Chained (11 page)

I was tempted to say
you
, but he was being so sweet to me, I couldn’t possibly ruin it by being cheeky.

“Umm, I don’t know. Surprise me.” I wasn’t sure how well Kit could cook, so I thought it might be best to leave it up to him.

Kit stared at me a moment. “Okay.” He marched off and I lay there, heaving a big sigh of relief.

Almost an hour went by and I very nearly got out of bed to find out where he was. The smells that came up were so tempting, it was just too hard ignore.

Feeling my mouth water, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and started to get up when I was stopped abruptly by his voice.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I bit my lip, trying to hide my smile, and turned. When he saw my reaction, his lips curved up, as well. It was so hard not to stare, but it was also hard not to notice a tray with two bowls containing what looked like some sort of chicken stew. On the side was a couple of slices of bread and some cutlery.

Then the smell hit me. “That smells so good.”

Kit cocked his eyebrow. “Get back into bed.”

Tightening my thighs together, my insides ached. “Mmmm, can you say that again?”

Kit looked at me sternly. “Olivia…”

I waved my hands and got back into bed. “Okay, okay. I’ll be good. I’m sorry.”

Once he set the steaming bowls down, I looked up at him. “You can cook?”

Kit sat down on the bed and handed me a bowl. “Is that so hard to believe?”

I shook my head. “No. It’s just… I don’t know that much about you.”

Kit looked away for a moment. “And I think it’s best it stays that way.”

“I don’t think I want it to.” He handed me a spoon and our hands touched. For a moment, we were still, and I completely forgot how hungry I was.

Clearing his throat, Kit motioned to my bowl. “Eat.”

I nodded, feeling a little saddened. I wanted and needed him to tell me all about himself. I longed to understand what was beneath this man who had fascinated me for so long. Instead, I remained quiet, put the spoon in my bowl, and was about to take my first mouthful when he spoke again.

“You should be feeling a lot better by tomorrow.”

My heart sank. Did this mean he would be leaving me? “I don’t want you to go.” The words came out before my brain engaged. I never knew how far across the boundaries I could go with this man.

Kit stared at me for a moment, frowning. “I don’t live here.”

I suppose that was the answer that shot down everything. Kit
didn’t
live here, so this could only ever be a temporary thing. I didn’t like it, though. I wanted him with me more than anything.

Sighing, I knew this couldn’t last. The longer Kit stayed with me, the chances of Uncle finding him here increased. That, in itself, would be a disaster.

Chapter 11

I was in my old house again, wandering the empty halls. I was looking in every corner, seeking out every crevice so I could find my father. I had been worrying about him lately. He had been distant, snappy…more so than usual. My father was never an affectionate man. He was definitely a father, but a daddy? Well, that was a different story. Sure, he’d buy me things, and I never wanted for anything. I didn’t care about that, though. I wanted his love. I craved his arms around me. I was a desperate girl, determined to make her father notice her.

And this was why I was searching for him. I had made some friends, and needed his permission to go out on my birthday. I had finished some important exams at school and had just found out I passed them all with flying colours. I hoped he would look at me and smile, take me in his arms, tell me how proud he was. This was the only thing I ever wanted from him.

So I wandered from room to room, calling for my father, smoothing out my clothes as I went along. I wanted to look my best for him. I wanted him to see the woman I was growing into.

I was just checking the kitchen for the second time when a loud bang was heard from the direction of his office.

Screaming, I ran towards his office door and pushed it open, jumping as it banged against the wall. Lying on the floor by his desk, eyes wide open, was my father. At his right temple was a trickle of blood running down his face.

Throwing my hand over my mouth, I was about to scream when something out of the corner of my eye alerted me to someone in the room. When I turned, Kit was standing there with a gun in his hand, pointing it towards my father. He looked at me, aimed the gun at my head, and placed a finger over his mouth.

“Shh,” he whispered as he smiled and pulled the trigger.

I woke up screaming, covered in sweat, thrashing and sobbing uncontrollably. I was so scared, so frightened, so angry at the injustice and the thought that my father did this to himself. Most of all, I was shocked by the sudden change in the dream and how Kit was now there.

Right on cue, Kit turned up by my bedside and wrapped his arms around me. He slept on the sofa last night, saying it was for the best. I lay there for hours, wondering how I could have come so close, yet so far. Right now, though, the dream weighed heavily on my mind. I was so angry, so pissed off with the world that I lashed out.

“You killed him! You killed him!” I knew it wasn’t true, but I couldn’t help the words that sprang from my mouth and whipped at him so violently.

