Break My Fall (23 page)

I placed my hand on hers, “Anyway he pulled me out of school because of the scandal, and he made me quit my job. I stayed for a while after it happened but I couldn’t live like that anymore, with everyone ignoring me, whispering about me behind my back. I had to get away, and you’re the only person I knew who would help me. So one night when he had passed out, I ran.”

Cam circled her arms around me, holding me tight.

I wished she didn’t know, I wished she had never needed to know.

After what seemed an eternity, Cam seemed to find her voice.

“Shit,” was all she said.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“But Cam you can’t tell anyone please. Not Derek or, or not Kyle okay?”

Cam leaned over and kissed my forehead, “Does Kyle know any of this?”

“No and he doesn’t need to. I don’t want him knowing anything about this.”

Cam sighed sadly.

“That will be kind of hard to do considering he lives here. And there’s also the fact both he and Derek saw you freak out last night. I know you’re in love with him Lee.”

My cheeks flamed in embarrassment.

“No I’m not.”

Cam was looking at me like she could see straight through my lies.

“It’s that obvious huh?” I admitted.

Cam placed her hand on mine and squeezed gently.

“I tried to warn you Lee.”

I knew she did, and I was wishing that I had listened to her.

My heart was hurting so bad right now.

“And I’m hoping you guys can move past last night Lee, because if shit hits the fan with you two, well your last in…”

First out, I added silently.

I nodded, hearing everything she wasn’t saying.

I was in some serious trouble.

“Yeah,” she sighed, patting my shoulder.

“What am I going to do?” I whispered.

I needed this room. I had nowhere else to go.

I burned my bridges back home.

“Oh don’t worry Lee, keep your head down and wait for this fight to blow over,” she paused, “If he wants you out, I have no say, this is his house. But I’m going with you. And I’m telling you this now, if I ever see another bruise on your body, I will cut the bastard.”

KYLE

My head was in pieces.

I couldn’t concentrate on work.

“Are you listening to me kiddo?”

Linda looked at me with a worried expression, from across the table in the restaurant.

We were having breakfast together, well she was; I couldn’t eat.

A combination of guilt and alcohol rendered it impossible to eat.

I wasn’t needed in the hotel today, but I couldn’t stay at the house.

I had to get away from there.

After last night, I wasn’t sure how I could face Lee again.

Linda placed her hand on mine, and I realized I hadn’t answered her.

“Sorry, my head’s not in this place today.”

She smiled at me gently,

“Where’s your head at Kyle?”

I wanted to tell her, I wanted to offload all my shit on her right here and now.

But I couldn’t do that.

Linda didn’t know all the things I’d done, she didn’t know about what I’d done to Rachel, and if she knew what had happened last night with Lee, I would lose her.

“It’s all so fucking messed up,” I muttered, hoping I hadn’t given away too much with that statement.

Linda’s kind eyes were staring at me, I didn’t deserve her to look at me like that.

“Women have a way of doing that sweetie,” she mused, “I’m guessing that’s the reason you have the lost puppy look on your face.”

I nodded.

She could always read me too well.

Chapter Twenty-one 

LEE

By ten o clock, I was starving.

I had rushed upstairs to room quickly after my talk with Cam.

I needed this room and I was going to try my hardest to keep my head low like Cam said.

I was not going to give Kyle any further ammunition to throw me out.

Although I was fairly certain that it would happen regardless.

I had burned my bridges by slapping him.

The things I had said to him were awful.

Good God what had come over me?

I was not an aggressive person.

I hated physical violence.

I had acted completely out of character, but he called me those names… he got under my skin.

I shuffled out of bed and crept to my door.

The light bulb had blown in the upstairs landing, and even on a chair, I was too short to reach the damn thing.

I couldn’t hear any movement, and I knew Cam and Derek had gone out an hour ago.

Figuring the coast was clear, I slipped out of my room and carefully made my way downstairs in the dark, to the kitchen.

I could have cried ‘hallelujah’ when I found the kitchen empty.

One handed, I made myself a crummy cheese sandwich and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

I didn’t bother to sit at the table; I was too on edge.

I ate the sandwich standing over the sink.

When I was finished, I turned off the kitchen light and took my bottle of water with me.

Closing out the door, I crept back upstairs, feeling my wall in the dark.

I gripped my door handle and stepped into my room, closing my door as quietly as I could.

Turning on my light, I noticed someone lying in my bed.

Black sheets?

This wasn’t my bed.

Dammit, I was in the wrong room.

Kyle sat up slowly.

His eyes were wary and fixed on mine.

I dropped my bottle with shock.

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” I muttered as I bent down to get my drink.

God dammit, it rolled under his bed.

I dropped to my knees and stretched my good hand out, desperately trying to retrieve my stupid bottle.

When the springs on his bed squeaked I froze.

A dozen different scenarios ran through my mind, all of which ended with me being turned out on the street.

My body jumped into action; I leapt up from the floor.

