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Oh my God, I hate them.I hated them so much it hurt, burning like hot ash in my chest. Why did they always do this to me? I swept my hair up into a messy bun, then walked out of the kitchen, carefully stepping over all the food. I didn’t want to slip and fuck up my back. I seriously wasn’t in the mood. Not today.
I stomped back up the stairs, still seething with fury over my parents’ total disregard for me and my efforts. But even worse, I was furious with myself.What else had I expected on a day like today?“Nothing. I should have expected nothing!” How could I have truly believed that they would change? That they loved me? When had I become so hopeful and naive?
The thin elastic holding my messy bun up snapped in a spectacular way, releasing my hair in a mess all over my face. “Argh, no!” I moaned and gripped my head in sheer frustration. What else was going to go wrong today?
I looked around the room for my favorite hair clip, the pink one. It was strong enough to hold all my hair up and I needed another shower thanks to my temper tantrum downstairs. But the clip was nowhere to be seen.When did I last use it?I could have conjured another, maybe, but I’d exhausted my magic reserves from the morning of cooking and preparation. My emotions were all over the place. I’d likely conjure something completely unworkable.
Besides, I already had a clip, and it was a good one.Where the fuck is it?An image of me using it last came to mind. Pansy’s wedding. The dance floor. When I’d been sweaty and needing my long hair up off my neck. I’d clipped it up and we’d danced the night away.
Marching straight to my closet, I grabbed the clutch purse I’d used that night. I snapped it open and there, between a tissue and my lipstick, was exactly what I was looking for. “Thank God.” I pulled the clip out and twisted my long hair against the back of my head, then shoved the alligator style clip at my hair to hold it.
The relief that soared through my aching muscles at achieving that one small thing was too much, and I had to dash away the angry tears that slid down onto my cheeks. “No!” I scolded myself. “No.” I’d sworn, many years ago, I wouldn’t cry over my parents anymore. And they weren’t beating me. Not today. Those two tears did not count.
A glint of gold and white caught my eye and I stared down at the business card lying on my plush grey carpet.Nicholas.I reached down and picked up the card, laughing aloud as Mary’s voice popped into my head. Then, with anger still burning in my veins, I said out loud. “Oh God, I wish I was in the North Pole, visiting Santa Claus, far away from all this family drama. I’m done with it. I really am!”
The gold writing on the business card suddenly vanished as though it had never been. I turned it over. Both sides were now blank.That’s weird. Then my house began to shake.Oh, shit!“Earthquake!” I instinctively called out to no-one and dashed toward my bed.
I didn’t get far. I took one step and my world disappeared. Gone was my modern, tiny townhouse and suddenly I was standing in a dark tiled bathroom, hot steam filling the air. I blinked and pushed myself back from my lunge position so that I was standing flatly on two feet once more.What the fuck just happened?
I looked around. This was definitely a bathroom, but not one I’d ever seen before. It was floor to ceiling dark tiles, with a massive white tub, and double vanity. The shower was behind me and as I turned around, my jaw dropped, and desire curled deep in my belly.
Right in front of me was a huge panel of glass separating me from the most beautiful man I’d ever seen in real life. He had long white hair which was casually tied into a man-bun at the nape of his neck, and a body that belonged in a football locker room.
He hadn’t noticed me yet, and simply stood there with his eyes closed as the water slid over him.
I couldn’t help it—I stared. My gaze followed the path of the water rivulets as they ran over his huge shoulders, wide chest, and magnificent washboard-flat abs. And his...Oh, wow.I coughed to clear my throat, heat coloring my cheeks. I was starting to feel like a peeping tom now. The poor man didn’t even know I was there!
Then he looked up and our gazes locked.
My knees gave out beneath me, and I landed in a graceless puddle on the cold, wet tiles. My humiliation was finally complete. In absolute frustration and despair, I put my head in my hands and cried. Today was a complete fucking disaster.
Chapter 4.
NICHOLAS
I had to be dreaming. There was a beautiful red-haired woman in a Christmas print dress standing in my bathroom. Had my loneliness progressed to full blown delusions?
