Chapter 157
The bathroom mirror fogs slightly from the steam of the shower I took earlier, though the water running in the sink now is cold. I splash some on my face anyway, pressing my palms against the porcelain basin afterward and breathing slowly until the last pieces of the nightmare loosen their grip on my chest.
My reflection stares back at me.
Yeah good enough.
I grab a towel and pat my face dry before pushing the bathroom door open.
The bedroom is dim except for the soft bedside lamp.
Zane is sitting up in bed now, the sheets pooled low around his waist with his back is against the headboard, one arm resting across the pillow where I’d been lying earlier. His eyes go straight to me the moment I step out.
They’re bright and awake, watching.
“Elaine p>
I walk right past him, not even a glanc towards his direction.
If he wants a conversation with me, he will have to earn it.
I head straight for the wardrobe, the cool air of the room brushing over my bare skin as I move. The marble floor is cold under my feet, grounding me in the moment.
Behind me, I can feel his gaze on me. Heavy and following every step.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I pull the wardrobe doors open and start scanning the clothes inside like I didn’t hear him at all.
Silence stretches across the room, then I hear the mattress shifts quietly as he move.
“Elaine.” Wht the hell is he so pressed to talk to me about anyways. I don’t answer him though, he won’t get nothing frm me.
I reach for a pair of black lounge pants and slide them from the hanger.
Slowly and deliberately, my fingers loosen its hold on it and the pants slip from my hand and fall to the floor.
“Oh. Oops”
I sigh lightly like it’s an accident, then I bend down to pick them up Very slowly be cause I know exactly what I’m doing.
The wardrobe light shines directly over me, and the position leaves nothing to the imagination. My back arches slightly as I reach for the fabric, and the air brushes across my pussy in the bent position I am in. Gor half a second the room is completely silent and I’m worried I failed then I hear it A quiet curse under Zane’s breath.
“Fuck p>
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the smile threatening to appear.
So he has been watching.
Good.
I straighten up again, pants in hand, turning slightly just enough to catch the way his jaw is clenched and how his eyes flick away quickly when he realizes I noticed and caught him watching.
But the tension sitting in his shoulders says everything. I smirk faintly and step into the pants, pulling them up slowly before tying the drawstring at my waist.
“Trying to kill me little spit fire? Is that it?” he mutters behind me.
I pretend not to hear that either. Instead, I move to the pile of shopping bags near the couch, they are still stacked where we left them earlier. I crouch down and start digging through them until I find the ones I’m looking for.
Soft scarves, perfume, perfumes, and a couple of dresses The things I picked out for Margaret. I gather the bags in my arms when I’m done and start for the doo.
Behind me, Zane finally swings his legs off the bed.
“Elaine p>
I walk straight past him toward the door, still very much ignoring him.
His voice follows me just as I reach the hallway.
“We’re not done talking p>
I pause for half a second, just long enough for him to think I might turn around then I keep walking. Because we are done talking we weren’t even talking at all, so what is he on about.
The hallway downstairs is quiet this early in the morning. Sunlight is just starting to filter through the tall windows, casting pale gold streaks across the marble floor with the house smelling faintly like coffee.
I head toward the dining room where I know Mrs. Margaret usually starts her morning.
Sure enough, she’s there, standing near the table with a tray of freshly brewed tea and a basket of bread.
She turns when she hears my footsteps.
“Oh good morning, dear p>
Her eyes drop to the bags in my arms.
“What’s all that?
I walk over and place them on the table.
“These are for you p>
She blinks.
“For… me p>
“Yes p>
I start pulling the items out one by one, the first thing is the soft lavender scarf. I unfold it gently and place it in her hands.
Her fingers running over the fabric slowly.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmurs.
“Try it p>
She drapes it around her neck carefully, touching the ends like she’s afraid it might disappear.
Then I hand her the perfume box.
“And this p>
She looks even more confused now.
“Elaine… what is all this p>
“I went shopping yesterday,” I explain casually.
“And I saw some things I thought you might like p>
“You bought all this… for me p>
“And the girls,” I add, pulling out another bag with smaller items inside.
For a moment she just stands there staring at everything, then her face crumples slightly.
“Oh… sweetheart p>
Before I can react, she steps forward and pulls me into a hug. A tight one, the kind that catches you off guard.
I freeze for half a second, then slowly hug her back.
When she pulls away, her eyes are wet.
“You didn’t have to do this,” she says softly, wiping at the corner of one eye.
“I wanted to p>
She shakes her head a little, still smiling through the tears.
“No one has ever p>
Her voice trails off, then she hugs me again.
This time shorter, but just as warm.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
And for the first time since waking up from that nightmare… Something in my chest finally feels a little lighter.