The Marriage Contract (35 page)

              I groaned, dropping my eyes to the floor, feeling like a total fool.

              As I cursed myself inwardly, I felt my feet floating off the ground, as Richard scooped me up, cradling me in his arms.

              “What are you doing?” I asked slowly, narrowing my eyes at him.

              He smiled. “I don’t want you questioning how I feel towards you anymore.”

              I blinked. “Okay…so?”

              His gaze darkened, as he strode towards my bed. My chest rose and fell, as I stared worriedly at him, confused by his riddling words.

              The light from the ceiling hit the mischievous glint in his eyes, as he dropped me on the bed, jumping on top of me. His legs dangled on either side of me- his hands placed on either side of my face, as he leaned towards my quivering lips.

              “So I’m going to prove to you how much I want, crave, and need you,” he whispered. “Starting now.”

              Oh, no. This was bad. 

Chapter Twenty Three

              The midnight gust from my open window, swirled over us, as I exhaled a deep breath- staring worriedly at him. The deep longing in his chocolate eyes, danced along the angles of my face, before stopping, for a moment, on my lips.

              I gaped up at him, my head dipped against the white cotton pillow- watching as his hand slowly made its way to my mouth. His Adams apple rose, as his thumb gently brushed across my bottom lip- his eyes taking on a faraway look, as if lost in a memory.

              The light from the room, streaked over his solemn face, glimmering over his eyes, which I could tell, were searching for another. He no longer saw me, for the stars in his gaze, were shining with a kind of melancholy, which could belong only to the broken hearted.

              While he hovered over me, I felt his knees shake on either side of me, as though ready to collapse. Water glazed over his lids, as he placed both palms against my face, staring at me as though he’d known me all his life.

              I gasped at the shock of his flesh against mine.

              “Why did you do it?” His voice broke, as a tear slipped past his cheek, soaking into his throat.

              I frowned, my brows wrinkled together, as I tried to comprehend his question.

              “Do what?” I asked.

My chest heaved, as his eyes glowered in anger. Richard’s jaw clenched tightly, as he slammed a fist against the bed, causing me to jump.  

              “Richard, what’s wrong?” I spoke slowly, keeping my gaze on his.

              He looked to the side, running a hand over his thick brown tresses, before glaring at me once more.

I tried to slip out of the bed, wanting to keep a safe distance, for the look in his eyes read murder. While I attempted to adjust myself up, he pressed both hands against my face, giving them a gentle squeeze.

Almost lovingly.

What the hell was going on?

“Talk to me,” I snapped. “You’re acting weird and it’s freaking me out—“

He groaned loudly, dipping his face so close to mine, we were only a centimeter apart. My heart stopped, as his cool breath fanned into my nose.

              “Don’t lie to me,” he said, his eyes burning into mine. “Don’t fucking lie to me—“

              “I never lied to you!” I said. “And let go of me!”

              He shook his head, staring at me like a mad man, as I pressed my hands against his chest, trying with all my might to push him off.

              But he wouldn’t budge.

              “Did you eat nails for breakfast?” I snapped. “Why the hell are you so strong? Get off—“

              His hands found my wrists, pinning them above my head. I would have kneed him in the crotch, had his legs not twisted over mine, keeping me in place.

              I was caged.

              “You told me you were going to Jenna’s place that day.” His voice took on a dangerous edge- his lips barely touching mine, as he gazed painfully at me.

              “What?” I began. “You’re insane!—“

              “You were supposed to be only mine,” he hissed. “I loved you…I really did.”

              I stopped squirming, staring at him in confusion, as his hands on my wrists tightened. His eyes searched my face for an answer to a question I never asked, to an action I never made, and I began to worry whether he recognized me at all, for he was drenched in another world.

              My chest clenched, for I could almost feel his pain seeping into my veins, as he continued looking at me with that faraway gaze.  

              “Did I break your heart?” My voice escaped in a whisper so low, I feared it didn’t reach his ears.

              But when a drop from his eye trickled onto my cheek, warm against my skin, I knew he had heard. His grip on my wrists loosened, as he let go of my hands, rolling onto the side of the bed- lying beside me.

              “You did,” he replied. “When I found you and James in that room, I thought for a second, it couldn’t possibly be you. It couldn’t be my Lorie. No, my angel wouldn’t betray me. She wouldn’t hurt me.”

              At the sound of James’s name, my ears perked, as I shot my head to the side, staring disconcertedly at him. My hands clenched against the soft, pink comforter- the material wrinkling in my palms. The beats of my heart thundered on- a million thoughts roaming in my head, before stopping on one final conclusion.

              James had done something unforgivable to his brother’s lover. But a part of me, a very small part, denied the truth. 

James might not have an ounce of respect for me, but I was sure he loved his brother. They weren’t close, that was for sure, but he couldn’t possibly have done anything with…Lorie.

              My mouth dried, as I turned towards Richard, placing a hand on his shoulder. The soft fabric of his t-shirt, felt warm against my palm, as I gave him a gentle squeeze.

              But he ignored my touch, staring passively at the ceiling, as though the spirit within his soul, were lost.

