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

him.
      Pulling my hair to the side, he kissed from the back of my neck to my ear before whispering, “I need you.”
    My breath grew heavy as I turned to face h im. When Henley pressed his lips to mine, I was lost in the feeling. All consuming, I willingly slid into the bathtub, pulling him with me. Heat and friction were all I felt, until I heard the crinkle of a wrapper and then there was pain.
    ~L~w~H~
    Alone in bed, I could hear him in the kitchen. Cleaning like he did when I had stayed before. Thinking there were worse things to be obsessed with even though, I still found it strange that someone needed anything that clean. Slowly sliding out of bed, I found, not only was my body stiff and sore but my heart felt that way also.
    Standing in front of the mirror in Henley’s bathroom, I looked at myself. The hollow feeling inside showed in my reflection. Continuing to gaze at myself, I was mortified by what I had done. It wasn’t anything like when we had messed around. It was invasive and I still felt violated, not to mention the pain that was involved.
    I watched the tears roll down my face. R ecalling Henley say, ‘All mine,’ when he stopped and looked between us as the only promise I made to myself, ran down the drain. How could anyone want to do that? No matter how many times I had been hurt or injured, it was the single worst experience of my life.
    Quickly wiping my eyes when I saw him step into the bathroom behind me, I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I didn’t know if he knew he was the reason I had silently cried myself to sleep.
      Turning me around to face him, Henley offered, “I can make you something to eat.”
    Shaking my head at him, I flinched slightly when he pulled me to him by my hips.
      “Are you sore?” he asked with a suspicious expression.
      Shrugging , I said, “I need my bag.”
      Scowling, he said, “I put it in the closet,” before sharing, “I am going to the shop. I will pick you up anything you need.”
      I started to say, “I’ll just grab some clothes from…” with the intention of finishing with ‘my house.’ All of the sudden, I couldn’t breathe. My house was gone, just like my parents were. Shaking and crying the pain in my chest was unbearable.
    Henley slid his arms around me , holding me tight. I didn’t want to be held. Squirming in his arms, I couldn’t get away. The more I tried to break free the tighter he held me until anger was the only emotion left.
      “Let go!” I shouted, thrashing in his arms.
    When he let go, I hit the bathroom door.
      I yelled as loud as I could, “Get away from me!”
    Henley raised his hand and I instinctively covered my face with my arms.
      Wrapping his hands around my wrists, he pulled my arms away from my face, saying, “I wasn’t going to hurt you.”
      Shaking my head at him, I snapped, “I don’t believe you.”
    Slowly letting go of my wrists, he walked out of the bathroom.
    After standing there for a minute, I walked into his bedroom. He was sitting on his bed staring at the floor. Making my way right in front of him, I looked down at him.
      “I didn’t mean to hit you that hard,” he said.
      Confused, I questioned, “Why did you hit me at all?”
      Keeping his eyes on the floor, Henley, replied, “ I didn’t want to hurt you. You were leaving. You wouldn’t have come back.”
      “ I wasn’t gonna go,” I shared before explaining, “I mean I was but when you called, I wasn’t.”
      Looking up at me, he shook his head , saying, “You didn’t like the presents I gave you.”
      Fighting back tears when I thought of my grandmother’s bracelet, I said, “It wasn’t what you gave me it’s how you went about it.”
      “ I had the night planned for us. I thought then even if you left, you would still be mine,” he said before whispering, “You’re my promised land.”
    Shaking my head, I stepped closer.
      “Something that was saved just for me,” he added.
    Almost