Page 48 of Exquisite Temptation

"I have no clue. Casual might be more appropriate. What am I going to do about these bags under my eyes? He can’t know that I have been pining for him."Nothing, cucumber slices, aloe vera and good night sleep can’t fix,my mind reminds me.

"The cat is out of the bag, babe. Your brother already had a chat with him and ordered him to fix this mess." Allie confesses, grimacing with a wry amusement. Katie covers her mouth, raising her arched brows to her hairline.

"He did what? When? I am going to kill him." I grimace with a mock reproval. Christopher isn’t stupid, plus, he got to know me well in the time we were together. Sometimes, I thought he knew me better than I know myself.

"Yesterday. And, hey, you will have to go through me first if you intend to harm him." Allie unleashes unrestrained laughter.

After they help me choose a black button front tie waist long sleeved jumpsuit with sexy lacy panties and fake sparkly diamante choker, Allie and Katie make me promise to keep them updated on how coffee goes before they leave. My bedroom looks like it has been hit with a tornado with clothes laying strewn on the bed, on the floor and armchair. Clearing my clothes, I put each item where it belongs then take a quick shower and change into my favorite PJ’s, parking myself under my duvet. I pick up my phone and message back, agreeing to meet him downtown tomorrow afternoon after I finish work. Yawning with tiredness, my eyelids slide down, and I drift off to sleep.

I stroll through the empty elegant grand foyer of a high rise building, taking a left turn and climbing the stairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a silver white serpent trailing behind me. My heart speeds up, but I continue going up, hoping it will disappear if I don’t pay attention to it. The snake edges closer, sending me a telepathic message.Be aware, someone is behind you.Shaking my head, I ignore her. Suddenly, a person shrouded in darkness appears, cutting the snake in half. Putting fire on my feet, I climb faster, eager to get to where I’m going. When I reach the next floor, the head half of the snake waits for me. She lunges towards me and bites my left hand, her emerald green eyes imploring me to stop and be wary of the person shrouded in darkness.

My eyes fly open. I gasp for breath, my heart thumping wildly in my chest, and tiny beads of perspiration cover my skin. The golden rays of the full moon filter through the picture windows, giving me enough light to glance around my room and reassure myself that it was only a dream. I go in and out of sleep for the rest of the night, the serpent’s warning going round my head like a broken record.

The rain patters on the windows and voices of students and their parents echo in the corridors as they make their way out. I stand in the middle of the classroom, rubbing my forehead and surveying the orphaned pencil stubs, erasers, and sparkly hair bands dotting the carpeted floor. The day passed in a blur of teaching math and helping kids make handmade gifts with fall leaves. During quiet times, my mind kept wandering off back to the dream. I just can’t shake it off.

After a quick tidy up, I put my bag over my head and dash to my car.This will teach you not to leave your umbrella at home.It took three cups of coffee for me to feel like a human being. I scroll through radio stations, settling on early eighties music. The windshield wipers whip back and forth over the window, working hard on clearing the large droplets clinging to the glass. The thought of seeing Christopher again thrills and terrifies me, gnawing away my earlier confidence. I missed him something fierce, like I have missed no one else before. He came into my life and changed me, shaking the very foundation of my being. I expel a long breath and bob my head to the rhythm of "Slave to Love", waiting for the green light to come on.

As I drive forward, I glance to my right. A black slick Tesla runs through the red light, gunning straight towards me. I attempt to let out a scream, but my throat seizes up as panic engulfs me. My arms stiffen against the wheel and press me back into the seat, bracing for impact. Images of my friends and family and snippets of my life flash like a slideshow on speed. The deafening sound of glass shattering and metal crunching strikes my ears. I frantically grasp the steering wheel, fighting to regain control of the vehicle. But it’s too late. The force of the impact twists my car around, forcing me to swerve and hit the automobile parked on the side of the road. I jerk sideways, my head bouncing like a ragdoll and smashing against the metal frame. The airbag deploys, violently thrusting me back. A sudden pain explodes behind my eyelids. My vision tunnels and sounds become muffled, before everything goes dark.

