frustration. She was using whatever excuse she could cling to keep the truth a secret. I didn’t like it, but I guessed she was safe for the time being, so I didn’t push.
“Are you going to make me sleep out here or am I allowed to come to bed?” she asked. Her eyes were pure green fire; I’d upset her.
“Of course you can come to bed,” I said as I moved to lift her off the couch.
“Hold it
.
”
S
he waved a hand at me. “I’m perfectly capable of going to the bedroom myself.” She managed to get to her feet just fine, but I kept close to her as she walked to my room in case she fell. She sat on the edge of my bed and pulled off her shoes
,
wiggl
ing
out of her jeans and toss
ing
my sweatshirt and her tank top on the floor. Her bra slipped off and she chucked it across the room.
She finally laid her head down on the pillow and I went into the bathroom. By the time I came back out, she was fast asleep with just a hint of a smile on her face
, h
er hand curled underneath her chin and her body on display. She hadn’t pulled the covers over herself and the sight of her took my breath away.
My eyes were drawn to her stomach, which was so flat it indented beneath her ribcage and gave her a sickly look. I frowned at her as I watched her ribcage move. There was something going on with her. And if it killed me, I would find out what it was.
***
The following morning, I woke first. I had to get to the bar and do paperwork. I stumbled into the bathroom and jumped in the shower to wash away my sleepiness. I figured Rainey would be up by the time I got out, but she was still fast asleep. I walked out into my bedroom naked, the light from the bathroom illuminating the room I’d drawn the curtains in. I walked by the bed and glanced at Rainey, who was sprawled out, face down and
un
covered.
I did a double-take.
Her back was covered in big, ugly bruises that turned her skin nearly purple. I walked over to her and gently trailed my hand down her back. What the hell?
Are
these from her fall last night? What
is
going on?
I didn’t wake her; instead, I went to my closet and pulled out clean clothes to wear.
Why was she hiding something from me? I wasn’t judgmental or overprotective, so it didn’t make sense why she wouldn’t tell me. But then again, her thought processes were a far cry from mine. Where I was mellow and laid back, she was just a bit uptight and reserved.
She hated the small town life where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Although I wasn’t a fan of the whole town knowing what I was up to, I accepted it as a part of my life in Casper.
Rainey rolled over and stretched just I pulled my jeans up. I left the button undone and smiled at her. Bruises or not, she was gorgeous. Her blonde hair was wild and unruly across the pillow and she shyly pulled the sheet over herself
while smiling
seductively at me.
“You should come back to bed,” she mumbled, still half-asleep.
I almost followed her beckoning but remembered the bruises. I didn’t want to hurt her any more. I shook my head at her.
“I’ve got to get to work,” I said as I pulled on my favorite blue
T
-shirt. It was thin and faded because I wore it so much.
Rainey sat up, letting the sheet fall to her waist. She leaned back on her hands, her pert breasts thrust out and taunting me. She was something else.
I walked over to the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss her gently. She was having none of it. She curled her hand around my neck and pulled me down onto the bed. I was careful to hold my weight above her so I didn’t cause any more bruises, but I couldn’t resist when her tongue probed my mouth. I tipped her head back and kissed her throat. Her moans distracted me and I was just about to yank my jeans down when my mouth skimmed over the discolored skin on her shoulder.
I put that mark on her. I wasn’t about to do it again. I pulled away.
“I really need to get to work. You’ve got your
Michael Bray, Albert Kivak