Page 96 of The Perfect Spiral
“Look at me,” he says softly. I close my eyes and let out a long sigh before finally meeting his gaze.
“I mean up here.” And that’s when I finally look into his eyes. Hesteps closer, his hands gently rubbing my arms.
My heart starts to race, and I feel a fluttering in my stomach. What’s wrong with me? Did I catch a cold or something?
“Baby doll... I’m sorry about the other night. We shouldn’t have fought in front of you... we didn’t mean to upset you... it’s just the alcohol... it got the better of us,” he says, his voice heavy with regret.
There’s a moment of silence, broken only by the soft, uneven breathing of the children sleeping in my bed.
“Alex, please, I haven’t slept since it happened. Between shopping for my mom and the fight with Wes, I can’t get your face out of my head.”
“I can’t stand it when you’re mad at me. Out of everyone I know, it’s the worst when you’re upset,” he confessed, his eyes widening slightly as he realized he’d voiced his thoughts aloud.
His hands traced a path up my arms until they cradled my head, his large palms dwarfing my small frame. He stepped closer, eliminating the space between us. His touch was feather-light, and as he leaned in, a jolt of electricity shot through me.
His forehead rested against mine, his eyes closed. He seemed to be struggling to control his breathing, as if he was irritated with me or something similar.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. My own eyes fluttered shut without my conscious decision.
“Will you forgive me, Alex?” he whispered, his voice almost pleading. His words brushed against my lips, his warm breath fanning over them.
Before I could respond, his lips found mine again, the kiss gentle and cautious, as if he feared I might shatter at any moment.
I leaned into the kiss, increasing the pressure between our lips, my hands clutching the hem of his shirt, pulling him closer.
The sensation sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach, spreading from my toes to the top of my head. His lips, warm against mine, were a welcome contrast to the chill of the winter day, even though we were indoors.
The kiss was soft, intimate. I found myself kissing him back, stunned that this was actually happening. We pulled apart slightly, but my eyes remained closed.
I half-expected him to laugh and walk away, or to tease me and leave. But he didn’t. He stayed there with me. Finally, I opened my eyes to find him gazing down at me, a smile playing on his lips.
With a smirk, he said, “I’m going to find it hard to keep my distance from you, baby doll.”
Chapter 33
“Alex... where are you, darling? Are you playing hide and seek with me again? Tsk tsk.” My heart was hammering against my ribcage, and I was in the throes of panic.
My breaths were coming in short, rapid gasps. If I didn’t manage to get a grip on my breathing, I might end up dead. I closed my eyes, taking small, quiet breaths so he wouldn’t hear me. How did he get in?
As far as I knew, my mom was out picking up last-minute refreshments for Kyle’s prom party at our place. I had decidednot to go. God, I was regretting that decision now.
Okay, Alex, just stay calm and quiet. You can run out the door and keep running. You’re faster, you’re faster! I could feel the sting of tears in my eyes as I tried to formulate a plan to stay alive.
I was hiding in the hallway cupboard, just barely able to see him sauntering down the hallway. His footsteps were slow and deliberate, his black leather shoes creaking against the wooden floor.
I clamped a hand over my mouth to muffle my breathing, while my heart pounded a wild rhythm against my chest. Fuck, he had a knife in his hand! The overhead light glinted off the blade.
I could see him through the narrow slit in the door, but I quickly backed away. If I could see him, he could definitely see me. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, setting my stomach on fire.
I was in survival mode. I was shaking so badly that my hands were practically vibrating. How was I going to get out of this?
“Alex, you ungrateful little bitch. Come out here and face me like I taught you. Don’t be a coward!” His voice echoed off the walls, sending a shiver down my spine.
He had never treated me like his daughter. He always preferred Sam, because I always stood up to him. He had a photographic memory too, but it was slowly deteriorating over time.
He blamed me for ‘stealing’ it from him, and he had always hated me for it. He used to beat me almost every night, along with my mom, when I was younger. Thank God for Eric.
Okay, think, Alex, think! I heard his footsteps pass the cupboard, and I waited until he was a few paces away before I dared to move.
