"I don't understand, how did he even get into the hospital? How did he know where to go?" Aaron asked, running his hand across his face.
"It’s been all over the news," David answered.
I spun around to face him, all the blood draining from my face. "What do you mean all over the news?"
David looked sheepish and dropped his gaze to his hands.
"What do you mean all over the news, David? And why haven't I heard of this before now?" Anger was causing my blood pressure to rise. I could feel it beginning to boil in my veins and I held onto it. Anger was something I could control. Something I could use in the situation that was spiralling rapidly out of my control.
"Well, you were almost killed, Carrie. Something like that would be all over the news..." I could tell from the way David refused to meet my gaze that he was holding something back. Something I would have a major problem with.
"Tell me the truth." I tugged my hand out of his and narrowed my eyes. I wasn't going to be fobbed off. And I certainly wasn't in the mood for coy word games.
"Fine. I'm the owner of a large company. I spend a lot of time in the limelight attending functions. I have a different girl on my arm for every event...until now, so when I met you the press took note. They know how much time we've spent together and as much as I've tried to shelter you from that aspect of my life things get out... I thought I had it under control until Robert tried to kill you. Now your picture as my girlfriend—the one who a business rival attempted to murder—has been splashed all across the papers and the news. Whether you wanted it or not, Carrie, you're famous..."
I stood and walked to the opposite side of the room. Sucking in some deep breaths, I attempted to let the news sink in. I was all over the papers. David thought I was his girlfriend... The phrase hit me like a punch to the gut. Part of me wondered had he only used that word because the press had? Or did he think it too?
I ran my mind back over his revelations. I was glad I had spoken to my parents. Even if it was fleetingly. Knowing what the press was like, I had images of them being hounded for news on my whereabouts and my state.
If the word was out there, how easy would it be for Robert to find me in future? Could he simply track my whereabouts by following the news? I turned back to David and Aaron, my heart pounding in my chest. I was still angry but I wasn't angry at David. This wasn't his fault—none of it was. I had been naive getting into the relationship with him and thinking nothing would touch me.
"How come I haven't seen any of the press?" I asked. "Aren't they supposed to be following us around trying to take pictures?"
"They don't know you've left the hospital. But it's all a matter of time... Carrie, I'm so sorry..."
I lifted my hand to stop his apology. "Don't. You don't need to keep apologising for things that are not your fault. All I want to do now is start getting back into things. Relax and ensure Robert is caught..." A small smile slid across my lips as I shifted my thoughts to far more pleasant imaginings. Thoughts that I hoped would be very shortly put into action.
"I think I should lie down for a while. After everything... you know?" I wasn't particularly tired. The more I stared at David, and felt his closeness, the more I wanted to feel his lips on mine.
He stood and took my hand in his. Aaron watched silently for a few minutes as though attempting to assess the situation. A grin curved his lips that made me blush. David seemed completely oblivious and it made me want to giggle. He was so knowledgeable when it came to sex and yet here I was preparing to throw myself at him and he didn't see it coming.
I followed him back out the door and into the large hall. From there he took me up the stairs. I couldn't help but be astounded by the number of art works that lined the walls. The carpet felt thick and lush and I longed to pull my shoes off and dig my toes into its thick pile.
Reaching the top of the stairs, David directed me to what I assumed would be my room. What lay beyond the door was far more than I had bargained for. The entire space reminded me of a complete apartment. Walking through the door, I entered what appeared to be a large sitting room. An archway separated it from the bedroom. Peeking through, I could see a huge four-poster bed dominating the floor space.
David stood in the middle of the room and watched as I explored. When I turned to him with a look of wonderment his smile grew larger.
"Do you like it?" he asked me.
"Like it? It's amazing... It's just perfect in every single way... I can't explain how perfect it is..."
He moved in behind me and wrapped his arms around my body, slowly turning me to face him. "You don't need to explain. I can see it in your face..."
He dipped his face towards mine and kissed me softly. But I didn't want soft. Now more than ever I needed the hard dominating David that I knew existed. I needed to feel alive. To give myself over to him and have him tear the orgasms kicking and screaming from my body.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and tugged him closer. Soft moans of need whispering past my lips as I deepened the kiss. David held me against him as though if he pressed too hard I might break. But I wanted more. I had to have him, all of him.
I bit down on his lip, drawing a shocked gasp from him. He pulled away from me and stared down into my lust-filled eyes. I felt like writhing against him, that if I pressed my body up tightly against his that he would have no choice but to give me what I craved.
David's hands moved to my shoulders and he held me at arm’s length. Each time I tried to move into him he pushed me back just a little, just enough to stop me from touching him the way I wanted to.
"Carrie, what's gotten into you?" he asked. His eyes were filled with the intensity I had come to know David for, but that didn't mean he would give me what I wanted.
"I need to feel you on me. I want you, David. Take me, please. I want to feel alive. Make my body sing..."
I could see the hesitation in his eyes a second before he uttered the words. "But you're just out of the hospital. You're not fit... What if something happens?"
I blew out a frustrated sigh and stalked away from him into the bedroom. What was the point of having a room like this and spending time with a man that made me feel the way he did if he wasn't willing to take me? To me it felt like a waste.
"Why is it always on your terms that we do something? Why can't I ask for something and you would do it?" I stared out the window as I spoke.
He tangled his hand into my hair and pulled tightly. The sharp pain tingled along my scalp making me release all of the pent up emotion I had been holding in one long breath. I hadn't heard him come up behind me.