Life With HIM: Rennillia Series Prequel (Companion Novelette) (3 page)

  I didn’t notice Henley step back into the room until I heard him say, “Come to bed.”

Shaking my head, I allowed my tears to continue falling. Feeling him carefully sit behind me
, I tensed up. He slid his arms around my waist as his legs rested against the sides of mine. Flinching when he brushed against my hurt leg, I felt his breath at my ear.

  “
I was afraid you weren’t coming back,” he whispered.

  Sniffling, I
asked, “Then why weren’t you happy when I got in bed?”

  Dragging his lips down the side of my neck, he said, “
You can’t leave me.”

  “I’m not,” I cried, still not sure what happened.

  Pulling my head to the side, he assured, “I’ll make it up to you.”

Closing my eyes, I nodded
, unable to control the feeling I had as he slid his hands from my waist to my thighs.

~L~w~H~

Henley did make it up to me and then some. There were flowers, new clothes, bubble baths and extra special attention every night.

~

Sitting on the couch, I waited for him to get home. I knew he would be late getting home from visiting his uncle but it was really late and I was starting to panic. When he finally arrived, I jumped up ready to fuss at him for having me so worried.

  Taking one look at him, I
frowned, asking, “Are you ok?”

Shaking his head, he walked past me and into his room.

  Following close behind, I stopped him in the bathroom, saying, “Henley.”

Looking at the floor, he shook his head.

Without thought, I knew exactly what he needed. He needed me.

  Reaching up
, I ran my fingers through his hair before sliding my hands down his shoulders.

  “I’m a disappointment,” he shared.

  Gathering the bottom of his shirt in my fingers, I whispered, “Not to me,” before pulling it off over his head.

Folding it neatly, I set it on the bathroom counter.
I ran my finger from his chest down to the middle of his stomach to the button on his jeans. Grabbing my wrist, he swung me around and pressed me against the door.

  “
Mine,” he growled, letting go of my wrist and grabbing my hips so hard, I knew he would leave a mark.

~

I laid on top of him in the bathtub that was full of warm soapy water. Lifting strands of my hair before wrapping them around his finger, dropping them and repeating the action, he appeared content. The fury and aggression that he took out on me not even thirty minutes ago was gone. Even though it was rough, I knew he needed it to be that way. I was the only one that could make him feel better, made it more intense.

I knew I was going to be black and blue from the way he handled me
, no amount of soaking in the tub would prevent that but I was hoping I wouldn’t be sore in the morning.

  Sliding me up to kiss me, he said, “I like knowing your mine.”

  “I am,” I swore, pressing my lips against his.

 
Pushing me to a sitting position, he brushed his fingers against the marks he left on me, saying, “I like seeing where I’ve been.”

  Tilting my head to the side
, I asked, “You like hurting me?”

  “I like knowing you’re mine,” he repeated.

  All I could say was, “I am.”

And I was.

~L~w~H~

Time slipped by as everything but Henley slipped away. I still met Emerson for lunch once a month but most times we just ate in silence.
Each time Jackson came home to visit, he joined Emerson and I for lunch because I couldn’t deal with anything more. If I was away too long, Henley would get upset.

~

Surprised Hert was sitting at the table instead of Emerson, when I walked into the restaurant, I forced a smile and tried to make conversation.

  “How’s your job going?” I asked.

  Keeping his jaw tight he nodded before asking, “Why are you still there with him?”

Finding it had been a long time since I asked myself that question, I shrugged.

  “Take off your sweater its ninety five degrees outside,” he snapped.

I could feel my hands starting to
shake as I shook my head.

  “This is what you chose?” Hert questioned
, grabbing my arm and pushing up my sleeve.

  Quickly pulling my sleeve back down
, I took a step back, saying, “I’m fine.”

  “What the hell is the matter with you? Do you know what he says about you?” Hert griped before lowering his voice and informing, “
The things he says you let him do to you?”

  Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I suddenly felt exposed as I defended myself
, saying, “That’s private.”

  “You disgust me,” he snapped.

  Tears threatened my eyes as I said, “I thought we were friends.”

  “How could I be friends with someone like you? You’re disgusting and I hate you,” he declared.

  Shaking my head as tears rolled down my cheeks, the only thing I could bring myself to say was, “Ok.”

The anger and hatred in Hert eyes was too much for me to witness. Turning away from him I walked away
, knowing I would never see or hear from him again.

~

Curled up in bed, crying, I felt betrayed. No matter what Henley tried, I refused to look at him.

  “Tell me what I did to you,” he
begged.

  Swinging my arms at him every time he tried to get close, I shouted, “
How could you!”

 
“I don’t know what I did,” he stressed.

  Without lifting my head off of my pillow, I said, “
Because of you, he thinks I’m disgusting. You made him hate me.”

Saying it out loud, brought me to terms with what happened and I let him slide against me.

  “Who?” he asked.

  Covering my face with my hands, I shared, “Hert said you told him everything we do.”

  I could hear the irritation in his voice as he questioned, “Are you ashamed of being with me?”

  “No, I’m embarrassed.
And he said he could never be friends with me now,” I said, starting to cry again.

  Pulling my hands from my face, he kissed my cheeks
before questioning, “Herterand walks away from you that easy?”