Wrapping me in a vice-like grip, Kit breathed into my ear, “I got you, Olivia. I got you.”

I immediately went limp and gripped at his arms. I sat there, sobbing. This dream forever haunted me, never letting me forget. For me, the dream was reality. Apart from Kit being there, I
did
walk in to find my father dead on the floor, a gun in one hand and the phone in the other. Our telephone records were checked, but whoever was on the phone had been careful.

I sighed, frustrated with the knowledge I would probably never know. I was only fourteen at the time. I was growing into a young lady and remembered feeling happy at the thought my father might actually tell me how beautiful I was and how proud he was that I passed my exams. Unfortunately, I never got to find out.

Eventually, I calmed and Kit loosened his hold on me a little. “Olivia, what happened to your father? Who killed him?”

I stiffened in his arms and immediately pulled away. “It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.”

Kit sighed. “Not if you’re still having nightmares about it. Who was he?”

I sat further up in my bed, noticing a faint light coming through the window. It was very early morning. I checked the clock and it was just after five.

I sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Kit ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Because I don’t talk to you about me, you’re not talking to me about you. Is that how it is?”

I felt my heart beat faster as the anger set in. “You don’t want to talk to me about your past, fine, but maybe I feel the same way about mine. There are just some things you want to leave behind because every time you go back there, it reminds you of the pain you had to suffer. I’m not sure if yours is the same reason, but there you go.” I sighed my exhaustion again. I wasn’t sure why I was so bloody tired all the time. Whatever this virus was, it had knocked me out.

Kit and I remained silent for a moment, our breathing still harsh, but calming. In this light, I could tell he had no top on. I could even make out the faint lines of his tattoos on his perfect body. I couldn’t fault him by any means. The more I saw of him, the more my obsession grew.

“I’m sorry, Olivia.”

I wasn’t sure if he was apologising for my bad dream, or apologising for the fact he remained so distant and wouldn’t let me in.

I shook my head. “It’s fine. I’m tired anyway. Maybe we should try and get some more rest. I would like to get up at a decent time today.”

Kit hesitated, but when he saw me sink down under my covers, he got up. He didn’t climb in with me and I didn’t expect him to. No matter how much I wanted his comfort, I wouldn’t ask for it. My pride was getting in the way of that now.

*****

When I woke up later, the sun was shining through the windows and my head was pounding. I moaned and turned to look at the time, seeing it was after ten.

“Shit!” I rolled over so fast, I fell out of bed.

I heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs as Kit bellowed my name. When he walked in, he found me on the floor and quickly scooped me up. He penetrated my soul with those grey-blue eyes of his before setting me down in the bed.

“Thanks,” I offered, feeling embarrassed. My head pounded, so I rubbed my temples.

“Did you hurt your head?” Kit placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked up. It was then I noticed he was wearing a pale pink shirt I bought him. I thought he would look good in it and he did. A little too good.

Pulling my eyes away from his chest, I looked up at him. “No, I just have a headache. How long have you been up?”

Kit shrugged. “About three hours now.”

I frowned at him. “Why didn’t you wake me? I wanted to go to the soup kitchen this morning.”

Kit sighed. “Olivia, you’re obviously still not well. You’ve been sleeping virtually non-stop for the past three days. Don’t you think your body’s trying to tell you something?”

Oh, it was telling me something all right. It was telling me how much it would like it if Kit licked me all over like last time. It was telling me to seek out his flesh with my tongue. It was telling me I wanted to be touched, squeezed, taken, caressed by this man standing before me. I suppose it couldn’t have everything it wanted.

Damn hormones.

I grumbled something unintelligible, but got up to make my way downstairs. Kit followed me, like he was afraid I’d break. As I neared the bottom of the stairs, I smelled bacon.

“Smells good. What are you cooking?”

Kit smiled. His smiles were so beautiful. “Bacon omelette.”

My stomach growled. I knew it would be good as his stew last night was the best I had ever tasted. I didn’t know where he got his cooking skills, but I certainly wasn’t complaining.

Just as I was about to say something, my phone rang. “Excuse me.” I nodded to Kit, making my way to the phone.

“Hello?” I waited, feeling a little nervous about who it could be.

“Olivia, it’s Charlie. How are you feeling?”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I smiled. “I’m better, thank you.”

Charlie sighed. “That’s great because, quite frankly, I need you. Sue’s got to take her mother back to the airport tonight and needs someone to cover for her. It should only be about three hours. Are you up for that?”

