Page 80 of Lilies from Hell

Back in the room, we lay down under the sheets, our bodies now clean of vomit. I wrap my arms around his torso very carefully as I lay my head on his chest, focusing all my attention on his heartbeat.

“I’m sorry I made you puke earlier,” he says, slowly caressing my back.

“It’s okay,” I reply with a slight blush on my cheeks. Then I move to get a better view of his face. “I can’t sleep.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to you.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“Forget it, I’m still a bit shaken by the situation. That’s all.” He narrows his eyes at me, not quite believing my words.

“Don’t lie to me.” I press my lips together, suppressing the urge to tell another lie.

“I… I thought…” At that moment, all the courage I had mustered drained away, and the words vanished.

“What did you think?” he murmurs, resuming his caresses on my back.

“I thought you were going to leave again.” His gaze lingers above me with annoyance, and I immediately regret saying that. He moves, sitting up in bed. I do the same. He then takes my hand and places it on his chest, moving away some hair that had come loose from my braid with his free hand.

“You are the only one capable of changing my heartbeat, because it belongs to you. Everything about me belongs to you, every cell, every breath, every heartbeat.” He moves closer to my face until he is just a few inches from my lips. “You are the air I breathe. I couldn’t leave you. I never did, Lena.” Each word comes out with more exasperation than the last, and I know there’s something else he wants to say to me, but he doesn’t.

I just nod, feeling my cheeks flush warmer than ever when I try to look away, but he forces me to hold it by holding my chin.

“I’ve given you my first caress, my first hug, my first kiss. Everything. And I’m also willing to give you my body,” he mutters. I blink, trying to wipe away the tears I didn’t know I was holding back. He then changes his tender touch on my face for a rougher one, making me shed a tear. The sudden anger in his eyes confuses me. “No one in this fucking universe will ever come close to feeling what I feel for you, and if anyone thinks they do, even in the slightest, then I’ll ruin their lives and rip their hearts out.” I bite my lower lip hard, feeling more tears wet my cheeks. “I didn’t tell you this to make you cry. I just wanted you to know how I feel about you.”

“I know.” It’s the only thing I can say in a low voice, running the back of my hand over my eyelids with a slight blush.

27

When I feel something hot going down to my panties, I freeze. I try to sit up in bed, but his arm makes it impossible for me to free myself no matter how hard I try.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I say, still sleepy.

“Don’t be long,” he murmurs in a low whisper after a while, his eyes still closed, moving to the left and giving me a very good view of his arse.

I rush to the bathroom, then look for some pads and replace my old panties with new ones. I come back to bed with a slight moan from the cramp twisting my stomach. As soon as I get under the sheets, his arms trap me again. His lips resting on the top of my head.

“Good morning,” he says with a smirk, sliding his hand inside my shirt and reaching one of my breasts.

“Morning,” I reply, snuggling closer into his arms as he plays with my nipple.

“Don’t you want to get up?” He asks softly, very close to my ear. I shake my head. “Then I guess we can stay a little longer.” I purse my lips in a pained grimace as I bring my hands to my stomach.

He entertains himself by sucking on my neck and then licking the spot. Then he squeezes my body tighter in his arms, burying his face in my neck. The cramps and the pain grow from his grip on my stomach.

“I need to go again,” I whisper, feeling an intense urge to vomit. I hold it in, but the pain grows stronger, causing me to let out another moan as I wash my face to feel better.

“Lena?” I turn off the tap and meet his worried eyes through the mirror.

“I’m fine. I’m just going through that time of the month, you know,” I say with an attempt to smile. His eyes darken as he approaches, the corner of his mouth tilted slightly.

“Does it hurt a lot?” I shake my head. I bite my lower lip, hiding a smile as he gently lifts me off the floor.

“I can walk,” I mutter sarcastically.

“But you’re much better off in my arms, don’t you think?” He asks with a sly smile.