              “You always wore something red,” he said. “It was your thing. You said that a woman should always wear a piece of something she loves, wherever she went. And so you wore red.  If only you wore a piece of my heart, then maybe you wouldn’t have done what you did…There were times that I thought you were hiding something about yourself. Something you never told anyone. You were the queen of mystery. On our third year anniversary, I gave you that necklace. Do you remember? You returned it to me the day you left. I still have it, but I don’t think I’m giving it back. Not yet. Sometimes, I wonder if you miss me. But then I tell myself not to be such a moron, because the dead never miss anybody. They just disappear. But, why do I feel like you’re still with me? I bet you’re laughing at me aren’t you? You know something Lorie? I hope you’re in hell. Maybe someday, I’ll meet you there, and when I do, we’ll burn in a thousand flames, together.”

              I wasn’t sure if he was momentarily deluded, or perhaps, trying to tell me something.

              A cool wind blew through the open window, pushing my hair over my back, as I rested my head against his shoulder. A small lump rested in the center of my chest, as I wrapped my hand over his- our fingers interlocking.

              I should have hated him then. I should have yelled, and screamed at him for using me against a plot for revenge. It was clear that James had had an affair with Lorie, to which Richard had been keeping a grudge for years. I wasn’t even sure how many years, for he never mentioned when they met. But I supposed that was beside the point.

              Though I should have been angry, I couldn’t help but feel empathetic towards him. I knew how it felt to lose the ones you love, and all he needed at that moment, was someone to hold.

              His hand tightened against mine- my head dipping further into his neck, as he both sighed into the cream ceiling.

              “Why didn’t you do it?” I asked. “This is what you were plotting isn’t it? You wanted me to fall for you, leaving James. It was all a game. But today, you stopped. You didn’t try to do anything with me, yet it was the perfect moment.”

              He turned his head towards me, staring blandly- his brown eyes glazed with a kind of loneliness.

              “Perfect moment?” he questioned. “Are you saying you would have let us spend the night together? You would have gone through with it?”

              I bit my lip. “No…I mean…you didn’t even try to kiss me—“

              “I don’t understand your point,” he said.

              I sighed. “My point…well, I guess I don’t have much of a point. What I’m trying to say is that you could have tried to seduce me, tried to get me in bed, but you didn’t do that. That’s what I find interesting. I mean, this was what you’ve been planning for who knows how long, yet when the moment came, you didn’t go through with it—“

              His whipped his hand away from mine, shooting up from the bed- sitting against the headboard. He ran both hands over his face, before exhaling a deep sigh, looking exhausted. 

              “I couldn’t do it,” he snapped. “I just…I couldn’t. I love her, Dorothy. Maybe I’m not the type that can go through with vengeance, but when James finds out I’m here, he’ll make sure I pay. Not that I’m scared of that bastard, because I’m ready to kill him myself. I have so much anger inside me, and I don’t know how to let it out. I just don’t! I tried to use you, but I couldn’t. I’m an asshole too, don’t get me wrong. But I’m not as bad as James. I could never be. I’m guessing you hate me now. I don’t blame you.”

              I looked at him for a moment, before clearing my throat, adjusting myself up on the bed. I sat beside him, running a hand through my unkempt waves, and placing my legs under my thighs.

              “We all make mistakes,” I said. “But what you tried to do isn’t something I can easily forgive. You tried to use me, by attempting to sleep with me, just so you can have some petty revenge against James. But can I tell you something, Richard?”

              “Yeah?”

              “I don’t know why Lorie hurt you, but I do know that wherever she is right now, she’s sorry. I think, you need to let this go. I have nothing to say in regards to James, but if you want to be the better person, then you can’t do what he did. You still love her, don’t you?”

              His eyes dropped to his lap, as he sat Indian style on the bed, keeping his head low.

              “Yeah,” he said. “Always have, always will.”

              “Do you mind if I see that necklace from earlier today?”

              He turned his head towards me, staring sadly at me with red, puffy eyes. Reaching into his pocket, he placed the necklace in my hand. The silver from the heart felt cool against my palm, as I grazed my index over it.

              “I had a feeling this wasn’t your mother.” I gave him a small smile.

              Sliding out of the bed, I walked around it, until I reached him. He watched me with a curious gaze, staring at my hands as I placed the necklace over his head. He didn’t move, sitting still as a rock, watching me adjust the necklace over his t-shirt.

              “There,” I whispered. “You look much better now.”

              I shot him another smile, then turned, walking towards the door. As I prepared to head out of the room and into the shower, his hand curled over mine, tugging me gently back.

              I froze.

              His shadow loomed over me, as he stood behind me- his hand curled over mine.

              “How can you not hate me?” he asked.

              I contemplated his question, repeating it over in my mind until it drowned out, disappearing into a haze.

              “I don’t know,” I replied. “I guess…I guess I can understand you.”

              A calm silence passed between us. I stood rigid, as he took slow steps towards me, before placing a light kiss to the back of my head.

              I gasped.

              “When I’m real old, and grey, with my memory growing weaker by the day, I know one thing for sure. I’ll remember you, Dorothy Web. Perhaps we’ll meet again in another life, under a better circumstance.”

              I didn’t respond, but as he walked around me, exiting out of the room, I felt a piece of my heart- melt.

**