No Prince Charming by J.C. Daniels

Author:J.C. Daniels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shiloh Walker, Inc.
Published: 2017-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

It was the pain that woke me.

The pain was so deep, even in sleep I couldn’t hide from it.

Groggy, I sat up, staring at the unfamiliar room. Although I had never seen the room before, I knew where I was. It was Michael’s room. I recognized the scent of him on the sheets. Although I was alone, I could feel him all around me.

My dress hadn’t fared well—it was tangled around my waist, and the silk was wrinkled beyond all hope. I caught sight of the closet as I climbed out of bed. I shimmied out of the dress and draped it over the foot of the bed. The closet was full of black, black and more black. I selected one of the shirts and pulled it on. Since he wasn’t there to see, I held the fine material to my face and breathed him in.

Leaving the bedroom, I squared my shoulders. Mentally, I reinforced my shields. I had a bad feeling I knew what was coming.

This would be so much easier if I didn’t still care for him. So much easier if I didn’t still love him.

I found him on the balcony, staring out over the lake. He didn’t turn to face me but I knew he was aware of me.

I closed the sliding glass door at my back and folded my arms over my middle. It was early, not quite dawn, although I could see where the sky was beginning to lighten in the east. The air was cool and damp. A heavy mist lay over the water.

“Good morning, Michael.” Shivering, I moved away from the door, stopping halfway across the deck.

Under the fine silk, the muscles of his shoulders tensed. He turned to me, his eyes dark and turbulent. There was a heavy growth of stubble darkening his features. I’m pretty sure I had never seen him looking so unkempt.

“It’s only been three hours. Do you need more rest?” he asked, his tone polite, cordial even.

I shrugged. My body could have used more sleep, but there was no way I was going to get any more rest today. “Have you slept?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

“No.”

In the thin, predawn light, he looked grim, forbidding.

And he felt…broken.

Tears pricked my eyes and I averted my face, hoping he wouldn’t see. Dear God. The pain. The loneliness. The longing. I couldn’t read thoughts, but emotions were so much more devastating. While I had slept, he had been reliving those few days we’d had together.

Remembering…wondering.

Hurting.

I took no pleasure in his pain. How could I? I swallowed past the knot in my throat. “You know what, I think I may go lie back down.” I backed away from him. No, I wouldn’t sleep. But maybe I could delay this a little while longer.

But this wouldn’t be delayed.

Before I made it to the door, he caught my arm. “I want to know what happened.”

“No.” I didn’t bother pretending ignorance. There was no point.

“Yes. You need to tell me.”

“No.” I shook my head and tugged gently against his hand.

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