Chapter 29

Christopher

Thesoftandslowtempo of the instrumental house music plays in the background, blocking the noise of the steady thrumming of the rain beating hard against the picture window. Darting my gaze around, I do a quick survey of the circular wooden tables with trendy wrought-iron chairs and padded seats, tea cup pendulum lights, and lush indoor plants dotted in every corner. Several teenage couples crowding the booth behind me break the relaxing atmosphere with raucous laughter. Ignoring them, I check my cell for any messages and see the time. It’s five o’clock. Micaela should have been here by now. Since I’ve known her, she has never been late. I dial her number, but her phone goes straight to voicemail. Maybe after sleeping on it, she has changed her mind. No, even if she did, she would have called or texted. Damn it, I’m done waiting. Right, I’m going to hers. Whether or not she likes it, I’ll say what I need to say. I just hope it’s not too late.

When I get to my car, I ring her number again, just in case. Nothing. It goes straight to voice message. Just about when I fire up the engine, Seb’s name flashes on my screen.

"Hey, Seb. How are you?"

"On my way to the Grand Oak Hospital. Micaela has been in a car accident." He draws an audible breath.

Panic swells in me, threatening to swallow me, stomach first. Every muscle in my body freezes. My heart raps against my ribs, ringing in my ears. "How is she? Tell me she’s okay, Seb."

"I am sorry. I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet. The nurse told me they have taken her to a CT scan to rule out internal injuries. I saw-" his voice trails as a muffled female voice talks to him in the background. "I got to go. The doctor is back and wants to talk to me," His deep voice rasps in a coarse whisper.

"Okay. I’m not that far from there. I’ll see you in twenty." My voice sounds rough, like sandpaper.

My mind spirals out of control, thinking about…what if anything happens to her? Fuck, I don’t think I could survive losing her. God, she better be in one piece when I arrive there.You can’t take her away from me. You hear me? Stop catastrophizing, man. Calm down and breathe.They would have told Seb if she was badly hurt.

After I get a grip on myself, I drive on autopilot and cut through side streets, my hands clutching the wheel until my knuckles turn white. Leaving my car in the visitor parking lot, I tear through it and sprint straight to the Emergency Department. I take inventory of the chaotic environment, browsing around, knowing I am one of the sheer number of people here who wait to hear news about their loved one’s fate. Paramedics zoom past, bringing patients on stretchers, and security personnel patrol the room and monitor the group of intoxicated young men pressing ice packs to their injuries. I crane my neck, searching for Sebastian, but I can’t see him. They must have let him inside. I fucking hate hospitals.

Scurrying towards the glassed-in admitting and reception area, I give the middle-aged receptionist Micaela’s name, explaining she is my fiancée. She buys my lie and buzzes me as I expected, telling me to follow the signs for urgent care with a sympathetic smile. As I dash through the corridor, the high pitched, querulous voice stops in my tracks.

"Take your hands off me, you can’t keep me here against my will." I’d recognize that sound even if I was buried six feet under.

"Ma’am, you can’t leave. Please come with me," A strong, authoritative male voice demands.

Twisting around, I move in their direction in slow motion as if under water and survey her disheveled appearance. What are the odds for her to be in the same hospital as Micaela and looking like she has been in an accident herself? Did she smash Micaela’s car and leave the photograph with the black rose? I chase my breath, but my chest seizes up, robbing the air out of my lungs as dread unfurls in my gut.

For a hot moment, we thought it was Emma because it coincided with her asking me to be her Dom.You should have known better.Emma might pretend she is a mean girl, but she would hurt no one. On the other hand, Brianna is a petty, vindictive, and manipulative narcissist with no moral compass.

"Brianna-" My voice warbles with emotions.

"Christopher, what a lovely surprise," she slurs her words. Holding her right arm, she distorts her face into a grimace, glaring at me with undisguised ruthlessness. The tall, burly security officer with cropped black hair and stony expression cuts me off.

"Are you her relative?" I’ve never considered this treacherous snake my relative, but I need to speak to her alone. I’ll get the truth out of her.

"Yes, I am." He inclines his head, his gaze darting between us, probably sensing the hostility rolling off me in spades.

---