Tense Aftermaths
RENEE
My eyes fluttered slowly as I felt a strong hand caressing my shoulders, urging me to get up.
I didn’t want to wake up, at least not yet. With a dreamy smile, I stretched my long body on the soft foam, my cheeks rosy as I continued to dream about a certain dark-haired, blue-eyed handsome man.
“Come on, Renee…” I heard a voice say again, but I paid no heed. Instead, I snuggled in and shut my eyes again.
I wanted nothing to interrupt this blissful slumber and…
“Come on, Renee… We have to go.”
“Go where?” I asked curiously, my eyes opening a little. I stretched slightly on the plush mattress.
My vision was blurry due to my drowsy state, but the second I set my eyes on him, the smile on my face widened and I stretched out my limp arms, begging him to accept and fall on the bed with me.
“Daddy…”
“Renee…” He called out, his voice so deep and sexy that I had to clench my thighs in response.
He was no longer stroking my arms. Instead, his hands were on my hair, playing with the strands. Every second he kept calling my name, saying we had to go somewhere, but I wasn’t ready to go. At least not yet.
“Come stay with me. Let’s have some fun before we go, Daddy.” I winked, giggling dramatically and blinking my sleep-ladled lashes.
“Renee…” He called out for the umpteenth time, removing his hands from my hair and he tried to stand straight, but I wasn’t having that.
“Robert…” I called after him, catching him off guard, and then I dragged his hands so he almost tumbled on the bed with me.
“Oh no, Renee. We have to leave. We’re at the dock. We’ve reached land, just like you requested.” He blurted out in a rush, and as he said those words, the wheels started turning in my head.
Letting go of his hand like it was scorching hot, I blinked once, twice, and then my memories returned.
We’d fought earlier, and I’d rushed into the cabin after that.
Then I’d taken a bath and put on some clothes. I’d laid on the plush mattress, hoping to have a good rest, but still I’d cried thinking about him, the argument, and all our good times. In the heat of the moment I must have fallen asleep, I now realized.
Every argument and painful revelation replayed in my mind and with a hiss escaping my lips, I pushed myself up to the edge of the mattress.
As I sat up, scrambling simultaneously, I tried to rub the sleep off my eyes and began looking for my cell phone.
I knew it was somewhere near because I’d called Nicole earlier, telling her I’d be coming back to the motel soon.
She’d noticed my hurt tone, already pestering me with questions, but I’d promised to tell her everything when I got home.
I soon spotted the device on the bed, but even then, I looked around like I was searching for something when I wasn’t looking for a thing.
I was doing anything and everything to ensure I didn’t look at him.
His stare bored a hole into my skin, and I shuddered. My cheeks flared up with embarrassment as I recalled what I’d just said to him in my sleep-addled state.
“Fuck!” I mumbled to myself, raking my hands through my hair in frustration.
“Huh? Did you say something, Renee?” He asked, and just the sound of his voice warmed my heart in ways I didn’t want.
The way he said my name. The way he stared at me. The things he did to me… A whimper escaped my lips, and I almost let out a pained sob, but I held myself back. I had to be strong, and show him that he didn’t affect me in anyway.
Besides I’d already told him this was a fling, so why was I feeling like this? Why was I hurting?
“Renee…”
“Stop fucking calling my name!” I yelled, my voice so harsh that I regretted the second the words sprouted out from my lips.
“Okay.” He said after a moment and added, “I’ll be waiting for you outside. Get your things.”
His voice was cold and as I looked up at him, our gazes locking, a chill passed through me.
“Okay.” I replied curtly, and turning around, he began to walk out of the room, leaving me to stare at his retreating figure. I bit my lips in desire as I stared at his nice physique.
Even from behind, he was still muscular, and his biceps by the sides shot out so sexily. How could this man ever be in his forties?… Damn, he still looked and carried himself so well.
I swallowed a huge lump of saliva down my throat, willing myself to stop ogling him, and I blinked, flustered.