  “You shouldn’t
have told him,” I snapped.

 
Sliding his hands under my shirt, he assured, “I won’t do it again.”

Henley kissed my neck down to my collar bone before making his way
back up to my lips. Allowing the feeling to replace everything else, I slid my hands into his hair and kissed him back.

~L~w~H~

I was his and I did let him do whatever he wanted with me. It was just our way. Sometimes it got to be a little much for me but then sometimes it was better than anything else. I needed him just as much as he needed me. We needed each other and just like the times he understood, when I couldn’t get out of bed, I understood when he got angry.

~

I shouldn’t have said anything. I wasn’t trying to upset him. Jackson had finally graduated and his parents were having a party for him at The Bar. It had been a long time since I saw anyone other than Jackson and Emerson and I really wanted to go. Holding the ice to my face, I was sorry I even mentioned it.

Sitting down next to me at the kitchen table, Henley
took a piece of ice out of a bowl and rubbed it against my bottom lip.

  “Is this better?” he asked
, in a soft voice full of regret.

I
nodded.

  Glancing down at my bra,
I saw a few spots of smeared blood on it before asking, “Am I still bleeding?”

  Running his
finger against my bottom lip, he answered, “No,” before carefully kissing me.

  Lowering the ice from my face, I asked him, “How do I look?”

  “Sexy sitting at my table without a shirt on,” he shared, placing the almost melted ice back into the bowl.

  With a light smile I said, “
Take me to bed.”

  Shaking his head with a sly smile, he
stated, “Make me.”

 
“Make you?” I asked, quickly realizing as bit the corner of his bottom lip, this was a game.

Slowly standing up, I slid onto his lap and kissed him.

Failing at making him take me to bed, I was more than pleased that he took me on top of his kitchen table.

  Adjusting the blanket under us, I laughed, “You had me for dinner.”

  “You are dinner and desert all in one,” he shared, hovering over me.

 
The table wobbled under us as I pulled him down to me, saying, “I want seconds.”

 
“Careful, you might get fat,” he laughed.

  Sliding my arms ar
ound his back, I teased, “Only if you accidently knock me up.”

Instantly his expression changed.

Climbing off of the table, he walked to his room. I gathered the blanket around myself before hopping down and heading to his room.

  “I was
n’t being serious,” I assured, watching him get dressed.

 
Swiftly turning towards me, he grabbed the front of the blanket, twisting it tight around me, questioning, “You think that’s funny?”

I frowned
, shaking my head at him.

  Grabbing my face with his hand, he growled, “
I’m not enough for you?”

 
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I swore.

 
Slowly releasing my face, he kissed me before informing, “I don’t mind you staying here. Children are worse than pets.”

  Swallowing hard, I whispered, “I don’t ever want kids either.”

  His expression softened as he shared, “You’re mine. I won’t share you.”

Nodding, I tried to smile
but tears rolled down my cheeks instead.

Lifting me up, Henley carried me to the bed. Carefully setting me down, he undressed befo
re sliding into bed next to me. Closing my eyes, I felt him holding me close. I was serious about not wanting kids. I could barely take care of myself. Still, I couldn’t help being sad. It had nothing to do with wanting more. After almost four years together, I was still just staying there. Not even a girlfriend or roommate, I was a possession.

~L~w~H~

Something
changed in me that night. I willingly gave myself to him at a moments notice, I needed him but I no longer willingly gave up control. If he pushed, I pushed back. The fights were painful and the makeups were phenomenal.

~

I was shocked beyond belief when Jackson unexpectedly stopped by for a visit.  As he knocked on the door, I silently debated if should answer it.

  Shouting, “Just a minute,” I ran to the
bedroom and quickly got dressed before taking a minute to open the front door. Thoughts of ‘should I’, made me doubt how good of an idea this was. What if Henley came home and found him here? Deciding it was better to get rid of him before that could happen, I opened the door.

Slowly opening the door, I stepped out onto the porch.

  “What are you doing here?” I snapped at him.

  Looking me over
, he replied, “I wanted to check and see if you were alright, Roberts said you were supposed to meet him for lunch and never showed up,” before adding, “And you didn’t come to my party.”

 
“I just forgot about it?” I lied.

  A familiar look from him caused my stomach to turn as he questioned, “Lunch or the party?”

Shrugging, I looked down and shook my head.

  Taking a step closer to me, he shared, “You don’t have to stay here. I can help you
, just come with me.”

  “What makes you think I need help?” I
snapped.

  Narrowing his eyes in disbelief, he answered, “
Look at yourself, why do you wanna live like this? I know it’s always been like this for you but it doesn’t have to be.”    

 
Jackson’s reference to my father infuriated me and I shouted, “Just stay out of it! I’m fine here! I don’t need you telling me what’s best for me, just leave me alone,” before slamming the door in his face.

Without watching for him to leave, I ran back to Henley’s room and threw myself onto the bed.
How could someone be that selfish? He didn’t know what he was talking about. All Jackson ever cared about was what he wanted. He wasn’t there when I needed him. When I needed someone, he was nowhere to be found.

~

Not quite over Jackson’s visit when Henley made it home. I sat across the table, staring at him. Wishing I could scream and throw things. I wasn’t willing to face the consequences if I did.