Wrapped in armor, p.6
Wrapped In Armor, page 6
“Sunday.” She smiles as she looks at me.
I step quickly to her. “When you were hurt, what was the argument over? And did I sit you here?”
She gasps when I lift her and sit her on the counter. “Uh-huh.”
“Very nice. And did I eat dinner that night?” I wink, knowing damn well I did eat, and I ate well.
“Yep.” She wiggles off the counter and turns to resume rinsing the dishes.
I nuzzle into her neck. “Did I love it?”
“Not nearly as much as I did,” she says so softly that I am certain she’s thinking out load.
“Mmm … M&Ms and bows,” I whisper. “I remember that.”
“You need to stop before—”
Another memory hits me, a kaleidoscope of colorful moments when she was emotional, angry, embarrassed, but she was clearly turned on. They filter through my mind, all ending in the same way.
“You need to come, Emma?”
“Brody,” she tsks.
“Well?”
She shrugs. “You’re going to have to wait two weeks.”
I turn her around. “Like hell I am.”
Emma shrieks and darts past me. “You are, too!”
“Mrs. Hines.” Clive races in.
Emma stops and composes herself, and her face turns pink. “Yes?”
“Everything all right?” he asks.
“For God’s sake, Clive, everything’s fine,” I growl.
“Emma?” Lila is next to run in and interrupt a playful moment.
Emma giggles as Rupert walks in. “Good morning everyone. Breakfast?”
“This is madness,” I whisper to Lexi, who starts banging on her tray.
“Dadadadada.”
Emma begins filling the table with food then removes Lexington’s tray. “Lexi and I are going to shower.”
Slightly alarmed, I ask, “Is that safe?”
Emma nods. “It’s also very necessary, or I won’t get one before naptime.” She then sniffs the air. “Pew, yucky pants. Your daddy should do this.”
“Do you want me to?”
She shakes her head. “We can wait a few days until we force that upon you.”
“I can watch her while you shower?” I offer.
“Miss Lexi, a shower all by myself sounds great … after we change those pants,” Emma says, walking from the kitchen.
I follow. “I would like to come and watch.”
Emma turns with a shocked expression, and Lila laughs.
I clarify, “To learn the proper way to change a nappy.”
“Of course.” Emma blushes as she scowls at Lila.
“That’s disgusting.” I nearly gag at the smell. “You’re a nasty little thing.”
Lexington laughs, kicking her chubby little legs, as Emma warns, “Wait until it’s up her back and down her legs.”
“Does that happen often?”
“No, but it’s very hard to stomach,” she says, changing her so quickly that I don’t have time to figure out what the hell is going on. She zips her little outfit up, kisses her cheek, and then hands her to me. “Okay, you have this now?”
“Yes. Come, little princess; let’s go see what kind of trouble we can get into,” I say as she grabs my face. “Have a nice shower, Em.”
Chapter 7
When I walk back into the kitchen, I notice it’s cleaned up and no one is in the room. I then hear quiet chatting just beyond the wall.
I walk into the dining room and see my father.
“Good morning, princess. Are you still upset with me?” He stands and hugs me.
“Good morning. No, of course not. I was just …” I stop. “I was mad.”
“Why were you angry, Emma?” Brody asks.
“Well, maybe not angry. Emotional, I guess.”
“No, you were pissed. I wouldn’t let her call you.” Dad winks at Brody.
“I see.” Brody looks at me. “Would you like to take Lexington? We need to discuss a few things here.”
Taking Lexi, I shake my head. “I think I’ve been kept in the dark about enough. I’ll be staying.”
“I don’t wish to do this now.” Brody stands and storms out of the room.
I follow him. “Because I’m here?”
“Precisely. I don’t want you here for this,” he states, turning toward me, eyes narrowed.
“Shouldn’t I know what’s going on?” I ask, reaching to touch his face, hoping to calm him.
“No.” Brody steps back.
