Page 14 (1/2)

I shake ain

The inside of the rooe and too hot fros in the middle of several couches and chairs I look down to the end of the roo froames

I sit down on the chair and pick up a book

I don’t turn the page I sit there, waiting and refusing to look back at the bed

There is a knock at the door

"Coirls opens it She nearly shovesthe roo the robe she is naked under

I set to use s or the way her hair is dripping down her body

I hate that I like the fact she’s nearly naked and it’s our first ti time I remember why I’m here before I accidentally offer her tea, which I know she hates I point at the fire, "Go" My tone is harsh

She backs up, looking terrified

"Go to the fire"

She backs up more and then around the furniture She drops to her knees on the thick rug and sits back on her heels

I watch her, panicking inside and trying not to just tell her who I a you want to talk about?" I ask

She gets brave with her look, "He will come for me"

It makes me s on it"

"Why?"

"We have business Is it warh in here?" I don’t want to talk about me, the me she doesn’t know exists

She looks like she cos

"Are you fro your hopes up, if you recognizedup I sound like an idiot Jane did that on purpose I bet the stupid Australian thing never even came up in therapy, she just wanted me to look like an idiot

"That’s why you asked me to dance in the bar?"

I shake my head, "I wanted to see if you were the mess the files said you were" That is almost true

She looks like she kno much of a ivess Jane and I talked about privately, "I have a second offer"

She shivers, "No"

"You don’t want to hear it?"

She closes her eyes and shakes her head

"I’d be willing to forgo the beating if you were nice to me"

She shakes her head harder

"You’d rather be beaten? A , than have Stuart beaten?"

She nods and I die a little bit inside

I stand and put a hand out, "Okay then"

She gives me the sweetest look I have ever seen She bats her lashes and sticks her lip out It melts me, but I know it’s her survivor instincts She’s the best at it That look isn’t forlashes and pretty blue eyes won’t work onwith you You’re going to beat me either way"

I nod, "I aly"

She gets up slowly and comes to me I don’t ets close and my hand stretches out to her

Her eyes twitch and I know she senses so about it is familiar She puts her hand in mine I wrap my hand around hers and pull her slowly down to the back of the room

She slows as we near the bed, "No No No No No No"

I a with her over my shoulder to a motel where we could hide out, and I could try to explain Instead, I turn and give her a fierce look, "It will beyou"

She lets out a sob but I push her onto the bed, "Re your feet down the end"