Page 51 of Hate the Way You Lie (Hate 2)

Sitting alone, with nothing to do is not good for me. It’s just me and my fucked-up mind. All I can do is think. Think about how I was only gone for a week. A week that left me with a lifetime of scars.

Thankfully, my body is starting to heal and it doesn’t hurt so bad to move. The bruising on my ribs is still terrible looking and my hand hurts like a bitch, but it’s a lot easier for me to stand and move on my own. It also helps that I’ve been hooked up to an IV at night to make sure I remain hydrated.

I might hate Marnix right now, but he’s truly doing everything he can to make sure I’m taken care of. Anything I’ve needed or asked for he’s gotten to me at rapid speed. I know it’s him because the other two barely leave my side. Part of me wonders if he somehow built a grocery store and hospital in the basement to make sure we have everything stocked up.

His pain is palpable even when I can’t see him. He’s dying for me to let him in or at least show him some emotion, even if it is anger, but all I can muster right now is avoidance and indifference. I’m not ready to face him directly. I don’t know what I’ll say or do, so until I’m ready I’ll keep him at arm’s length.

Movement stirs beside me at the same time I notice the door handle moving. Tuna, aptly named for her love of the food item, quickly scrambles to the end of the bed, the hair on her back rising. Her ears and eyes are alert as she crouches into fight mode. She’s guarding me, protecting me from anyone who dares enter the room. She’s kind of a softy, but at first glance, she seems like a vicious guard dog.

As soon as blond hair peeks through, Tuna stands down, her tail wagging rapidly back and forth. My sweet Cohutta. Even Tuna has it bad for him. She adores him just as much as he adores her. When she’s around Cohutta, she’s a wild, free spirit. When she’s around Rush, she acts like his little sidekick protector, and I’ve heard that she is not a fan of Marnix in the slightest.

That’s my girl.

Now that she’s bathed and cleaned up, it looks like she’s a corgi mix of some sort. Whatever she is, she sure is cute.

“How’s my sweet girl?” Cohutta asks Tuna as he pets her, scratching her favorite spot behind her ear. “Is that right? You’ve been protecting and loving on my wild girl? Ahh, that’s a good girl.” The way he talks to her like a baby has my heart melting. This guy shows love to everyone and everything.

While he’s distracted by Tuna, I take in his appearance. He looks significantly better than when I first got here, but I can still smell a faint amount of alcohol on his breath each night. It scared him knowing that I was gone and wondering what I was going through, but part of me thinks there’s something else going on with him.

“And how is my wild girl doing?” He comes around and sits on the edge of the bed next to me, brushing my hair from my forehead so he can kiss it. I lean into his touch, embracing the warmth he’s radiating.

I groan. “Bored. Going crazy. The usual.”

He chuckles from the pitiful pout on my face. “I know, baby, but you need to heal.”

“Healing is boring.” I go to roll my eyes, but he moves in so fast, stealing a quick peck on the lips before I can give him my attitude.

“Even with me by your side?” He tilts his head playfully.

I can’t help but smile. I truly love this man. “Fine, it’s a little less boring.”

“A lot less boring. Now let’s get up, but not too fast. I couldn’t tell if it was you or Tuna that smells, but now that I’m closer, it’s definitely you.” He starts sniffing with a disgusted look on his face.

“You better watch it, or I’ll have Tuna beat you up. She wouldn't find you so charming if she knew you were being mean to me.” I go to swat his arm with my good hand, but he captures it, kissing along the yellowish bruises still lingering there.

“Hmm, maybe it was Tuna instead of you.” He grins mischievously.

“That’s what I thought.” I joke as I sit up and move to the edge of the bed while he stands. It takes me longer than I’d like to get up, but once I’m standing, Cohutta takes my hand, carefully leading me into Marnix’s bathroom.

He spins to face me, his eyes darkening as he tries to get himself under control. I can tell he’s battling a war with himself as he helps me take off Rush’s oversized shirt I’m wearing. Since I haven’t been going anywhere, I’ve been alternating between Cohutta and Rush’s shirts to lounge around in.

He slowly and gently peels it from my body, leaving me naked in front of him. Shame floods my face when I realize my bruises and scars are on full display. I don’t like them seeing what Zayan did to me. I don’t like the reminders of how easy it was for him to break me down. I go to hide my battered body with my arms, but Cohutta stops me. “Don’t you dare hide yourself from me. You’re beautiful no matter what. These marks show your strength, not weakness. They tell your story of survival.” Cohutta’s words stun me, heating my cheeks even more. He always knows how to make me feel better.

He spins around to turn on the shower before pulling his own shirt off. My pulse races at the sight of his tattooed skin clinging perfectly to his toned muscles. Desire courses through me, feeling a deep need for him. “What are you doing?” I croak.

“Starting the shower?” he asks, confused.

“You have to get naked for that?” My entire body feels like it’s on fire from seeing his perfectly sculpted torso. I need time to heal both mentally and emotionally. I’m not there yet, but seeing him like this doesn’t make it any easier.

My brain is going crazy all the time. One minute I want to have sex to erase the memories; the next, just the sight of one of my guys sends me into a spiral. It can change within seconds. I don’t know what to do with that. I’m not sure I’ll ever be back to my old self. Healing the first time from Zayan was hard enough. I’m not sure I can do it the same way again.

“I’m taking a shower with you,” he says nonchalantly, dropping his sweats to the floor and stepping into the shower. He reaches out for me to join and my feet carry me towards him after I pick my jaw up off the floor. How can one person get hotter every time you see them?

Cohutta pulls me closer to him, gently wrapping his arms around me as the warm water cascades down our bodies. My heart begins to slow once it realizes I’m safe with him. Cohutta is what home feels like. Warm. Protected. Comfortable.

He unwraps his arms from my body before pushing my hair back to hold my face between his hands, tilting it up so I can look at him. The depth of his eyes shows so much love and fierce protectiveness. Leaning forward, he slowly presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I can’t tell you how many times I thought I was never going to see you again. I still feel like I’m dreaming every time I see you,” he whispers against my mouth. “I thought you were gone forever.”

“I’m here now. I’m yours. We have all the time in the world,” I whisper back, sparks flying when my lips graze his.

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