“Do you need anything?” I heard him say.
Opening my closed eyes, I saw that he’d stopped walking and was staring at me with a knowing look.
He must’ve caught me ogling. If only he knew what was going on in my head right at this moment. I flushed incredulously, shaking my head negatively. I shrugged my shoulders and waited for him to say another thing, but he didn’t much to my broken heart disappointment.
If he spoke, then it would piss me off. But I’d also be angry if he said nothing. What the hell was wrong with me?
“Just leave!” I muttered harshly, my voice coming out louder than I’d intended, and I saw pain flash briefly in his eyes.
Clenching his fists, he nodded and briskly turned away from me. He walked out of the room with his long legs, easily carrying him over the threshold in seconds.
The door shut harshly when he left as if he’d banged it angrily and plopping my ass on the bed, I groaned albeit sadly.
“What… what is wrong with me?” I mumbled, lips quivering and tears lurking at the sides of my eyes, trickling down my cheeks.
I initiated this distance and tension between us, so why didn’t I feel happy or satisfied?
Why? Why? Why?
“I won’t overthink about him or what happened.” I said defiantly, my hands going to my cheeks and wiping the tears off my face, I grabbed my phone and bag and began to walk out of the bedroom without sparing one glance back.
~~
The moment I stepped out of the yacht, rounding the corners of the large boat, I saw Robert waiting for me from afar.
My legs wobbled beneath me as I walked toward him, my body tensing up at the same time.
My breath hitched in my throat and I couldn’t help but gasp quietly once he came into clearer view.
He looked breathtakingly handsome and so different, like I’d not just seen him a few minutes ago. The brief rays of the setting sun flashed on his face, and my throat bobbed when I dragged my gaze from his face to his chest.
He had on a white button-up long-sleeved shirt, the two top buttons open, and a frown instantly formed on his beautiful face as he saw me approaching.
His body moved slightly, his jaw dropping open as if he was about to say something, but then I dragged my gaze away from him to the man standing by his side.
I wasn’t seeing Robert’s companion clearly. Still, when I came closer, I recognized the all too friendly, familiar face.
It was Mr. George, the ship’s caretaker, and a warm smile formed on my face instantly.
“Hello, Mr. George.” I greeted, hands outstretched, ready to shake but instead he tackled and pulled me in for a hug.
“How are you, my dear?” He asked after we disentangled, adding for emphasis, “Did you have a good time? Mr. Robert, did you treat her well and….”
“Erm, Mr. George, I think that’s enough. We need to leave as soon as possible because Miss Renee has somewhere she urgently needs to be.”
“Oh…” The older man said softly, mirroring the words in my head as I stared, surprised at Robert.
“Yeah, take good care of the ship too. I’ll see you later.” He added, and Mr. George nodded in response.
Robert looked stiff, his jaw set and eyes unreadable. His demeanor didn’t bother me.
Rather it was the endearment he’d just used to address me, that worried me the most.
‘Miss Renee?’ Wow. Just wow. The first time he’d introduced me to Mr. George as his girlfriend and partner, but now I was just a random woman… a random missus.
It wasn’t supposed to hurt, but it did, and now just like karma, pain flashed through my eyes as I looked at him.
If he noticed, he didn’t say a thing. Instead, he stretched his right hand toward me and said, “Come with me, Renee. We have to leave.”
“Of course.” I said quietly, refusing his stretched hand and trying hard not to break in front of him.
I had to keep myself together. I had to.
I glanced blankly at Mr. George, wanting to wave goodbye, but the concerned look on his face embarrassed me. Ignoring him, I kept my mouth shut and turned away as Robert led me from the boat and onto the dock.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
“You seem tense….” He said as soon as we got to the busy ship harbor, breaking the brewing silence between us and even though I could feel his permeating gaze on me, I dared not to look up.
“Can we just get on our way without saying a word?” I mumbled and I thought he didn’t hear me for a second until he said, “Okay, as you wish.”
As I wish? What a good word to put in now…