. I think this meanseverything. But I don’t say that, hugging her tighter. She sniffles a bit, and then a little sob bursts from her lips. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s over, you’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
She sniffles again. “I don’t understand why you care.”
My arms involuntarily squeeze a little more, and she doesn’t seem to mind. I look at a point on the wall and stare at it while I try to filter through the why. There are many reasons why, and I know she thinks most of them are self-serving. She’s not entirely wrong. But not entirely right, either. With my little bird in my arms, my soul breathes. The raging in my head stops and the tumultuous waves of anger calm. She is undeniably a balm to my entire being.How do I tell someone that?
Show her.
Awesome. The voice is still here, even though it’s not wrong. She lifts her head, and I lean back a little to look her in the eye. Her eyes search mine, and I kiss her forehead. A sharp inhale passes her lips as she tilts her chin. My heart pounds, and my blood boils in anticipation. Her lips gently press against mine, and I try to hold back the groan, but it comes out low. That seems to urge her on as her arms link around my neck, and she draws herself closer to me.
I stay as still as I can, waiting for her to decide what we do next. Her tongue prods my lips, and I open for her as she nervously tastes me. It’s all I can do to keep from taking control of the kiss, telling her the answer to her question with words that don’t have sounds but a feeling. But the voice said to show her, so I’ll do that.
My hand slides over her hoodie-covered back and to her butt, where her shorts are the only thing between us. I squeeze her backside, and she moans. I take that as approval and seize control of the heated kiss, savoring every nip and brush of our tongues. I can’t get enough of her, even though my lungs beg for air.
