woman in his arms, his betraying vengeance was replaced by something else. An irrational urge to protect her.
She glared upthrough hooded eyes. “Will you… will you keep me safe?” She struggled to hold her eyes open. “Even from you?”
He smiled at her suffering, her valor. “Yes, sweetheart. I will keep you safe. Even from me.” He ran a finger down her cheek.
Chapter Seven
Even with closed eyes, Nala instinctively knew Tantum’s scent when it hit her nostrils. She pulled a warm blanket up around her chin and tried to roll over. Pain shot to her shoulder when she hit it against the soft mattress, and suddenly, she was reminded of it all. Her eyes flew open, and she sat up. The white sheets and the down comforter fell to her waist. Her head was groggy and her mouth pasty and dry, and it took a few minutes for her vision to adjust so she could have a look at her surroundings.
The walls were a soft cerulean. Two large windows stretched out in front of her, offering a panoramic view of the beautiful blue sky. It was daytime, and the sun was boasting its brightness. Breathtaking canvas paintings were scattered in perfect sequence around the room. There were scenes of the seasons, of the ocean, and of the sunset, all painted in pastel, supple colors, like vacation postcards that would have “Wish you were here” written on the back. There was an armoire in the corner, a dresser, and tall oval mirror all barren white. The ambiance of the room whispered “ Untouchable ,” and she sensed she was intruding on its serenity.
She pulled the blanket back from her legs. They were bare. An oversized white t-shirt was the only thing clothing her body. Wait ! She lifted the shirt and sighed, relieved when she saw underwear on her nether-regions.
Her russet duffel bag sat on a powder-blue chair across the room, and its dark, gloomy color seemed to tarnish the otherwise inviting chair. Using her one good arm, she inched to the edge of the bed and swung her legs over it. Her feet were greeted by a soft, plush white carpet. Her shoulder started to throb, but the pain had subsided and it was no longer intolerable, as it had been after the crash. She crossed her crippled arm over her stomach and supported it with her good hand. Slightly off balance, she walked over to her bag and fought a one-armed battle with the zipper to get it open. She found her jeans and completed the task of getting them on, though fastening the button proved impossible.
She wandered through the house, admiring the lavish paintings, extravagant woodwork, and expensive, exquisite furniture that emerged from every corner of every room. She wondered, Is this Tantum's home? What's he getting paid? Man, I need to grow a pair and ask for that raise. Then she recalled what he'd said back at her apartment, that he was taking her to his family's home.
His scent became stronger, and her heart quickened. She dismissed it as fear of the unknown. It was definitely not anticipation of his presence. Or was it? The way he had held her in his arms and hushed her with his words back at the van. Was that memory a hallucination? He had so soothed her asleep in the safety of his strong embrace. She still hoped it was only a dream. She hoped this, too, was just another dream, waking in Tantum's home. Any minute now, she might wake up in her own bed.
She followed his sandalwood aroma into a bedroom. The walls were burnt red, and the molding, bedposts, and dresser a shiny black lacquer, making them look showroom-new. In the middle of the room, on the wall across from the huge bed, hung another large canvas. Out-of-control swirls in varied shades of blue collided and clashed against fine slivers of black.
Running water and a tapping noise snapped her from the hypnotizing picture. She inhaled, and with measured steps trailed after his alluring smell, following the tapping sound. She stepped through the doorframe and was met by Tantum's raised brow, reflected in a mirror.
He
She glared upthrough hooded eyes. “Will you… will you keep me safe?” She struggled to hold her eyes open. “Even from you?”
He smiled at her suffering, her valor. “Yes, sweetheart. I will keep you safe. Even from me.” He ran a finger down her cheek.
Chapter Seven
Even with closed eyes, Nala instinctively knew Tantum’s scent when it hit her nostrils. She pulled a warm blanket up around her chin and tried to roll over. Pain shot to her shoulder when she hit it against the soft mattress, and suddenly, she was reminded of it all. Her eyes flew open, and she sat up. The white sheets and the down comforter fell to her waist. Her head was groggy and her mouth pasty and dry, and it took a few minutes for her vision to adjust so she could have a look at her surroundings.
The walls were a soft cerulean. Two large windows stretched out in front of her, offering a panoramic view of the beautiful blue sky. It was daytime, and the sun was boasting its brightness. Breathtaking canvas paintings were scattered in perfect sequence around the room. There were scenes of the seasons, of the ocean, and of the sunset, all painted in pastel, supple colors, like vacation postcards that would have “Wish you were here” written on the back. There was an armoire in the corner, a dresser, and tall oval mirror all barren white. The ambiance of the room whispered “ Untouchable ,” and she sensed she was intruding on its serenity.
She pulled the blanket back from her legs. They were bare. An oversized white t-shirt was the only thing clothing her body. Wait ! She lifted the shirt and sighed, relieved when she saw underwear on her nether-regions.
Her russet duffel bag sat on a powder-blue chair across the room, and its dark, gloomy color seemed to tarnish the otherwise inviting chair. Using her one good arm, she inched to the edge of the bed and swung her legs over it. Her feet were greeted by a soft, plush white carpet. Her shoulder started to throb, but the pain had subsided and it was no longer intolerable, as it had been after the crash. She crossed her crippled arm over her stomach and supported it with her good hand. Slightly off balance, she walked over to her bag and fought a one-armed battle with the zipper to get it open. She found her jeans and completed the task of getting them on, though fastening the button proved impossible.
She wandered through the house, admiring the lavish paintings, extravagant woodwork, and expensive, exquisite furniture that emerged from every corner of every room. She wondered, Is this Tantum's home? What's he getting paid? Man, I need to grow a pair and ask for that raise. Then she recalled what he'd said back at her apartment, that he was taking her to his family's home.
His scent became stronger, and her heart quickened. She dismissed it as fear of the unknown. It was definitely not anticipation of his presence. Or was it? The way he had held her in his arms and hushed her with his words back at the van. Was that memory a hallucination? He had so soothed her asleep in the safety of his strong embrace. She still hoped it was only a dream. She hoped this, too, was just another dream, waking in Tantum's home. Any minute now, she might wake up in her own bed.
She followed his sandalwood aroma into a bedroom. The walls were burnt red, and the molding, bedposts, and dresser a shiny black lacquer, making them look showroom-new. In the middle of the room, on the wall across from the huge bed, hung another large canvas. Out-of-control swirls in varied shades of blue collided and clashed against fine slivers of black.
Running water and a tapping noise snapped her from the hypnotizing picture. She inhaled, and with measured steps trailed after his alluring smell, following the tapping sound. She stepped through the doorframe and was met by Tantum's raised brow, reflected in a mirror.
He
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