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“That’s it,” he breathes, still holding me in place.
We collapse into one another, out of breath and sweaty despite the hot water cascading over us. My head is tucked in against his chest, his lips against my shoulder, and we stay like that for a few moments. I’m not sure if it’s minutes or hours. I’m not even sure if I’m on this planet anymore.
“That was amazing,” I tell him breathlessly.
He chuckles. “No,you’reamazing, little dot.”
“Nu-uh. That was all you,” I murmur, still a little drunk on my orgasms and probably not making a lot of sense.
He laughs, pulling out of me and switching the water off. Helping me out of the shower, he then wraps me in a warm, fluffy towel and gently squeezes the water from my hair before wrapping that up too.
When he turns to me, his face is earnest and more serious than usual.
“It really scared me when the police dragged you out of the lecture hall. I was out of my mind with worry trying to get to you. It nearly killed me when I had to leave you behind at the station last night, with only the prof to watch over you.” He steps forward and kisses my forehead, the ghost of the kiss tingling on my skin long after he’s moved away. “Sorry, I got carried away.”
“What?” I blink, trying to get my head around what he’s telling me.
“I just needed to remind myself that you’re really here, and that you’re okay.”
“No, the other bit.” I frown. “What did you say about the professor?”
“Oh. Yeah, he stayed at the station with you last night. And I’m pretty sure that when they closed for the night, he hung around nearby, keeping watch outside.”
My jaw is slack, eyes wide. I had no idea. First the kiss, and now this revelation. I don’t know what to make of it all. Why would the professor do all that when he really doesn’t have to? He doesn’t strike me as the sort of person to do anything that he doesn’t want to…which makes me think, did he want to watch over me? Did he want to kiss me? Does he maybe like me…the way that I like him?
“Come on, little dot. Get dried and dressed. The food’s probably here by now.”
He kisses me once more and leaves, but I’m so distracted that it barely registers.
Why would the professor stay? Did he…did he hear me last night? I thought my cries were part of my dream, but what if they weren’t? That might explain his rage towards the two officers. Though I can’t help wondering why would he even care?
“Breakfast’s ready,” Reef calls, knocking gently on the door. I’m awake. I have been all night. And every night since I was in that station. The only time I managed to grab a couple of hours sleep was when Bhodi snuck into my bed two nights ago and fucked my fears right out of my head.
It was amazing, but it only bought me a couple of hours rest before the nightmares intruded once again.
I really thought that spending a few days in the hotel would help me feel better, but I think I’m just ready to go home now. Which is ideal, because today’s our last morning here. We have to check out just before lunch, and the prof has booked us tickets for the noon ferry back to the island.
It stings a little that I’ve not seen him since we left the station. Even when he dropped some bags of clothes and supplies off for me on the first day, he called Reef’s phone to come down to reception to grab them. I hope I’m being paranoid and insecure, but it really feels like he’s avoiding me.
Still, when we get back to the beach house, that won’t be an option anymore, and I have a lot of questions for him that I’m going to demand the answers to. Starting with the water and what went down at the station. I deserve answers. I’ve been through hell, so I’ve earnt them.
I roll out of bed and pull on the silk dressing gown the professor got for me. It’s far too nice, and a completely unnecessary item. I assumed when the guys said he was grabbing me some stuff, that they meant basics and necessities. But I was overwhelmed by the thought and care put into each item he selected for me.
Which makes his reluctance to see me even more confusing.
I can’t dwell on that right now, my stomach is rumbling. Since my night in jail – shudder – I’ve been constantly starving. The guys have teased me about it the last few days, joking that I could give Bhodi’s appetite a run for its money.
I exit the bedroom Cove kindly gave up for me and meet them in the shared living space. The hotel, and this suite, is insanely fancy, but I miss the simplicity of the beach hut and having the ocean right outside the door.
“Morning, Malia, how did you sleep?” Reef asks with a smile.
“Well thank you, and you?” I lie with a returning smile as I take my seat at the fully laden breakfast table. He’s been so attentive and kind the past couple of days, and I’ve found it easy to slip back into the easy conversations I used to have with him when I thought he was my therapist.
“Better than you, I think,” he replies, gently calling me out on my bullshit. I grin as I start to pile an assortment of food onto my plate.
“I’m ready to see the beach again,” I tell them all as Reef passes me a bottled water.
“You thought it was the other water. The one that makes you forget… Please just trust me, and I’ll tell you everything when we’re out of here. I promise. No more secrets.”
