CHAPTER EIGHT

MIRI

The evening is still drawing in – the light cascades through the window in lazy beams as if the sun's already tired and ready to call it a night. It's a pretty view and one I've not appreciated. Understandable, considering this isn't my bedroom.

Shaw's looking at me, a smile on his face, but I don't meet his eyes. My body may feel sated, but my mind is a buzz. A week ago, I'd never contemplated sleeping with someone – anyone. And yet I'm here, in bed, after having the most indulgent sex.

"Regrets already?" Shaw asks.

"No. No." I bring my eyes to his. "It's just, this isn't something I do. It's playing with my mind a little." I turn and wrap the covers around me as we lie facing each other.

"Isn't it me that should be contemplating, considering you took my v card?"

"Oh, now don't make me laugh. I think we've established your experience." I laugh, and a strange image of him as a young boy springs to mind. He can't be more than mid-twenties, maybe a bit older. Not much older than me, but he seems wiser in some way. Experienced.

"I'm hurt. That was all raw talent. Besides, who wouldn't be great at it with you under them?"

"God, do you hear yourself?" I pull the pillow from behind my head and throw it at him. "I need to use the bathroom. I'll be back." I pick up the jumper to cover some of me before I pad across the room, close the door behind me and fall back on it to exhale.

Looking in the mirror, I see a woman I barely recognise staring back. Her eyes are wide and a little shiny, her hair messed up but in a sexy way, giving the reflection a look that I haven't seen before. It startles me, and I realise I like the look of this Miri.

After taking care of my needs, I send a silent prayer that I made Willow sort out the pill as a safety measure, never expecting to need it.

Deep breath, I go back out to face Shaw. Only he's not in the bedroom.

"Shaw?" I call, my heart suddenly racing a million miles an hour. Did he leave already? Was this all just an act?

I race out of the bedroom and down the ridiculous glass spiral stairs to check the lounge first. "Shaw!" I call again. I pass the door and pause. Did he leave?

Turning into the kitchen, I see him opening a bottle of wine – probably the only one in the house – and pouring two glasses.

"Didn't you hear me call?" I stop in front of him and shove my hand on my hip. Realising I'd be hurt if he left hits harder than I want to admit.

"Yeah. I wanted to see if you'd come find me. I like the thought of being chased around." He cocks a brow at me, showing a slightly darker side of his profile. "We"re gonna need more alcohol. There's nothing in the place. This apartment isn't one where I thought I'd have to search for liquor."

"I'm not much of a drinker."

He smirks. "Could have fooled me the other night."

"That was different. A rare moment." My anxiety seems to be dipping, and I take a breath.

"Well, you don't have enough to get trashed. So, let's go back to bed."

I frown. "Drinking in bed?"

"Call it an urge I want to share with you. It's good to relax for once." He picks up the opened bottle of wine on the counter and hands me the glass. "Your refrigerator is more or less empty." He swats my backside as we head back up to the bedroom, and it makes me jump. There's no need to react with violence, but that's where my head kinda goes. For a split second, I'd turned and rounded on Shaw, just like I've practised in the gym. "I'm ordering in. I've worked up an appetite," he continues.

"I didn't expect visitors," I say over my shoulder as I climb up the stairs.

"What are you in the mood for? Pizza? Champagne? Mexican?"

"No, to the champagne. Yes, to the pizza. Although it probably doesn't pair with the wine." I giggle, thinking of what Landon would have to say at the thought of drinking his posh wine with takeaway pizza.

I climb back into bed, wrap the covers around me, and sip the deep red wine. It's thick and coats the glass but tastes a little bitter, so I only take another small sip before standing it on the bedside table.

"Good?" Shaw asks as he joins me.

"I'm sure if I liked wine, it would be delicious." He snuggles down next to me and rolls toward me as I mimic his move.

"You're beautiful like this. Natural, a little messed up"–he runs his fingers up to my hair–"let me take care of you tonight."

"I thought you already did." It's my turn to grin and smile at him. I felt open and nervous to let him go down on me, but he seemed to enjoy it just as I did.

He didn't stop there, though. I think he drugged me with pleasure to the point I was desperate for him inside of me. Something else he obliged with devastating ease.