He sounded desperate and I didn’t want to let him down. “Sure, I can do that. What time do you want me to come in?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kit glancing up at me with a frown.

“Could you be here at seven? She should be back around ten to finish her shift.”

I smiled. “Sure thing. I’ll see you at seven.”

“Thanks, beautiful. I look forward to it.”

I placed my phone down, a sombre face staring back at me. “What’s that look for?”

Kit sighed. “You can hardly go to work when you’re still not feeling well.”

I walked past him and into the kitchen to make some tea. “Well, I can hardly say no when he desperately needs me. It’s only for three hours. I’m sure I can cope.”

I filled the kettle and put it on, fetching two mugs and two tea bags. As I passed the stove to get the milk out of the fridge, the smell of the bacon omelette hit me. “God, that smells good.”

“So you’re finishing at ten?”

I turned around. “Thereabouts, yes. Whenever Sue gets back from the airport.”

Kit nodded. “Then I’ll pick you up at ten-thirty.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Kit, I don’t need–”

“You stay at the bar and I’ll pick you up at ten-thirty. That way, I can walk you home the quicker way. The other way takes too long.”

I smiled at him bringing up the fact that he’d been stalking me. “You really do care about my safety, don’t you?”

Kit folded his arms across his chest. I noticed how his shirt slightly lifted, revealing to me how well his jeans fit him at the hips. I was starting to think that looking at him was bad for my health.

Kit noticed me staring, turned around, and started fiddling with the omelettes. “I just don’t like knowing you’re walking the streets so late at night on your own.”

I stood there, watching his back as he remained quiet. He scooped up the omelette and turned it over. It sizzled in the pan.

Right then I wanted him more than ever. My legs just seemed to move on their own. Before I knew it, I had my arms wrapped around him from behind. I placed my head on his back and breathed in his sweet, soapy scent. He had obviously showered this morning.

Kit stiffened, immediately relaxing when he felt my arms snake around his waist. He paused a moment, then pulled my arms away so he could turn. He circled his arms around me and we stayed like that for a moment. His hugs were like nothing I had ever felt before.

Eventually, Kit kissed the top of my head and pulled away. “Go sit down. I’ll take care of the rest.”

I smiled, noticing that he was smiling, too. “Are you sure?” He nodded, so I went and did as I was told.

It was the best breakfast I had ever tasted.

*****

It was six o’clock and I started getting ready for work. I had to admit. I wasn’t up to parading around on my feet for the next three hours, but I would never divulge that bit of information to Kit. I highly doubted he would let me out of the house if I did.

I took my time showering and washing my hair, then brushed my teeth, dried my hair, and went hunting for a suitable outfit. I felt I needed a boost today because I had felt so bad for the past few days. It took a while of searching, but I eventually found a beige knee-high pencil skirt and white blouse. Something simple, but elegant. I was just putting on a pair of earrings when I heard a knock at the door. I turned and Kit was standing there, staring at me. I couldn’t stop my smile.

Kit cleared his throat and averted his eyes. “Umm… Are you ready? I thought I would walk there with you.”

I nodded and walked up to him, placing my hand on his chest. Kit inhaled sharply as I raised onto my tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his lips. His chest rumbled a little, but no matter how much I wanted to jump up and wrap my legs around him, that was all I was going to offer him…for now.

So, against everything in my being, I smiled, thanked him, and walked out the door. It was the hardest thing I had ever had to do, but he had made things so hard for me, I thought there was no harm in offering it in return.

At the bottom of the stairs, I grabbed my coat and bag, placing them around my shoulders. Kit did the same with his coat. I figured last night was his final night here, but I didn’t want to question him on it. I would ask when he walked me home later, but I was determined not to make a big deal out of it.

I smiled. “Let’s go.”

I walked out my door, Kit following. He shut the door and smiled. “Promise me something tonight.”

I looked over at him as we were walking down the street. “What’s that?”

Kit timidly looked towards me. “That you won’t overwork yourself. I don’t want you working too hard and end up ill again.”

I smiled, thinking how protective he was. “Okay. I think I can promise you that.”

I linked my arm in his and we remained that way until we got to the doors of the bar.

“Do you want to come in with me? I can get you a drink.”

Kit frowned at the doors, but shook his head. “No, but thank you. I’ll see you after ten.” He leaned in, kissed me on the cheek, and walked off.

I smiled and watched as he walked away. As I turned, I noticed Charlie staring at me from inside the bar. He had his eyebrow raised, obviously wondering who my mystery man was.