Strange Love 41 Another Man's Bed

The sweet aroma of baked goods pulled Joslyn from a restless sleep. She hadn't fallen asleep until after daybreak but was awoken frequently by the pain in her temple or by nightmares losing Sh.e.l.ly and Russ both in different horrible ways. Joslyn tentatively lifted her head waiting for the pain of yesterday to hit her again, but when she was sure it wouldn't she moved to the edge of the bed and stood up slowly. She made her way through the large suite, stopping by the bathroom as she pa.s.sed by it. She glanced into the mirror {Man I look rough, the cuts and bruises from a week ago have only begun to disappear and now I have even more… and a huge bandage on my head. This would have to look bad to anyone who saw me right now…}. She turned away from the mirror and headed out of the bathroom. She opened the door leading out into the main house and glanced around.

"Hey, pretty lady!" Raven called from the kitchen.

Joslyn's head shot over toward the kitchen, "What in the world are you doing here!" She walked carefully toward the kitchen bar.

"Xavier called me this morning and asked if I could come over. Well, actually he called the bar and Liam called me but anyways…" She continued searching through several cabinets before glancing over at Joslyn from around the cabinet, "You wouldn't by chance know where he keeps the plates do you?" She opened another cabinet then another, "So much food and nothing to eat it on…. or with."

Joslyn laughed, "I'm happy you're here, but I still don't understand why you're here."

"Ah, finally!" She took out two plates and began shoveling food from various containers onto it. There was a huge a.s.sortment of fruit and pastries along with a note. Raven glanced down at the note that Joslyn was staring at. "You know, he seemed legitimately concerned when he called. He said your head was hurting too bad to even sit up when you woke up earlier. He didn't want you here alone in case you woke in pain again." Raven popped a strawberry in her mouth as she watched Joslyn reach for the note.

Joslyn stared at the neat script on the outside of the folded paper, "Raven, I shouldn't be here. This is only going to make things worse."

Sadness filled Raven's eyes as she answered, "Like I told Russ, it's better if you two take a step back for now. I myself didn't realize how out of control he is with his abilities right now." She took a bite out of a m.u.f.fin before continuing, "I don't think he realizes his true strength yet… and let's face it how much more of this are you going to be able to take."

Joslyn rubbed her head with her other hand, "You may have a point there, but I really don't think this is the best idea either."

Raven shrugged, "Why not, he seems nice enough and more than willing to help."

"Raven he told me how he felt last night after he thought I was asleep… He pulled me onto his chest and… cuddled me…. After he thought I had fallen asleep." Joslyn said as she looked pleadingly at her roommate and best friend. "He's not looking for a friends.h.i.+p and that is all I have to offer right now."

Raven shrugged her shoulders, "Has he tried anything since the night you met?"

Joslyn looked at her confused, "Well no…"

Raven arched a brow at her, "And how many times have you been alone together with the opportunity?"

Joslyn bunched her brows together in thought, "A few, I guess. Especially the night he brought me here after Sh.e.l.ly's attack and again last night."

"So, answer me this is it him you don't trust or is it you?" Raven took another bite of her m.u.f.fin. She glanced down at the note in Joslyn's hand. "Are you just going to hold it all day or are you going to actually read it?"

Joslyn looked from Raven to the note, without saying anything she unfolded it.

[Sorry I couldn't be here when you woke up, as always there was something that came up at the shop. I had the maid drop off some food and clothes for you earlier and I called your friend. I hope everything is to your liking. I should be back by 4pm. If you're feeling better, I'll treat you to dinner.]

Joslyn folded the note up and looked around the bar, and sure enough, there was a bag of clothes in a Biting Waves reusable bag. She opened it to find shorts, a tank, and bikini all from his shop in her sizes.

Raven leaned over the bar, "So whatcha got?"

Jos looked up at her, "A bag of clothes in my size…" She let out a heavy sigh and set the bag aside. "Raven, I can't take these."

Raven leaned back as Joslyn stood up. She crossed her arms over her chest as she said, "Jos, my dear, you are alone in a mansion. Enjoy it, I know I would…. h.e.l.l, if I didn't have work in less than an hour, I would enjoy the s.h.i.+t out of it!" She watched Joslyn as her face dropped more. "Jos listen to me. You are in no shape to go back to the apartment and have another standoff with either one of the twins right now." She walked around the bar to come face to face with Joslyn. "I've known you longer than anyone, you're the strongest person I know…" She tapped her index finger to the tip of Joslyn's nose as she continued, "But even you have a breaking point. It's time you take a step back and let things cool off before the damages escalades past repair."

"I know Raven, but what damage is staying going to cause?" Jos let out a heavy sigh. "This was all because I went behind Russ's back and met Xavier in the first place. How do you think he's going to feel when he finds out I'm staying in the man's house…" She threw up her arms, "h.e.l.l we basically shared a bed last night."

Raven sighed, "He understands that he messed up. We had a very long… talk… last night. The council is willing to send someone to begin his training and to teach him to control his abilities better." She let out another long sigh before looking back up at Joslyn. "But with that being said I don't think it would be a good idea for you to be around while he's going through that training… especially with everything that's happened lately."

