beauty---
Across the pillows, her long dark tresses fanned along them like silk, but her flawless skin was ghostly pale.
Sweating profusely, twisting in the sheets, body arched like a bow, she was fully enmeshed within the nightmare. No! Please no!” Olivia screamed, and her fingers seemed like claws as she dug them into the sheets. “N-n-no, no…” Then, sobbing uncontrollably, she flailed her arms wildly, striking herself in the process. “Please---”
“Take it easy,” he said quietly, sinking down onto the bed beside her. With a careful gentleness, he grabbed her hands, staying her, and to his relief, she stopped struggling. “Shhh…No one’s going to hurt you.”
Her head thrashed on the pillow. “No…no…no…” she whispered again, gripping the sheets, and soon, her hold lightened. But, then, her pleas were softer as she began to relax. “No….no…”
Moaning softly, snuggling against him, she quieted.
Instead of leaving, he sat there, crippled by his own selfish, blinding need for acceptance and closeness. As though in pain, he squeezed his eyes shut, and briefly, he allowed himself to absorb her sweet innocence.
How long had it been since he’d been this close to another human being? A woman, he mulled, anguished as the guilt flowed through him. Until now, hadn’t he lived up to his promise to never get close to anyone else but---
Shaken, he closed the thought off.
Moments later, satisfied that she was finally resting, he moved to stand, and as he did, she clung to him.
Startled, he stared down at her.
At the feel of her innocent touch, the rush of feelings nearly stifled him. The warmth of her, her eagerness to absorb his strength, her blind trust as she lay within his walls as a pawn---
It was all too much.
Though he was careful, his movements were abrupt as he eased her off of him.
“No, don’t go,” she whispered in her sleep, and though weakened, tried to keep him in her grasp. “Please.”
As the shock reverberated through him, he pulled free before staggering from the bed. “What have I done?” he rasped, and the words were unsteady. “Dear God, what have I done?”
With a sound of self-disgust, he stumbled from the room. But, the bitterness and guilt was too great, even later while he lay in his own bed.
He stared at the ceiling blindly.
Perhaps he was a living monster.
Chapter 3
The following day, at mid-morning, the fog had dissipated altogether, and now a bright cheerfulness filled the atmosphere. In their usual display, the waves washed onto the shore, filling the air with a fresh breeze.
Along with it, though, was an increasing restlessness, she noted.
Why?
She didn’t know.
Smoothing a hand over the brightly colored floral sun dress, Olivia turned away from the balcony doors and wandered back to the chaise lounge. As she sat down, her eyes traveled along the wide area of the bedroom. No doubt, she appreciated its simplistic elegance. Elegantly designed, it boasted high 12’ ceilings, and a ceiling fan circled on low speed. The room exuded both a modern and classic touch, mainly due its
Across the pillows, her long dark tresses fanned along them like silk, but her flawless skin was ghostly pale.
Sweating profusely, twisting in the sheets, body arched like a bow, she was fully enmeshed within the nightmare. No! Please no!” Olivia screamed, and her fingers seemed like claws as she dug them into the sheets. “N-n-no, no…” Then, sobbing uncontrollably, she flailed her arms wildly, striking herself in the process. “Please---”
“Take it easy,” he said quietly, sinking down onto the bed beside her. With a careful gentleness, he grabbed her hands, staying her, and to his relief, she stopped struggling. “Shhh…No one’s going to hurt you.”
Her head thrashed on the pillow. “No…no…no…” she whispered again, gripping the sheets, and soon, her hold lightened. But, then, her pleas were softer as she began to relax. “No….no…”
Moaning softly, snuggling against him, she quieted.
Instead of leaving, he sat there, crippled by his own selfish, blinding need for acceptance and closeness. As though in pain, he squeezed his eyes shut, and briefly, he allowed himself to absorb her sweet innocence.
How long had it been since he’d been this close to another human being? A woman, he mulled, anguished as the guilt flowed through him. Until now, hadn’t he lived up to his promise to never get close to anyone else but---
Shaken, he closed the thought off.
Moments later, satisfied that she was finally resting, he moved to stand, and as he did, she clung to him.
Startled, he stared down at her.
At the feel of her innocent touch, the rush of feelings nearly stifled him. The warmth of her, her eagerness to absorb his strength, her blind trust as she lay within his walls as a pawn---
It was all too much.
Though he was careful, his movements were abrupt as he eased her off of him.
“No, don’t go,” she whispered in her sleep, and though weakened, tried to keep him in her grasp. “Please.”
As the shock reverberated through him, he pulled free before staggering from the bed. “What have I done?” he rasped, and the words were unsteady. “Dear God, what have I done?”
With a sound of self-disgust, he stumbled from the room. But, the bitterness and guilt was too great, even later while he lay in his own bed.
He stared at the ceiling blindly.
Perhaps he was a living monster.
Chapter 3
The following day, at mid-morning, the fog had dissipated altogether, and now a bright cheerfulness filled the atmosphere. In their usual display, the waves washed onto the shore, filling the air with a fresh breeze.
Along with it, though, was an increasing restlessness, she noted.
Why?
She didn’t know.
Smoothing a hand over the brightly colored floral sun dress, Olivia turned away from the balcony doors and wandered back to the chaise lounge. As she sat down, her eyes traveled along the wide area of the bedroom. No doubt, she appreciated its simplistic elegance. Elegantly designed, it boasted high 12’ ceilings, and a ceiling fan circled on low speed. The room exuded both a modern and classic touch, mainly due its
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