Chapter 1
Chapter One
Elle
Ur sure this is ok? -Elffy31
If you ask 1 more time, I’m going to ware that ass raw when you get here. -SilverHyde
I groan out loud before looking around embarrassed. Im so glad I ended up with my own car. Why does he have to say shit like that? Like- Nope. I’m not going to comment on that, hell I ain’t even going to think about it.
Even when I’m alone lat- Nope! Enough! This is Clyde! God, I need help or sex, I’m unsure at this point.
Srry jst wanted to be sure - E
Ur good, Elffy. Just stop worrying. Get here safe and we can figure out the rest later. -S
Okay, I’ll see you in a few ho-
The train rumbles wrong and my drink spills all over my laptop which immediately begins to flicker different colored lines before going black.
No, no, no. God this cannot be happening right now.
Pounding begins in my ears and my vision starts to tunnel. My hands shake against my thighs as tears burn behind my eyes and within seconds the panic has a vise grip on my chest.
I can’t breathe, can’t call for help. I’m silent and unmoving. Stuck.
Calm down. All your stuff is saved in the cloud.
Deep breath in, you’re smelling a rose Elle. Now blow out the candles. Repeat.
Clyde’s going to lose his shit that I can’t message him.
Breathe in, you’re smelling a rose. Blow out the candles. Repeat.
He’s going to freak out, thinking I’m dead somewhere.
You’re smelling a rose. Blow out candles. Repeat.
And then he’ll be disappointed in me. Losing my phone and now breaking my laptop.
Rose. Candles. Repeat.
Or maybe he’ll just be disappointed I’m alive period.
The tunnel around my vision starts to close in, smaller and smaller.
My breathing techniques are long forgotten now.
Maybe its for the best that he realizes now that I’m more trouble than I’m worth.
With that final thought black takes over completely.
I’d love to say I came to, and all the bad thoughts were gone, and I could think rationally again but I can’t. As far as I can tell I was only out for a short time, but I woke up in nearly the same panic though the physical side has lessened away just leaving a perpetual exhaustion. I know I had roughly 4 or so hours left of my ride, but it’s felt like it’s been days stuck in this car.
Yet I was too terrified to even think to leave until the train came to a stop.
I’m unloading off the train now and praying that he still showed up even though I was completely AWOL.
I’m walking into the station when I hear a familiar voice.
“I want to know where she is now.” How can a person sound so calm yet deadly at the same time? His dark frame is hunched half way over the desk as if giving her less space will force her hand.
“Sir, I’m sorry but I can’t give you any information related to her. It’s a safety issue.” Her voice trembles as she speaks, but she stands her ground. She’s fucking brave. “If you can have her add you on as an emergency contact then next time, I can give you any information you want.”
“There won’t be a fucking nex-”
“Clyde.” Cutting him off before he can scare her anymore, I step forward. His head drops as he takes a slow stuttering breath in, not even looking at me. I turn to the girl while he calms himself. “Thank you for trying to protect me, he’s not an abusive boyfriend just a over-protective friend. Please add him to my emergency contact list.” I flash the magazine worthy smile we were taught at school.
She still seems nervous but flashes me a smile and nods. “I’ll need his full na-”
Clyde straightens his back; his demeanor and voice having toned back some when he speaks again. “Yes, thank you for trying to protect her. But as I said there won’t be a next time.”
With that he gently takes my arm, pulls my bag from my shoulder, and tugs me towards the exit without another word.
Well, this is a fucking great start. He’s probably been worrying sick for hours which with him always turns to anger. I’m about 10 seconds from shitting myself and on top of that my body feels like it’s being touched by live wire where his hand is. Between the fear and hormones how the hell am I supposed to form a coherent thought to fix this.
#
We’ve been in the car for fucking 30 mins and we haven’t said a word. Not a single. Fucking. One.
He opened the door for me, put my bags in the car, climbed in and just drove.
I hate this.
I normally love when people leave me alone. But right now, all I want to do is hear him. Learn to match the voice I’ve heard over the phone for the last 10 years to his facial expressions.
Right now, he’s just zoned in on the road, looking majorly annoyed. His forehead is slightly wrinkled with annoyance, strong square jaw clenched tight. His full lips are in a slight pissy pout (which given he’s a 6’4 huge bulked out dude, I don’t think I should find adorable but let’s be honest here, it’s fucking cute). His shoulder length midnight black hair is in a low pony at the base of his neck showing off the scar that goes from his right temple down to almost the corner of his mouth. I’ve always hated how his hair had body and wave without being a curly frizzy mess like mine.
But his eyes are what get me the most if I’m being honest. The pictures online are always from a distance, so I’ve never seen them. He has one dark brown eye that’s nearly deep enough to be mistaken for black and the other is a striking deep forest green.
We pull up to the gates of Clyde’s mansion.
“I’m sorry.” My voice sounds crackly even to my own ears.
“It’s fine.” Are men like woman where fine doesn’t mean fine? Cause it doesn’t sound fine. “Just for now on please shoot a courtesy message back before falling asleep. It’s not like this is a new reque-”
“I didn’t fall asleep.” The car comes to a stop, but he continues to stare forward.
“What?”
“I did-” A low growl fills the car, making me freeze. “Geez, you asked.” His glare could freeze the ocean. Damn that’s ho- Nope. Not tonight, Elle.
I quickly pull my laptop from my bag. “I spilt a drink on it. It’s fucked.” Letting it dangle from my hand, I wait for his response, knowing how his temper can be. All I get is a surprising small chuckle with a head shake and a mumble of something about a “clumsy girl”.
Can anybody say fucking mood swings?
And then he’s climbing out of the car. I throw open my door and go to hop out but he’s suddenly there, hands on my hips.He leans forward, pressing our foreheads together.
“If you ever scare me like that again, I’m going to wear your ass raw.”
Holy shit, I can smell the sweet mint on his breath.We’ve never been this close before. Well to my memory at least, the first 15 years of my life being lost in a void somewhere.
“You use that threat a lot.”
His eyes rise to look at mine as another grumble rises from his chest.
“Keep testing it and see how serious I am.” His voice is throaty and slightly hoarse.
He backs out from between my legs like he got shocked. I’m soaked, and a faint throbbing starts between my legs. I clench my thighs and his eyes track the movement as they seem to darken even more.
I jump down from the SUV and pain shoots through my ankles just a little from the taller drop but I’m already moving towards my bag.
“I’ll do better. Make sure I keep you up to date. As soon as I finally have access to my dad’s estate, I can get a new phone and laptop.” I ramble as I snatch my bag out of the truck, hauling it over my shoulder. I know my cheeks are pink. “I’ll also start looking for a place ASAP, so I can get out of your hair.”
“I see you still babble. Bad habit.”
I turn to him as my ears burn hotter. He’s leaning against the car with his arms crossed over his chest causing the fabric of his suit to fight his muscle in a surely losing fight. A nervousness tugs at my chest.
“Have I always babbled?” My voice now so quiet I’m unsure if he can even hear me. It’s hard not remembering those formative years. I have the habits, morals, lessons I learned from them but without remembering how or who I learned from.
“Always,” his voice is equally as soft as he steps forward, taking my bag and leading me by my elbow to the door. “Even as a baby, but it didn’t used to be a nervous thing, we just could never get you to shut up.”
We don’t say any more. He leads me to my room, and I think he says something though I’m unsure what. He must give up on getting me to talk anymore, cause next thing I know he’s carrying me to the bed and laying me down. He tucks me in and kisses my forehead, but my minds off wondering about the void that is all consuming.
It’s so weird to know how much better someone knows me than even I do.
