Predator - A Stand Alone Suspense Romance(47)

Last night he took it upon himself to dress me in one of his shirts.

He came to help me … again.

At the hospital he said I’m his wife. Not sister. Not cousin. He chose to make me his wife.

Shit!

I rush out of the bathroom. The small space of the motel room feels like it’s suffocating me.

My mind starts to race frantically. I care about him, sure, but I’m a wretched mess. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for a relationship.

I already have a ton of shit to deal with. I don’t need this.

I pull at my hair as panic flares through me. I need Damian. I know I won’t survive this without him, but … what if he wants more? I can’t give him more. Fuck my life.

The wound starts to ache, every pulse of pain in rhythm with my racing heart. I sit down so my body won’t take too much strain and then start to chew on my thumb nail.

Damian comes out of the bathroom and his eyes lock with mine.

“I … I …” I start to stutter like an idiot. I pull at the shirt, trying to make it longer. I’m hyper aware of my lack of clothing.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he grumbles, and then I watch him leave.

I sit frozen, not sure what’s happening. “It’s your imagination,” I start to talk some sense into my confused head. “You’re just friends.” I wipe my hands over my thighs, and then pull at the hem again. “You always wanted a friend and now you have one.” My heart squeezes tightly in my chest. “Be happy,” I snap. “You have a friend. You’re not alone …” My thoughts turn to Annie and the baby, and then I whisper, “… for now.”

Who knows for how long I’ll have Damian before I’m forced to give him up? This is why I left him in the first place - to avoid shit like this.

To avoid getting hurt.

One day he’ll be gone. Just like my parents. Just like Annie. Just like the baby.

I sit and stare at the floor, and it feels as if my soul is slipping into a bottomless pit of despair and emptiness.

It feels like I’m detached from life itself. The sun keeps shining. The wind keeps blowing.

My body keeps breathing, but I’m drained … just empty, and it’s the most lost feeling I’ve ever felt.



Damian~

I tuck my hands deep in my pockets as I stalk to the Walmart that we passed on the way to the motel.

My mind wanders to Cara and the way she reacted when I used the same toothbrush as her. I can’t wrap my head around what’s happening between us. It’s like a fucking car accident. No matter how you try to avoid crashing, it’s inevitable. We’re going to collide one of these days and I can only hope that we survive it.

I know she’s not ready for any kind of relationship, and me … fuck knows what I want.

I walk into the Walmart and head over to the clothes. I grab the first pair of jeans I see and hold them up. Yeah, they look about the right size. I grab a few shirts, another pair of jeans and two pairs of slacks. I come to a standstill in the underwear section.

Fuck.

I grab a box of panties and then sigh when my eyes fall on the bras.

Yeah, like I said, a collision is bound to happen. I stare at the bras until it’s well past the point of weird. I take the first one and then think back to the night before. I only got a glimpse, but the image of Cara’s breasts is crystal-fucking-clear.

I search through the row of bras until I find one that looks like it will fit. We can get her more later when she can pick them herself.

I walk over to the shoes. I grab a pair of comfy looking shoes that I think will fit. As I walk to the front of the store my eyes spot the aisle with deodorant and shit. I sniff at a few cans before I pick one that smells fresh.

I grab a pack of pads and tampons, hoping it’s the right shit. I spot some razors and take a pack for her. I get a beard trimmer for myself. I’ve let the beard grow too long. I also get her a toothbrush and brush, because I don’t want to freak her out again.

I stare at the hair dye, but I just can’t take one. She has gorgeous ginger hair. I sigh and glance to my left. There are hats and beanies, and I smile with relief. I get her two hats with flowers and shit on, and then head for the front of the store again, satisfied that I got the essentials.

I hand the cashier the cash, grab the bags, and stalk out of the store. I’ve taken too long.

Just as I walk across the parking area of the motel, four men come out of the room next to ours. They laugh and look casual, but every muscle in my body tenses. I keep my head down as I walk by them. I slow my pace and wait until they get into a car. I wait for the car to leave before I open the door to our room.

My eyes immediately search for her. She’s sitting on the bed, her hands limply on her lap.

“Got you some clothes,” I say and I put the bag down on the bed. “Get dressed so we can leave.”

She keeps staring at the floor, her face devoid of any emotion. She’s got that ‘the lights are on but no one’s home’ look on her face.

I crouch down in front of her and place my hand on her knee. Her skin is cold from just sitting like this in the morning cold. I catch her eyes and they seem to come back into focus.

“Time to get dressed,” I whisper and suddenly it feels like there’s a fucking rock stuck in my throat. I hate seeing her like this.