“Fine. Have it your way.” I walk past him, fighting tears, and head up the stairs.
Two hours later, I walk down the stairs, and the room goes silent as I walk past. It pisses me off.
“I’m going to make my daughter a bottle.”
“Dada,” Lexington babbles and holds her hands out as we pass.
After grabbing a bottle, I turn and see Brody walking toward me, smiling, hands out for Lexington.
“May I?”
Lexi lunges and laughs. Thankfully, we both have a hold of her.
Dad chuckles. “She likes you, Brody.”
“Yes, well, your princess watched home videos daily so that Lexington would know me.”
“You did?” Dad asks. “That must have been hard, Emma.”
“No, that was having faith in my love.” I turn, take Lexi, and walk toward the stairs. “This right here is hard, but I’ll figure it out, and I’ll do so alone again.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Brody snaps.
“Don’t worry about it.” I walk briskly up the stairs.
Heart racing, I shut the door behind me and set to feed Lexi when the door flies open and Brody storms in.
“Would you like all the gory details, love? Do you want to look at me with disgust instead of desire, hate instead of love?”
“That’s—”
“I cheated on you,” he says in disgust. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“I’m feeding our daughter; this is a highly inappropriate time for that discussion.” I glare at him.
He looks at me as if I’m delusional, as so many others have since he’s been gone, before he turns and walks away.
Once Lexi is asleep, I head to my office, check my email, print out two new manuscripts, and send an email to my boss, letting her know I’ll start them right away. And that’s exactly what I intend to do—get lost in someone else’s life, as I have over the past eight months when I needed a break from my reality.
Four chapters in, my phone buzzes, alerting me to a message.
- Could you please come out now? … Lila
I take my time while gathering my papers in a stack and stapling them together before heading down.
I quietly get a glass of water before facing whatever it is they have summoned me for, as if I’m a child, not a woman whose husband returned from what everyone presumed was the dead.
Lila walks in, Dad and Brody following behind her, and hands me a piece of paper. “This is the press release we sent. Brody and you can take some private—”
“Are you kidding me?” I slide off the counter, head for the drawer, and open it.
“Emma, I think—”
“Where are my damn keys, Rupert?” I yell over Dad.
“What is it?” Lila asks.
Shaking, I turn and glare at them, the three people I trust more than anyone in my life, who I no longer can. “Do any of you think?”
“Elizabeth is aware of the situation,” Dad says in attempt to what? Fucking calm me?
I throw my hands in the air and laugh in contempt. “That’s great, Dad. But how about London? Troy? Did you all let them know, as well?”
“Of course not,” Lila says, as if she’s offended, as Dad says, “Elizabeth needed to be prepared for this, as well. She feels horrible for his disappearance.”
“How long do you think it’ll take for this to get out?” I say in attempt to stay calm, but it’s not working. “My fucking keys, Rupert, now!”
“I’ll drive you,” Rupert says, entering the room.
“No! Absolutely fucking not. You’ve all done a bang-up job thus far, and I’d like to get there—"
Brody steps toward me. “Em, just sit down and—”
“Without all of you, who clearly thinking I can’t handle it,” I cut him off. “Look around. I’ve fucking handled it!”
“Wow, you’re pissed,” Brody says, shocked.
“Really …? You caught that? This is my daughter we’re talking about.” I poke myself in the chest. “One who I’ve always thought of before making choices. You did once, too!”
I look at Dad. “I know your head is up your ass about Elizabeth’s return, and the stroke, along with everything else, but she’s crazy and nasty to me. I’ve dealt with that, as well, and have managed not to rip her head off. I have eyes on the house when Lexi is there, or Mom’s alone with her.” I point about the room. “I make the choices for my children, understood!” About to crawl out of my skin at the way they’re looking at me, I know if I don’t get away from them, all of them, that I’m going to come unhinged.
