Mr.... Stranger?

ADRIENNE

I had nothing to say.

No, I had lots to say but my mouth wouldn’t move. I wanted to tell Old Mr. Quinn that his son could go to hell. That I wanted nothing more to do with his family. That I already had plans to move on.

But I respected Old Mr. Quinn too much to say all of that.

If Eddie had told him I about our breakup, it would’ve been better. Thankfully, a soft knock interrupted us and a nurse popped her head in. I didn’t need to say anything now. I didn’t need to react to Mr. Quinn’s advice. Because one thing I was tired of, was pretending.

“Ms. Arlene? The director needs you, if you have a moment. “

Arlene glanced at us, clearly hesitant to leave me in such a charged atmosphere. “I’ll be quick.” She whispered, squeezing my hand before following the nurse out.

Mr. Quinn watches her go before turning back to me, his expression softening. He patted my hand gently and stood to his feet. “Rest, child. And don’t let anyone make you feel small in your own life. You hear me?”

I nodded, unable to find the right words.

Leaning against his cane, his fixed Eddie with a hard loin. “Fix this,” he said again, softer but just as menacing as before. And then he was gone. I watched his back until the door clicked shut behind him.

The silence that followed was quite different from before it was heavy and charged with anger. Eddie’s jaw worked, his eyes fixed on the door like he could still see his grandfather standing there. Then he turned to me, and I saw that familiar storm brewing there.

“You called my grandfather here.” It wasn’t a question. No, it was an accusation.

“What?”

“You called my grandfather here, didn’t you? Again, you’ve gone to play the victim –” he laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Classic.”

“Eddie, I didn’t call anyone. I’ve been in his bed since –”

“Don’t,” he stepped closer, looming over me. “Don’t act all innocent like you don’t know ahts going on. No, you’ve always been good at that, haven’t you? Playing the poor, wronged woman, meanwhile you’re scheming behind my back. Desperately vying for my attention. You think having grandfather by your side will do what – guilt me into staying with you?”

I clenched my fist. “I don’t want –”

“You don’t want what? Me?” he laughed again, leaning closer than before. One of his hand caught the bed railing behind my head and the other stroked my cheek. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek. His perfume wafted into my nose, sending shivers down my spine.

My eyes widened, my fingers clenched the sheet tight and I was sure I was trembling.

Eddie smiled. “Say it again then,” he whispered, his lips were close enough to mine that one small movement and he’d be kissing me. How breath tickled my nose, tickled my neck and his eyes dead mine. But there was nothing passionate in them.

He smirked before pulling away, breathing raggedly as though he had just run a marathon. I wasn’t any different. I felt as though I’d been dipped in water. My body shivered involuntarily and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

I felt something twist in my chest – not hurt. Not exactly. It was something closer to disgust. At him. At myself. For ever loving a man like this. For ever believing he could love me back

“Lydia would never embarrass me like this,” he said once he’s had his breathing under control. “She would never make a scene, never drag my family into her drama. She knows how to behave and has class. Maybe that why I love her so much. Maybe if you learned that –”

“Stop comparing me to her.” I said quietly.

“Why?” Eddie mocked. “Because it’s true?” he leaned down, his face merely inches from mine. My breath hitched in my throat. “You think I don’t see the way you look at me? You still want this, Adrienne. You still want me. Don’t pretend you don’t.”

“Eddie –”

But the rest of the words never made it out. He grabbed my cheek, pulling me closer until my lips met his in a fierce kiss. There was nothing sexy about the kiss, nothing passionate , only possessive and viciously punishing.

His tongue wedged into my mouth and his fingers dug into my cheek, forcing me to stay while he took what he wanted from me. An image of the first night he was intimate with me flashed in my head and tears dropped down my cheek.

It was all I could do.

“Tell me,” he sighed breathily, pushing up my ribcage until his finger grazed my nipple. “you don’t want this.” He smirked when I said nothing. “Whatever you think this is - whatever game you’re playing. It’s not over until I say it’s over. Do you understand me?”

The hand moved from my breasts to my throat and squeezed, not tight enough to cut off my oxygen, but tight enough to leave a bruise. I sucked in air, ready to open my mouth and blast him, scream, whatever I had to do to get him off me when the door slammed open.

Eddie’s he’d snapped towards it and I used that opportunity to slap him. The slap landed harder hand I intended and Eddie flew off me, landing had on the ground. I heard him grunt, saw the expression his face flicker from mild irritation to anger.

But the irritation did the minute he glanced up and saw who it was that interrupted him.

Marcus Warren.

He stood in the doorway with one hand still on the door handle, his dark eyes taking in the scene with unnerving calm. He didn’t look surprised, but I was sure I caught a flash of something akin to anger in his eyes before his cool masked slipped back on.

“Mr. Warren.” Eddie stood to his feet and straightened , smoothing the front of his shirt. But his face still had the print of my hand on it. It made me smile – a bit. “What are you doing –”

“Are you okay?” Mr. Warren asked, looking past Eddie to me. “Is this man assaulting you?”