“You know I wasn’t thirsty anyway,” I babbled, “It was dark, I didn’t mean to come in here, I meant the second door on the right.”

I grabbed the door handle.

“Wait,” he said.

I froze, my body obeying his command.

I sucked in a trembling breath, but didn’t dare turn around.

I felt him approach me, the hairs on the back of my neck rose and I shuddered. I battled down the urge to whimper.

“Wait” he said again, barely more than a whisper.

I felt his fingertips brush against my shoulder for the briefest of moments and my body flamed in heat.

I inhaled deeply and turned to face him.

Kyle stepped back when I turned around and I wished he had not.

He was naked everywhere with the exception of a pair of black silky boxer shorts.

Sweet Lord almighty…

“Are you okay?” he croaked.

His eyes were such a deep blue I had a hard time concentrating on anything else.

He stretched his hand out and gently touched his thumb against my injured wrist, pulling his hand back quickly.

He was nervous. I put my hands behind my back.

“I’m fine.”

I was afraid to say anything else that may lead to another argument.

He groaned and bit his lip, as if he was in pain, and ran a hand through his messy hair.

He paced the floor, clearly agitated.

“I’ve never-” he paused, closing his eyes.

I could see his chest rise and fall quickly.

“I have never laid a hand on a woman in my life,” he whispered, his eyes still closed.

“I need you to know that. I would never hurt you intentionally. I’m not that guy Lee.”

My heart melted.

He was clearly distraught.

I wanted to find the words to heal him.

I wanted him to stop feeling so bad for something I started.

“You didn’t… I mean it’s okay Kyle, it was my fault. I know you’re not that guy.”

His eyes snapped open, and I obviously said the wrong thing because he was glaring at me.

“How was me fucking marking your skin, your fault? None of what happened last night was your fault.”

He moved towards me so fast that I backed against the door, a small cry slipped from throat.

He was so close to me, my body shuddered in anticipation.

“Jesus Christ you’re afraid of me. I fucking frighten you Lee.”

He dropped his head, his body trembled.

He looked down at his hand, his head bent.

I was afraid of him, but not for the reasons he thought.

I could feel his regret, I wanted to comfort him.

So I did.

“I’m not afraid of you Kyle,” I whispered.

Reaching up, I cupped his cheek with my good hand.

He stiffened, then leaned his face into my touch, his body shuddering.

I felt wetness on my fingers.

“Look at me,” I demanded, pulling his chin up.

He looked at me through glistened eyes.

Oh god, he was crying.

“I am not afraid of you. Don’t torture yourself over something I caused”.

“I shouldn’t…” he started.

“You did nothing, I slapped your face, and you reacted in instinct. It was an accident.”

I rubbed my thumb over his cheekbone; I was desperate to comfort him.

He straightened, leaning closer; he bent his head to my ear.

“I promise you I will never hurt you again. That,” he said pointing at my wrist, “Will never happen to you again. Ever.”

I did not doubt the truth in his words.

But I wasn’t sure what he meant, it will never happen again?

I looked up at him.

“Do you want me to leave?”

I didn’t mean to be so blunt but I needed to know where I stood, if I had a place to stay.

“What?” he asked surprised.

“Cam said you might not want me anymore.”

I reddened, embarrassed at my verbal blunder.

“I mean, you might not want me to stay here anymore.”

He sighed deeply, leaning down; he pressed his forehead against mine.

“You can’t still want to stay here.”

My heart sank. He wanted me gone.

He was just too nice to say.

“Please Kyle,” I begged, “I have nowhere else to go. I can stay out of your way. I promise I won’t cause trouble for you and Rach…”

I couldn’t say her name, “I’ll be invisible.”

I knew he hated desperate girls; he had told me that.

And here I was; begging and desperate.

I had no other option.

He groaned, his breath hitting my face like a drug.

“That’s impossible,” he whispered.

Tears fell from my eyes and I nodded in gloomy acceptance.

Kyle wanted me out of his life.

His hands cupped my face gently, forcing me to look at him.

“There’s no fucking way you could EVER be invisible to me baby.”

He lifted my injured hand to his mouth and kissed the inside of my wrist softly.

I gasped from the sweet gesture.

His body pressed closer to mine, and I could only watch in sweet anticipation as he lowered his head to mine.

Kyle’s lips found mine, kissing me softly.

He ran his tongue against my lower lip, and I opened my mouth to accept his probing tongue.

Heat fizzled inside me, the room felt clouded with sexual tension.

When I sucked on his tongue, his kiss changed from gentle, to severe and hungry.

My lips matched his with a desperation and hunger of my own.

I pressed my body against his, urging him on.

One of his hands clung to my hip, the other knotted in my hair.

Fireworks exploded inside me and I could barely contain myself as my body thrummed to his touch.

I felt this strange swell building up inside me, my desire for him carrying me forward.

His hands moved over my body; my hips, my stomach, when they reached my breasts I cried out his name.