"Well, I meant more than just making you come, but don't worry. There's more of that available."

He captures my face in his hand and pulls me toward him. My lips part in anticipation, and a fizzle of energy strikes through me, but he doesn't follow through. He pauses, just out of reach, teasing me, but only for a couple of seconds. Closing the distance, he indulges me with a kiss that's deep and full of promise. His tongue has the same bitter edge as the wine, but I like it on him.

"Mmm." He stops. "Enough of that, or we'll never eat."

"You started it," I protest, but my stomach rumbles embarrassingly, emphasising his point. He looks at me, and I burst into laughter. I sit up and roll towards the wine, feeling like giving it another go. It still has a bitter tang, but it's smoother than the first few sips.

Shaw leans back, grabs his phone and starts tapping the screen. "What do you want?"

"Um, I'm fine with plain pizza, thanks."

"Great. Two pizzas it is because it should be ordered with the works, not plain. You need an education. We can deliver to the desk downstairs, right?"

"Sure. They'll phone it up, no problem." I lie back and burrow myself around the sheets, feeling oddly good. Maybe it's the endorphins from the sex?

This must be the longest time I've spent with someone other than Landon or Willow. It's been hours with only us, and that's not something I do. Not even with the friends I do have.

The call from the concierge desk downstairs eventually rings, and I move to unpeel myself from the sheets.

"No. I've got it. You stay there. I don't want you getting dressed. There's zero need for clothes on you."

"I'm not eating food naked."

"Why not?" His grin is ridiculous as he pulls on his trousers and buttons his shirt. "Can I get back up without you? Do I need a card to work the elevator?"

"There's a code for the lift. Zero one zero five. We can eat in the other room."

"You're not moving from the bed, Miri. I've got you there. Stay."

He leaves, half dressed, to collect the food, and as soon as I see him disappear down the stairs, I collapse back onto the sheets. My eyes stare up at the ceiling as I run over everything that's happening. If this was a year ago, there'd be no questions or doubts or second guesses. I'd accept the date, drink the wine and give my number to a guy.

This is the first time I've ever felt like the old me, but the kicker is I want to share it with Naja. I push the bite of pain aside, determined to have today for me.

A few minutes later, Shaw returns, two boxes balanced on one hand and the bottle of wine in the other. "Food and more booze."

"Smells great."

~

"Is this how you seduce all the girls? Play hard to get, go for a coffee and then ply them with cheesy carbs until they can't move?" I throw the crust of the slice back into the box.

"Certainly isn"t the usual move, but you're not usual either." He picks up another slice and shoves it into his mouth. "I thought New York had pretty good pizza, but this place is just as good."

"You travel a lot for work?"

"A bit. Across America. Here. A little of Europe. You?" He keeps his eyes on the pizza.

"No. Only a bit of Europe."

He finishes his slice, leans over for the wine and offers to top up my glass. I hand it out for him, and he puts another splash into the glass. I grin at him as I take in the devastation in front of us.

"What?"

"It's just, everything about today seems crazy. Scandalous, even. This isn't real." I say the words with a smile that won't budge from my face, but it's the truth from my heart.

"Just go with it. There's zero harm in having a little fun. Life's hard as fuck sometimes." He leans in and kisses my cheek before getting up and heading to the bathroom. "No one gets enough fun before reality comes calling. Wholly fucking God, your bathtub looks like a swimming pool!" he calls. It's as ostentatious as the owner and everything else in the apartment. "You said scandalous. What would you say to me drawing you a bath? Get you nice and relaxed. All clean, ready for me to dirty you up a bit more?"

"A bath?"

He comes back out, giving me plenty of time to admire his chest. "Why not? I"m thinking you could help me with tub sex. I might drown if you're not there to help with my first time."

"You are incorrigible, Shaw Harris."

"Always." He doesn't wait and disappears into the bathroom again. I hear the water start to fill, and I get a flight of nerves in my stomach, crashing around at the thought of sex in the bath.

He emerges and heads straight to my side of the bed. "You're alright with me staying the night, right? If not, I'll finish the bath and go. It'll kill me, but I'll leave you. It's your call."

