All Chapters of Poison me softly : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

I do not understand why I am here in the hospital. If Brittany has been shot, then this is a family matter. A private one. Something that should not involve me. And yet, when Jude said we were leaving for the hospital, he did not give me a choice. He simply looked at me and told me to follow.So I did.We are led straight through the corridors, past waiting patients, until we reach a private wing that feels nothing like the rest of the hospital.We stop outside a door, and one of the guards pushes it open without knocking.Jude walks in first and I follow.Brittany is sitting up in the hospital bed.That is the first thing I notice.Not lying down. Not unconscious. Sitting up, with her back supported by pillows, her posture still as straight and composed as if she were in her own living room instead of a hospital room.Her shoulder is bandaged.The white fabric is wrapped tightly, and there is a faint trace of red bleeding through the edges. If Jude didn’t tell me she was shot in th

The question sits in the warm greenhouse air between us.Marianne D’Angelo looks at me patiently expecting me to give an analysis on why Brittany and Jude don’t have a child yet. I take a breath.“Mrs. D’Angelo. I cannot speak to the specifics of Mr. Martinez’s sessions. You understand that.”“I am not asking about the sessions.” She says. “I am asking for your professional opinion. As someone who has spent considerable time observing both of them.”“A child, is not something that can be scheduled into a relationship that is still finding its footing. Pressure in that direction tends to create the opposite of the desired result.” I pass each point across slowly. She is quiet, frowning down at her plants.“The healthiest thing is to allow them to build what they have between themselves first. When two people genuinely find each other, when they find something worth protecting, the rest tends to follow. You cannot force the order of those things without damaging all of them.”I stop t

Marianne looks at him. Then she looks at me.I look at Jude.He is not looking at me anymore. He is looking at Marianne, waiting for her to grant him his request. “A therapist...on a couples getaway?” Her face seems to blanch, just thinking about it.“My therapist.” He says. “Ongoing sessions cannot be interrupted. That is a medical consideration.”I almost scoff at the nonsense he’s making up. Marianne seems to be aware, because she begins to protest. “Jude, that is not a medical...”“It is non-negotiable.” He says with finality. Marianne looks at him for a long moment. Then she looks at me again with a frown. Like it’s my fault Jude is putting down this absurd term. I keep my face completely neutral.“Very well.” She says, conceding. “I will have the arrangements updated and sent to you.” She straightens her already straight posture. “You leave Friday morning, whenI look at Jude.“Ongoing sessions being interrupted do not have any medical implications.” I say.“It served its p

When Jude kissed me the evening the D’Angelo’s first came over, my first instinct was to pull away.But this kiss, on the yacht’s deck ignites something in me. I respond to Jude, kissing him back hungrily. All rationality leaves my mind, with only one thought ringing through. I want more than this kiss.That’s why when he pulls away and rasps. “Let’s go back to my room.”I nod eagerly, and follow Jude back quickly. We move through the lower corridor without speaking.The yacht sways gently beneath us. Thunder begins to rumble in the sky. But I might as well be oblivious to it. Only hearing the sound of my thudding heartbeat. The corridor lights are dimmed for evening and there’s no one around, to see both of us. Jude opens his cabin door and we step inside and he closes it behind us.His room is larger than mine. Everything in his cabin looks like a replica of his room. A wide bed against one wall, and black furniture. The room’s low lighting is low, the sound of the water bea

I gulp, looking for ways to end whatever this is quickly. Before it gets out of hand.“We are merely a therapist and a patient.” I say.Jude scoffs like I’m ridiculous. As he moves back, I feel relief. But in one swift moment, he takes my chin into his hand, tilting my face to his. “Is a therapist supposed to sleep with their patient?”“Mr Martinez..."“Jude.” He interrupts me. “Call me Jude,”Despite my better judgement, I accept his demand. “Jude, let’s forget about what happened last night.”Saying his name feels dangerous. But what’s even more so, is the dagger we’re talking about.“Forget it?” He looks at me like I’ve made the biggest joke ever. “No. Not when you’ve haven’t given me any good reason why.”I look at him, incredulous. “I don’t need to give you a reason. Just look around!”“I just did, and all I see is you and me.”I shake my head. Emotions build in my chest, and I try to keep my tone levelled, to prevent waking up everyone. “Jude you are my patient. And you’re mar