Jos blew out a long breath as she Raven's words. "You're probably right… I can't see anyone affiliated with the council being too thrilled about anything that's happening right now." She shrugged her shoulders. "We've lost one of our wards and I've f.u.c.ked the other…" Her face colored at her own blunt words. She noticed her phone was now charging on the counter beside one of the large food trays. {I'll check it later… after Raven leaves.}

Raven busted out into laughter, "Well that's one way to put it!" She turned and grabbed another m.u.f.fin, "I got to head to work, give yourself a break and enjoy this time alone in such a luxurious place." Once Joslyn nodded her head in agreement Raven headed toward the front door, leaving Joslyn alone in the large kitchen.

{What to do….} Joslyn looked around the large, empty kitchen then turned to the larger, empty living room. Her eyes fell on the pool. {hum….} She glanced down at the bag then back out at the pool. {Well, why not, it's not like I have to marry the guy just because I wore his merchandise and swam in his pool… maybe I'll take a few pictures and let him use them for online sales, tag his company on my social media pages or something…} She grabbed the bag and carried it into the guest bedroom.

She couldn't help staring at her reflection in the mirror. {Was this supposed to be used for surfing? It's so impractical, there's no way!} There weren't strings to hold it up, only the strap that wrapped around her waist, and the bottoms were a collection of strings and straps that left more flesh visible than covered. {Well there goes the idea of posting pictures of this online.} She bent a retrieved the tank that had been in the bag. The front was basic enough, but the entire back was out from the shoulders down. {Jeez, it would take wearing everything in the bag at once just to make one decent outfit.} She shrugged as she threw the tank over her shoulder and grabbed a towel before retrieving her phone and walking out of the other doors leading to the pool area. She set them down on a lounge chair and walked to the water's edge and slowly dipped her toe into the water. A sigh of relief escaped her parted lips as the water caressed her body inch by inch as she stepped farther into the water. The gentle salt water of the pool soothed her hot flesh and relaxed every nerve of her body. {I am home!} She laid back and let her body float atop the s.h.i.+mmering waters. Just as her stresses of the past several weeks began to melt away, her phone began to ring. She growled as she let her feet set onto the bottom of the pool. {Great… I should have left it off until I was finished with my swim.} She made it to the phone right before the voice mail picked up. She didn't recognize the number. "h.e.l.lo?"

[Joslyn! Please don't hang up!] The voice called out.

"Russ?" She glanced back down at the screen of her phone, "Who's phone are you calling from?"

[Naru's. You wouldn't answer my number, so I called from his.]

Joslyn let out a low sigh, "My phone was dead."

[Oh… okay…] His voice trailed off for a short while before he asked the one question she dreaded most. [Are… are you ok? Where are you?]

Joslyn squeezed her eyes tightly closed, "I'm fine. I saw a doctor… don't worry about me… or where I'm at." She hated the way the words sounded coming out but it was better than admitting to him that she was currently swimming in Xavier's ma.s.sive pool.

His ton changed. [You're at his house, aren't you?] When she didn't answer he said in a more aggressive voice. [You know I can track you, right? So just tell me.]

Jos let out an audible sigh. "Yes, Russ. I'm at his home." She quickly added, "But it's not what you think. He had a doctor treat me last night and gave me a guest house to stay in… He's not even here right now. There's no reason for you to worry."

[Of course, there is a reason to worry! My inability to control my d.a.m.n anger has caused harm to the love of my life AND driven her into the bed of another man. Sounds like plenty to worry about to me, doesn't it to you?] The irritation was building in his voice.

She let out an irritated sigh, "I've not been driven into another man's bed, and my injuries aren't all that bad. I've had worse."

He was quiet for a long while before saying in a low ton. [Was the bed you slept in last night not one of his beds?]

Irritation colored her words, "You know good and well those things have two VERY different meanings." Joslyn didn't know which bothered her more the fact he was accusing her of sleeping with someone else or the fact that she had slept in a bed with the man in question. She huffed out a long breath, "Russ, I don't feel like arguing with you right now, my head isn't feeling up to it. I'll call you back later ok?"

[Alright…] There was another long pause. [Jos, you know I love you right?]

She sighed, "I love you, too. Please don't worry about this too much ok. I just... need some time... to think..."

He huffed into the phone. [To think about whether you should leave me now or wait until later? I know you've thought about us separating more than you have us being together. It can't end like this... I won't let it end like this! I love you too much...] His voice broke with a fiery combination of hurt, pa.s.sion, and anger.

Jos clicked he tongue in aggravation "I'm not arguing this with you right now, I mean it. I'll talk to you later, love you." She didn't give him time to respond before pressing the b.u.t.ton to end the call. She let out a heavy sigh. She gazed out at the ocean. Its soothing rhythm was calming. She grabbed the towel with her free hand and made her way out to the nearly empty beach. She watched as lone surfer bounced up and down on the gentle waves some distances away not a care in the world. {Too bad life couldn't be as gentle as these waves...} She discarded the towel and phone before removing the shorts, after a few seconds of considerations she also tossed the tank top to the sand as well. She walked out into the ocean until the waves were lapping at her hips before for diving into its peaceful depths.

She hadn't noticed the slow sinking of the sun along the horizon as she laid stretched out on the towel in the hot sand, no longer caring about the skimpiness of the borrowed swimwear. The suns warm rays lulled her body off into a peaceful sleep.

"You really shouldn't be asleep dressed like this at man's house." The words came out in a low purr close to Joslyn's ear causing her eyes to pop open in surprise.