Life With HIM: Rennillia Series Prequel (Companion Novelette) by M. Sembera

~L~w~H~
    I must have circled the town twenty times before I finally pulled off to the side of the road. I felt lost. There was no place I could go. I understood there were actual places for me to go. However, there was no place I wanted to be. I didn’t want to be told everything would be alright. Everything was not alright. It would never be alright because my parents were gone. They were dead. The feeling of loss was so overwhelming, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My chest was hurting and I started to shake. There was no way to make this feeling go away. All I wanted was to stop feeling the way I was feeling. Then, I realized, there was a way.
    Taking several deep breaths, I pulled back onto the road. Shaking my head at myself, I knew this was a bad idea. Suddenly goose bumps covered my arms in anticipation. Every reason not to go was quickly replaced with the way I knew I would feel once I got there. No thought just action. My sadness would be welcomed and shared. Because when we had nothing else we could have each other and I had nothing. There had never been a gap like this in my life. He would fill the void that was slowly swallowing me whole.
    Pulling up past the gate, I stopped my car. Slowly opening the door, it wasn’t until I stepped out, I realized, I never put my shoes on. Carefully, I made my way down the path, mentally questioning myself with every step. By the time I reached my destination, I was severed into a million different emotions. The need for just one surpassed the rest and I closed my eyes and made my decision. Slowly reaching u p, I knocked on HIS door.
    ~L~w~H~
    Slowly opening the door, Henley looked me over. Before I could say anything, he shut the door in my face. I sat down in front of his door. Pulling my knees to my chest, I rested my head on them, letting tears roll down my cheeks.
    When I heard the door open, I refused to look up.
      “What do you want?” I heard his voice question.
      Shaking my head, I wiped my eyes, saying, “They’re gone. My parents are gone.”
      It was silent for a while before Henley said, “You left me.”
      “I don’t have anyone, I’m an orphan . I don’t have a family,” I cried.
      His voice was sad as he asked, “What about your friends?”
      Looking up at him, I replied, “I don’t want to be with them.”
      “Get up,” he growled appearing angry.
    Slowly, I stood up.
      Focusing on my bare feet, he snapped, “I can’t let you walk in.”
    Frowning, I nodded.
    Reaching out, Henley grabbed my arm, jerking me towards the doorway. He leaned down and lifted me up before carrying me into his house. Through the living room and into his bedroom, stopping when we reached the bathroom. Setting me down on the edge of the bathtub, he pulled off his shirt and folded it neatly before setting it on the counter.
      Kneeling in front of me, he said, “Don’t leave me again. I need you.”
    “I won’t,” I breathed.
    Appearing as sad and alone as I felt, he nodded. I placed my hand in is hair, running my fingers through it. Reaching his arms around my waist, he rested his head against my stomach.
      Brushing my fingers against the side of his head, I admitted, “I miss the way I feel with you.”
      “I miss feeling you,” Henley shared, pulling me off of the edge of the bath tub and onto my feet.
    St ill on his knees, he stared up at me.
    Henley’s eyes never left mine as he unbuttoned my jeans and slid them down my legs. Stepping out of them, my body hummed in anticipation. Every other thought was gone as he placed his hands on my hips and sat me down on the edge of the bathtub. Reaching under my legs, Henley twisted me around, flinging my feet into the tub. I watched him carefully as he turned the faucet on and gently washed my feet.
    Starting with the top of my freshly washed foot, he followed my leg all the way to my hip with his lips. Closing my eyes, I sat on the edge of the tub as he continued up my back taking my shirt with