Chapter 62

Mia

It was nearly noon by the time I woke up. James had left for work once he’d had his way with me very early this morning. I, on the other hand, was too exhausted from his deep, enthusiastic thrusting to get up for the day. After James had tenderly given me a departing kiss, I eagerly returned to sleep, falling into a deep slumber in an instant.

Now fully awake, I felt cold and empty without the billionaire beside me. It was as if there were something missing in my life. Of course, there was also the fact that I had wanted to talk to him last night. If not before that overwhelming, wonderful sex session we’d had, then after. But then again, I had no time before he’d started his seduction, or after for that matter, as by then, I’d been exhausted. The passion between us had really exerted my strength, and I’d fallen asleep as soon as James cradled me in his arms and my eyes were closed.

I sighed. If I wanted to get James to emotionally connect with me, I had to get to know him better by talking to him more instead of indulging our time together simply being physical. I wasn’t going to win over his heart anytime soon by doing that. Sex was simply a form of physical pleasure. Nothing more. Love, however, was a different story. There was emotional connection involved, and spending most of what little time I had with him wasn’t going to help.

Tonight, I thought determinedly, I’d talk to him, including the subject I dreaded most, which was returning to Mystic Spring after leaving Las Vegas.

I flipped the duvet away, intending to get myself ready for what was left of the day. The moment I did so, however, I saw my own naked body. There were new bruises on my skin, one on my right breast and one on my belly. I glanced lower, and my gaze lingered on my left thigh, where there were fresh teeth marks from early this morning. Afterward, of course, James had seductively licked me as if he were some sort of wildcat to soothe my pain and heal my new wound.

I shuddered at the thought. When he bit and then licked me, my core burned in a frenzy of heat, and my nectar excitedly flowed into his awaiting mouth.

I bit my lip at that hot thought. I knew I was weird in this way, loving the fact James did those humiliating, shameful things to me most people thought repulsive. But I didn’t care. He made me feel beautiful, wonderful, and alive, and I certainly didn’t worry what the world thought of me.

With a smile on my lips, I got out of bed and headed into the bathroom to get ready. About twenty minutes later, I was dressed in a pretty white blouse and short skirt. My face was made up neutrally with a hint of dark mascara and pink lip gloss, my hair in a loose bun atop my head.

After having breakfast, I headed to the foyer. With Patrick once again my chauffeur, I went over to the hospital.

After a half-hour drive, we arrived.

As soon as I’d taken my seat beside his bed, Andy declared, “I’m going to be discharged in two days.”

I smiled, pleased at the news. “That’s good,” I said. “And how are you this morning?” I noted he looked better today. He had more color to his skin, and the bruises on his handsome face were fast disappearing.

My brother shrugged as if the pain didn’t bother him as much as before. “Better than yesterday,” he said matter-of-factly. “I can’t wait to get out of here. This place is boring me stiff.”

I chuckled. I could understand that. Andy was a very active young man. Being cooped up in bed just wasn’t his thing.

Suddenly my thoughts went to yesterday’s scenario.

I hadn’t stayed long, just barely half an hour. How could I after what I’d witnessed? Matt confessing his love to my brother and kissing him passionately, the way James kissed me, with that uninhibited hunger that could never be satisfied. Furthermore, Matt orbited around Andy, his eyes sharp like a mother hen, concerned about almost every groan of pain that escaped his mouth.

I wanted to ask Andy about his relationship with Matt. I wanted to hear it from him that they were serious, that they were…gay. I wanted to know Andy was okay with being that way, with having that type of sexual relationship.

Of course it was okay with me. I supported him in every type of relationship he wanted…desired. I’d never judged him or anybody for that matter, for who they were or what they wanted or chose to be. This included individual sexual interests and orientation.

“Andy?” I started slowly, gazing at him. “Umm…”

Andy looked at me, his eyes questioning. “What?”

I licked my lips nervously. Gosh! This was harder than I thought. I took a deep breath and tried again. “Are you…?” I licked my lips again. “Are you and Matt…in a relationship?”

Andy frowned and stiffened. “What? You…”

I shook my head, afraid he thought I was judging him, that I despised him for being that way.

“No, Andy,” I said quickly, shaking my head furiously. “I’m not against it. I’ll support you in every relationship.”

Andy watched me for a moment, and then he seemed to relax. He cast his eyes downward and smiled slightly. “I thought you’d…”

I shook my head again. “You’re my brother, Andy,” I said. “There’s no way I’d do anything to upset you.”

He gritted his teeth, and as if he couldn’t help himself, he grabbed me into his arms and hugged me tight. “This relationship between me and Matt,” he said into my hair, his voice hoarse, emotional. “It’s complicated.”

I nodded because I knew what he said was true. It was complicated, and it would take time for them to work it out. They were two very different people, after all, with very different personalities and completely different upbringings. Andy had been an orphan who’d lived in a shitty, poor neighborhood with an aunt who’d never loved him and an uncle who’d abused and sexually molested him. As for Matt, well, one could only surmise he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, with his every need and desire fulfilled to perfection by those below him.

Come to think of it, James and I were kind of in the same boat as Andy and Matt. James and I had completely different personalities and polar opposite upbringings. To further our unconventional relationship into one of love would be very difficult, tempered with misunderstandings and miscommunication. Those troubled thoughts, of course, depressed me.

When I’d finally moved back from Andy’s embrace, I gazed at him. Yes, I thought, Andy and I would always be cautious people. Though he would be more so than me because of what he’d been through.

“You know, Andy, I don’t like Matt very much. He’s an overbearing man.”

Andy chuckled at my declaration. He seemed to agree with me. “He is, isn’t he?”

I noted the softness of his eyes and the slight smile on his lips, however. This told me he either found Matt’s personality amusing, or he didn’t mind.