The silence between us was thick with emotion and yet neither of us had the courage to break it. At least not willingly anyway. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Aiden, feeling the last of my dignity slipping away.
There was a hardness to Aiden’s features as he carried me to the bathroom adjoining my bedroom and settled me on the closed toilet seat lid gently. I watched as he moved to the
shower and turned it on, testing the water until he seemed satisfied with the temperature before coming back to me. Even he seemed unable to meet my gaze which only added to the
tense awkwardness in the room.
“You need to get undressed. Can you do that yourself?” He asked, his voice surprisingly gentle despite the anger seeping from his pores.
“I think so.” I croaked, shifting gingerly to start pulling my top off.
The moment I moved my arms upwards, pain radiated across my stomach making me wince. Simultaneously, Aiden’s breathing hitched and his eyes darkened as his eyes found the bruises. decorating my skin. Silently he moved to carefully help me shed the garment allowing us to both see the full extent of my injuries however, I spotted how his jaw clenched in anger, as if he was trying to stop himself from exploding. Shame flooded me the moment my skin was fully exposed and I felt fresh tears burning my sensitive eyes as they welled. I should have fought back harder. I should have kicked and screamed. Yet I remembered distinctly how strong Noah had been, how calculated his movements had been. It was like he was a natural born predator and knew how to subdue his prey quickly and effectively.
The bruises were colouring like crushed blackberries over my skin. Each breath made them hurt, made my head hurt, made my soul hurt. Aiden’s eyes were taking in every little detail, every scratch, every bruise, every bit of swelling. He was using it to fuel the white hot rage building inside of him like a wildfire.
Despite that, he was still gentle as he helped me out of the rest of my clothes and guided me under the hot shower spray. The heat made my cuts sting but I didn’t move away even as I gritted my teeth. I welcomed the feeling of something. Yes I was in pain but it felt like the water was washing it away slowly.
I expected Aiden to leave me alone to fend for myself so I was surprised when his giant hand appeared from behind me, grabbing my shower gel from the caddy. I nearly jumped out of my skin when he touched my back, his movements stilling for a moment until I had relaxed a little before carefully washing the fragrant bubbles over my skin.
1/2
Chapter 87
No words passed between us as Aiden helped me wash away the dried blood and stiffness in my limbs. He even washed my hair before helping me out of the shower. I was surprised to fed him still fully clothed albeit now soaked from standing in the shower with me but he seemed unfazed even with the way his t–shirt was sticking to him.
“Think you can handle getting dressed by yourself? Aiden asked.
I nodded, staying still as a statue, wrapped in my towel.
“I will come and check on you in a few minutes.” He added before disappearing.
I didn’t like this distance and tension between us. I knew it was my fault but I didn’t know how to fix it. I supposed I should be grateful that he had come back to see me, that he was helping me and not abandoning me because this was getting to be rather complicated and dramatic.
I took my time to dry off and pull on fresh clothing, my mind fighting against the storm inside of me. I was exhausted both mentally, physically and emotionally. It felt strange to think that just an hour ago I was trying to end my life and that an hour before that, I had been fighting off a monster who had vowed to ruin my life. I felt foolish thinking I could have gotten away from Noah so easily but mostly I was done with feeling like there was no escape. The despair had swelled like a black tsunami, building and building and building until it crashed over me and destroyed everything in its wake. I had never known fear like this. I had never known humiliation this brutal. I had never felt so trapped.
I had never felt so used.
Chapter Comments
View All 2 Comments >
3
< SHARE