I pull the drawer all the way out then set it on the counter, looking for my keys. When I don’t find them, I hit of level of anger I’ve never felt. “Rupert! I still don’t see my fucking keys.”
Brody whispers, “Clive, please get the car. I would like to go, too.”
“No,” I say, walking to the door to get my car, or walk if I must. “You stay here and do whatever it is you need to do. Lila, please listen for Lexi. She’ll probably sleep for two hours. I’ll be back by then.”
“I’m coming, Emma. You don’t get to choose,” Brody sneers.
“That’s where you are wrong. I’ll take care of it. But, in the future, could you possibly let me know when decisions are made that will affect our children?” I slam the door behind me and head to my car. It’s locked. Of course it’s locked!
Clive pulls up beside me, and I see it as my only option, so I open the door before he can. “Could you please drive fast, Clive. I swear to God, I’m going to lose my shit.”
And I do. Halfway there, the privacy window lowers, and Brody somehow manages to squeeze his big body through it.
Slapping away tears, I yell, “Are you serious?”
“I’m going to fuck up several times over the next … fifty years, but don’t do that shit to me, Emma,” Brody demands.
“Do what shit? How did you expect me to respond when I’m pushed away?” I snap. “You know what? I can’t do this right now.”
“Okay,” he says and sits quietly beside me.
I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Troy. When he answers, I ask, “Hey, do you have a minute?”
“Well, no? Yes?” he whispers then closes a door. “I don’t know, Emma. What the hell is going on? Elizabeth was just here and said Brody’s alive?”
“She what!”
“I mean, your sister’s a nut job, Emma. But, is it true?” he asks.
“Yes, it’s true. We’re actually on our way over now to tell London. I was calling you to give you a heads-up. I can’t believe she would do this.” I feel myself shaking again, or still. Hell, I don’t even know. “Unbelievable. Please tell London we’re on our way. And Troy … he doesn’t remember a lot. Please let her know. I’m sorry. This was supposed to have gone much smoother than this, dammit.”
“I’m sorry, Emma,” Brody says softly when I end the call.
He hands me a handkerchief, which springs on memories of him before all this happened. And I know—God, how I know—this has got to be a lot for him. Too much.
“It is what it is.”
“What can I do for you?” Brody asks in a tone that is laced with regret and self-loathing.
“Get better, trust me, don’t lock me out of something as important as—”
“Do you think I want to see you hurt in any situation, let alone at my own hand?”
“Let me ask you a question. When you stormed in and told me you cheated on me, did you have sex with someone remembering me or were you drugged or forced?” I ask.
“I really don’t know, Emma,” he says, repulsed. “I don’t remember.”
“So, you don’t remember me or having sex with whoever?” I ask.
“I remember you, Emma. I remember the sex,” Brody says, looking down.
“Did you like it?”
“I cannot have this conversation with you. I cannot.”
“I saw the marks, Brody, and I know you didn’t remember me. Hell, you’re still missing pieces.” I look at him, tears of a different variety filling my eyes. I whisper, “That’s not cheating, Brody; that’s rape.”
“And this is why I didn’t want you to know. The way you’re looking at me now … The way everyone will look at me from now on.”
“I love you! I’m not looking at you any differently than I would anyone else who has been through hell.” I take his hand in an attempt to comfort him, and then I realize I’m pissed at him and let go. “Now what the hell am I doing? I’m pissed at you, right? Yes, I’m pissed.”
Brody chuckles. “You’re very funny.”
“I’m not trying to be.” I look out the window as we pass the “Welcome to Tarrytown” sign and become anxious again. “How are we going to do this?”
“Tell her as much as she can handle. Nothing more, right?” Brody asks.
“Can you please give me a few minutes to talk to her alone?” I ask, looking back at him.
He stares into my eyes. “God, Em.” He reaches, cups the back of my head, and pulls me in for a kiss.
