Page 12 of Welcome Home
I push down the bizarre fluttering that forms in my stomach at the thought of him being embarrassed. “I can get it ready while you get cleaned up.”
I grip the counter tighter, my pulse hiccupping when his hands tighten into fists around the soiled fabric. “You don’t have to do that anymore. Cater to me, tohim. I don’t need that from you.” I don’t know what to say or what to do now for that matter so I just stand, staring up at him. He shakes his head, stepping towards me, ignoring the way I recoil from his outstretched hand as he cups my face. “Detective Rappert wants you at the precinct today for a statement. You don’t need to say anything other than what you have been. One day I was there and then I was gone. I left of my own accord and told you nothing. I’ve already called our lawyer-“
“No, no lawyers. I'll be fine on my own.”No way I’m spending hours in some stuffy room with two over cologned friends of Oliver’s parents.
His hand follows my contour of my jaw lightly before he grips my chin making my breath hitch. “What’s the harm in being sure of that my love?”
I shake my head. “I’ve handled it on my own for this long.”
“And they were compiling a case against you. We have no idea what they know.”
“If they knew anything terribly important, they likely would’ve arrested me by now.” I snap, shoving his hand off me. “I didn’t do the things that I did just to be ordered around again. I don’t care what you are as soon as this is done and over with, I want you gone.” I push away from the counter, my anger building inside me. My eyes sting and for the life of me, I don’t even understand what made me so angry in the first place.
He grips my elbow, pulling me back towards him in one deft movement. I gasp as I'm crushed hard into his chest. He spins us, pinning me against the countertop. “And what of the things I’ve done? Huh? The rules I’ve broken to be here with you. To help you.”
“Ah yes, I'm sure your motives were all very noble. It was just a bonus to shove your fingers inside my cunt.” My own words shock me, almost as much as the venom behind them. I was stupid to think this would work, that I could just playhousewith this…monster.
The smile that curves at the planes of his face is nothing short of malevolent, making the worst of Oliver’s smiles pale in comparison. “On that front you couldn't be more right. I am far from altruistic Cora. I am not kind by nature yet another thing I changed for you.”
“People don't just wake up one day and change like that. If you weren't kind then, you aren't kind now.”
“Ah, but you’re wrong. All I do is change… my skin, my memories, my motives.” He steps back, stretching out his arms wide. “All of this is for you, because I took something you discarded. My motives changed the moment he showed meyou. Is my devotion really such a bad thing?”
I lower my head, my heart rattling around in my chest like it's trying to escape as I try to walk past him. He moves in tune with me, his chest pressed closed to me as he towers over my small frame. “I asked you a question.”
My body shutters. I wish I could say it was only fear, but the memory of his fingers inside me come unbidden. Adding something entirely different. “Yes, it is. It’s a terrible fucking thing and all I want is to be left alone.”
He leans in, inhaling deeply before nipping at my earlobe. “I can smell your arousal.” A whimper leaves my throat, making him chuckle, but the sound isn't warm and inviting, it's calculated, and I want to touch him.
Hell, I want to be touched by him. It had been so long since I’d felt anything that good.
He scares me, disgusts me. He’s notnormaland I want to touch him. I want his fingers back inside me. I have since the moment they left.
And still, he’s better than Oliver. Better than the real Oliver.
I open my mouth to speak, half losing my balance when he jerks forward, slamming his lips into mine so roughly it almost hurts. It’s not a soft delicate thing between lovers, is violent and half starved. He backs me up as he takes my mouth, kissing me deeper and deeper, his tongue swirling mine and for whatever reason I don’t pull away. I don’t fight him or shove him back. I consume him with every ounce of furfur he showing me. A spark lights in the pit of my stomach, expanding down, setting my core on a tightrope. My back knocking against the counter is my only salvation. The hard, unforgiving marble top stops me long enough to let a small bit of logic through.
I turn my face away from him, only for his hands to find their way into my hair. They knot there gently, urging my face back to his. He makes a deep grumbling sound that comes from low in his chest as he presses his forehead against mine. “I won’t let you go.”
I nod, despite myself. Clearing my throat before he steps back, running his hands through his hair. “I'll be back down shortly.” He mumbles. His demeanor seems dazed and just as confused as mine.
“What about breakfast?”
He smiles a lopsided, boyish smile. “Right. I'll need to get used to eating again.”
Mood gone.
“You don't need to eat?” I ask, knowing I don't really want to hear his answer.
He just shrugs so casually he could be discussing the weather. “Not really.”
I pop an aspirin in my mouth, jerking down the sunshade in my car to check my makeup in the mirror for the third time since I arrived at the police station. Not that anyone in there actually cares how expertly I applied my winged penny colored eyeliner.
He’s alive. He’s here. They have the proof.
There’s nothing they can do to me, right? They have no proof. No body, no missing husband as far as they know, means no crime and again they spoke to him themselves.It’ll be fine.One statement, one last interview, and this all goes away. For good. With that small, blooming bud of confidence, I finally exit my car. Hoping nobody was observant enough to notice me sitting in it for the past fifteen minutes.
I reach out, quickly lowering my arms with a gasp as the doors jerk open on their own, a blast of crisp air conditioning slapping at my skin. “Mrs. Neilson, thank you for finding the time to come down today.” I mimic Detective Rappert’s fake smile, at least that I know I excel at.