Stay? It's weird because the thought of him not staying feels wrong. After today, I don't want to say goodbye. Not yet at least. "You can stay." I look up and stare into his eyes. There's a tightening in my chest, and I don't know if it's nerves, excitement or something else that's happening, but I feel it.

"Good answer. Drink your wine. I'm indulging you."

He heads back to the bathroom, and I do as instructed and finish the glass.

The time for the water to fill the bath feels like an eternity, but I stay on the bed, not wanting to look impatient myself.

"You ready?"

I jump up and pad across the floor. My balance falters, and my head tilts as a dizzy spell takes over. Too much wine too quickly, perhaps. I shake my head clear, and I push the door open to peek in.

The bath is filled to the brim, complete with a small topping of bubbles. Shaw sits on the edge with only his briefs on, looking pretty damn pleased with himself.

He doesn't say anything but pulls me further into the room and offers his hand to help me into the water. I oblige, a warmth spreading through my limbs. I lift and dip my toe through the bubbles and into the hot water. As I get in, the heat rises through my body and sets about working on each of my muscles, magically dissolving away any tension and stress that was left. I feel like I've just melted into the water.

"Good?"

"Bliss."

"Clean. Then, dirty time. I'll go get you a glass of wine to complete the vibe."

I nod, feeling sleepy from the heat. My head rests on the lip of the bath, and I close my eyes, just for a moment.

The glass is at my lips, and I take a sip as I open my eyes. Shaw's sitting on the edge of the bath, the wine glass in his hand, as he helps tip it to my lips.

"Now is not the time to sleep."

He picks up my hand and wraps it around the glass, and I take hold, blinking my eyes open. My heart starts to race as I get hotter in the water. His hand trails down my arm, over to my knee, and down my leg, heading for my foot. The foot with the raised and ugly scar on the sole.

The thought sends a bolt of panic and adrenaline through my body, and I sit up, sending the water sloshing.

"Wow, you okay?" He keeps his hand on my leg but doesn't move it lower.

"Yeah. Yeah. Sorry." I take a gulp of my wine and put it to the side before letting out a deep sigh.

My head's beginning to spin.

No more wine, God.

"That"s it. Nice and relaxed," he murmurs.

"Yeah. Um…" I frown as my vision blurs out of focus as I look at Shaw. He doubles in front of me, before the image rights itself as I blink and shake my head.

"Time to get you out of there." He stands, I think, and I feel arms wrap around me. My eyes feel heavy, but I don't want to sleep. Something is telling me to keep my eyes open, a tingling at the base of my skull that seems to connect to my chest and keep my heart pounding.

"There we go. Let's get you dressed."

"Dressed?" My voice sounds off.

"Shh, everything will be clear soon. Come on." My limbs are moved, and I feel light, a little disorientated, but there's a buzz in my mind that makes me want to smile. It's a good feeling – I feel safe. "I need you to walk now, Miri."

"Walk. Yep." I'm upright, and I think we're moving. Then there's a funny feeling that makes my stomach drop. "Weeee!" I laugh but stumble against Shaw.

"I gotcha. Now, we're not going to have any trouble in the lobby, are we?"

"Trouble?" Why would there be trouble?

My feet move, but the images skip in front of me, not quite making up a full picture.

There are voices talking, but I can't tune in to it.

"Miss Miri, do you need me to call Mr Broderick?" I recognise the voice, but it's not meant to be in the apartment. Bob doesn't leave his desk.

"He's already on the way. We'll meet him at the hospital." Was that Shaw? Who's going to the hospital? Why does Shaw sound worried?

Sitting.

I'm sitting, but Shaw's still with me.

I close my eyes.

"Wakey wakey, sweetheart."

What?

"We're home. Back where it all started."

"What?" I pry my eyes open and blink, trying to process what's around me, but my body feels heavy, like I'm stuck, and none of my limbs want to cooperate. "It's cold. Where are we?" My heart begins to race again, and I can't focus. The pounding in my chest and something in the back of my mind is screaming. But I can't hear it. I can't hear what it's saying.

We're moving again, but I can't work out where we are. Snippets. Flashes.

There are bricks. Walls. A building. It's dark.

"Shaw?" I struggle for words.

"Don't worry, Miri. You just need some time. It will all be clear soon."