“As nice as that is, Brody, the timing is shit. We’ll be there any minu—”
His lips crash against mine, tongue forcing its way inside my mouth, and I am … lost.
“You taste so good,” he says, lips against my neck as he pulls me onto his lap. “I’ve missed you,” he says, searing my lips again.
He leans forward and pushes the speaker button. “Clive, pull over and take a walk.”
“Yes, sir,” Clive says.
“Brody … they’re expecting us,” I say, fighting off a desire that only he can cause at a time like this.
“I need you now,” Brody says as we pull off the road. “I’ll be quick.”
“Brody, wait. You’re not ready.”
“I was ready the minute I saw you,” he says, flipping me onto my back and unbuttoning my jeans.
“Our first time after all that’s transpired needs to be in a bed and—” I gasp when he eases his finger into me.
“You’re so tight, Emma.” He pulls my pants down. “Hot and wet.” With one ankle free, he puts my leg over his shoulder. Fingers still moving inside me, he asks, “Does this feel good, Emma?”
“God, yes,” I whimper. “But—”
“Then you’re going to love this.” Brody licks his lips, shoves his hand under my ass, and bows his head. His tongue skims my clit, and I smash my lips together as I grip the leather of the seat.
“Brody, please, not now,” I beg.
He looks up at me, still fucking me with his fingers, eyes black. “I need to taste you. Please don’t tell me no.”
I feel the knowing tightening below my bellybutton, my back arches, and I feel my whole body tighten as my body answers his request.
He swiftly moves his mouth down and sucks and tugs at my clit. I feel like I am actually going to explode. I knot my fingers in his hair, and he moves his hands to my breasts, kneading, rubbing, squeezing as his tongue and fingers send me into near obliteration.
I begin to pull away when I can’t take it anymore.
“Oh no, Em. I want more. Come for me again. Come now,” he demands as he plunges his finger deeper.
I come undone, and he buries his face deeper against me, savagely feasting on me.
“Brody,” I whimper, and he slows his pace until he’s finally given me enough.
He sits up and sends Clive a text. Then he looks at me, completely calm, while I’m still quaking inside. “Are you satisfied, Emma?”
“Yes,” I answer, grabbing a package of baby wipes and cleaning up as best I can manage.
I hand Brody one, as well, and he wipes his face and sits back, looking out the window, saying nothing at all.
“Brody?”
“Yes,” he answers, still staring out the window.
“Why aren’t you looking at me?”
“Sorry, Emma.” He turns and takes my hand.
“You need to talk to me,” I whisper, feeling guilty that I allowed that to happen so soon. “Where are you right now?”
“I’m right here. Now pull yourself together.” He pats my hand and looks away.
Chapter 8
Afraid I’m going to be sick to my stomach, I fling open the door as soon as the car stops and, to my surprise, London dives in.
I am disgusted with myself for what I allowed … what I wanted so badly in the midst of all that’s going on.
“Brody!” she shrieks.
“London, we need to—”
“Well, hello there, London.”
“Are you all right?” She scampers across me and sits right next to him. “Give it to me straight. I can handle it. Tell me everything.”
Brody chuckles. “I’ve no doubt you can but, to be honest, I don’t remember much of the past year, but your mother seems quite sure it’ll be all right.”
“Well then, you will be. What blanks can I fill in for you?” London asks, turning fully toward him.
“I could really use the restroom. Do you think you could manage showing me that?” Brody asks.
“Yep, sure can.” She climbs across his lap and opens the door. “Come on!”
Troy looks at me as I step out, eyes wide, shaking his head, as London holds Brody’s hand and pulls him toward the house. “This is insane, Emma. Do they know who had him?”
“No, not yet,” I say, and tears fall.
Troy hugs me, and I can’t help but think of how much better a friend he has become than he ever was a husband. “It’s going to be all right, Emma.”
I step back and shake my head. “I don’t trust Elizabeth. I can’t believe she did that. I wanted to tell you and our daughter.”
