Page 20 of Bartholomew
“Yes. While the master bedroom is just there, I will not be staying with you tonight. There is a guest bedroom down this hallway, one door down on your left. If you wish me to join you at any time, you will find me there. But hear me clearly, Delilah. The decision is yours and yours alone.”
I nodded, still processing his words.
“For now, I’ll bid you goodnight. Should you need anything? Anything at all. Do not hesitate to come find me. Goodnight.” And with that, he bent over, kissing the top of my hand, and bowing before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind him.
What on Earth had just happened?
CHAPTER5
BARTHOLOMEW
“I don’t know, man. It’s not what I thought it would be,” I sighed heavily into my cell phone, wishing that my big brother would have words of wisdom and yet knowing that he didn’t.
“What you did sounds perfect, Ollie,” Ruth’s voice appeared, and I had to grin. For such a rigid Dominant, Levi sure was wrapped around Ruth’s finger. And I, for one, found it endearing as hell.
“I know, but it’s just…” I trailed off, not having the words.
“It’s just not enough. I get it. Let me be real honest here, Ollie. When it comes to the things that Zion does to these women — these girls! — It’s never enough. But giving her time and space to process the day? It’s a huge start to treating her in a way that is leaps and bounds better than Zion ever could do for her,” Levi explained, and it made sense.
“But I want to do more. I want to show her how amazing it can be. I don’t want her to think that the life they have led her to believe is expected, is the life she can have with me. Even if it is for a short time.” I ran my hands through my hair, feeling somewhat lost. Somewhat. I didn’t know how I was feeling.
“I know you do, Ollie. And in time, maybe you will. For now, just be there for her. Even if that means keeping your distance.” Levi’s words brought me some measure of comfort. Day one of marriage and I was not a total fuckup. Yet.
“I’m still sick to my stomach over it all.” I shivered at the thought of what happened in that room.
“I would like to say it gets better with time, but those memories still haunt Ruth and I,” Levi admitted.
“I tried to be there, but I froze. I did not know what to say or how to act. Especially when her father walked in.” I shuddered again, that vile nauseated feeling swirling in my gut at the memory.
“Wait, what did you just say?”
“Yeah, he just filed into the room with all the other Elders, like it was nothing. Like it wasn’t his own daughter that he was watching,” I spat the words out. They felt acrid and vile on my tongue.
“Her own father watched?” Ruth’s soft voice sounded on the other line, her horror at the thought evident in her tone.
“He did. He sat there with this awful look of disgust plastered on his face while the doctor… Well, you know,” I trailed off. I couldn’t force the words out of my mouth.
“That’s vile. It’s disgusting. How—as a father of all things, how could you watch that happen to your own daughter?” Levi exclaimed. I could hear the clinking sound of him pouring himself a drink. What a lovely idea. I peeled myself out of my office chair with a great groan and poured one of my own.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it. What I want to do is go talk to Delilah. To explain everything to her and make things better from the get-go,” I grumbled.
“It’s not that simple, Ollie,” Ruth reasoned as I took my first sip, the sharp taste of whiskey exploding onto my tongue and burning.
“It absolutely could be that simple,” I argued.
“But it isn’t. If you step outside of how you’re feeling and think about what she might be feeling, it’s more complicated.” Ruth’s soft voice combined with the painful burn of the whiskey soothed me like a lullaby soothed a baby.
“Ruth is right. You can’t imagine all the things she could be feeling right now,” my brother’s voice interjected.
“Put Ruth back on. I like her more than you,” I teased, unable to keep the serious tone of this conversation for very much longer. “But maybe it could be that simple. I’d rather just know where she is at, instead of wondering.”
“That may be, but she asked for space. Give her space. Let her come to you in her own time. Just be open,” Ruth pressed on.
“But look at you two. Had you not both been so stubborn, had Levi just opened his great gob when I had told him to, you would have had way less struggle,” I argued, more petulantly than I meant to, but I was so over this damned day; this damn situation; this damned life.
“I’m not sure there is a right or wrong way to handle something like this, Ollie. Just be open. More open than I was, but don’t overwhelm her either. So, for now, just… sit tight.” I nodded at Levi’s words. He was right. Not that I was about to tell him that.
“When this honeymoon business is over, you both should come over,” I spoke after a long, pregnant pause.
