Bedside Manners

Glancing toward his home, I lower my voice, asking, "Is that your idea of a passion mark?"

Unmoved, he scowls my way, and then we hear, "Jude!"

His eyes still fixed on me, Jude answers, "Deena, hold up."

Clicking my tongue, I say, "Hurry along to Deena, I have to go."

Jude heads home while I head back down the road to the highway. By the time I reach the street, I'm sobbing. Suddenly, I hear rustling in the trees and shout, "Who's there?"

Micah comes out of the greenery, motioning for me to keep quiet. Wiping my face dry with my hand, he whispers, "Don't cry. Follow me."

Hand in hand, we detour through the trees, and there's a lakehouse. Micah chirps the alarm to a black-tinted luxury SUV and then says, "Jude's my guy, but he can be an asshole. I have a place you can stay, and I'm sure I can find you a way home sooner."

Micah is opening my door when he gasps, "Have you seen your neck?"

"Oh yeah. It hurts bad. Do you have any antiseptics or preferably a hospital? I believe the guy who bit me may have rabies." I tease.

Not humored, Micah pans our surroundings and then says, "Hurry inside."

Though gorgeous on the outside, the lakehouse is cold and empty inside. There's a loveseat and a couple of stools by the kitchen's island, and that's it. Micah removed a first aid kit from the bathroom and started doctoring my neck.

"Thanks," I say, admiring his face.

Micah isn't as handsome as Jude, but he's attractive, and the more I analyze him, he resembles Jude. It's then I ask, "Are you and Jude related?"

With an uncomfortable glance, he answers, "Yes, he's my first cousin, but he's more like my brother. ... Hold still."

Wincing each time he touches my wound, he's finally done. He covers it with a gauze, saying, "We have to get you to a hospital."

"How close is the nearest one?"

"There's none here. C'mon, let's get going."

As soon as we open the door, Jude startles us. Eyes piercing through Micah, he asks, "What's going on?"

"Jude, she needs medical treatment."

"Okay, but why is that your concern?"

"Because you made it our problem."

They stand glaring at each other a moment when I say, "Jude, you're not needed here. What we do is no concern of yours. Micah, I'm ready to go now."

Jude never looks my way, but instantly, Micah changes his tone, asking, "Can she at least stay in the lakehouse?"

My brow now lifted, awaiting Jude's reply. Jude scoffs, "Of course not."

Micah sighs, "Well, she can stay with me at..."

"No!"

Now pissed, I ask, "What's your problem? At least Micah's trying to help me, and he doesn't even know me. You're not the boss of me! I can stay wherever I damn well please! And I'm staying with Micah until I figure out how to get out of this God-forsaken hellhole!"

Fuming, I head towards Micah's SUV. Hearing footsteps behind me, I glance back, and Jude is on my tail. I reach for the car handle, but Jude snatches my hand back.

"The fuck is your problem?"

Scowling, I reached for the handle again, but he snatched my hand again. Teeth gritting, I say, "Jude, I'm warning you!"

Jude huffs, "You're not leaving with him..."

"Yes, I am!"

"No, you're not."

I snatch the door open, but he pulls me away and slams it shut, saying, "You're not leaving with him because you're staying with me!"

Wide-eyed and speechless, I stand there. Cutting his eyes from me to Micah, he repeats, "She's staying with me."

Micah releases a loud exhale and then starts walking towards the big house. My eyes are glued to Jude. He motions for me to follow Micah, but I don't budge but ask, "Why the change of heart?"

"Stop talking and go to the house."

"Stop talking? Ha! You are insane. Uh, thanks, but no thanks. If Micah won't man up and keep his word, I'll sleep on the beach! Anywhere beside in that house near you."

"Leave Micah out of this. I said you're staying with me, so let's go."

With force, I snatch up my suitcase and attempt to walk away, but Jude grabs my arm, saying, "I've been very patient with you so far. You have no idea who I am, where you are, or what I'm capable of.

"I'm not your weak-ass boyfriend or Micah. At first, I asked, but now I'm warning you to stay here with me, or you'll regret the day you... no, tonight will be your last night ever sleeping on any beach if you refuse my offer. Have I made myself clear?"

This was no longer a debate. Jude was so furious his eyes appeared to turn red. Heart pounding through my shirt from fear, I nod. Biting his bottom lip, he motions for me to lead the way.

Upon entering his home, it's immaculate. Micah is sitting in the kitchen talking to the other guy. They stop their conversation and watch us. Jude is still angry. He excuses himself, leaving me in the doorway. Once he's gone, Micah smiles, "Ajay, this is our cousin Andrew."

Hand extended, Andrew greets, "Hello."

"Hi."

Pulling out a stool at the bar, Micah says, "Sit. Are you hungry?"

"Yes. Thank you."

This home is fabulous. It's then I remember Deena is here. I'm sure every beautiful detail within these walls is due to her. Micah places seafood quiche, a glass of juice, and coffee on the table for me. Overtaken by guilt, assuming Deena cooked this, I mumble, "Thanks."

While I'm eating, Andrew is watching through dazed eyes. Micah whispers in his ear and then turns to me, saying, "Once you're done, just come out to the deck."

Mouth full, I nod, and they leave. Knowing they're gone, I inhale my food and then hurry outside. Micah and Andrew are puffing on pens. Micah sees me and asks, "Do you smoke?"

Smiling, I shake my head no. Micah shrugs and finishes conversing with Andrew. I watch the ocean with them for over an hour before Micah says, "Well, it's time for us to head out. Hopefully, Jude returns soon. Jude's mama and our family stay at the villa. We have a feast every day for family and visitors. Maybe Jude will let you hang there tomorrow."

Maybe Jude will let me? Those words trigger me, so I say, "That sounds wonderful. Am I welcome to come now?"

Cutting his eyes toward Micah, Andrew shakes his head and walks away. Flustered, Micah whispers, "Jude knows you shouldn't be here. Let me go home and talk to Mama. She's the only one who can control him."

In a dry tone, I reply, "Oh, okay."

He winks and then leaves.

The sun is setting, and Jude hasn't returned yet. Now, inside, I decided to take a tour. As soon as I attempt to head upstairs, Jude enters from the storm doors, saying, "Let me show you to your room."

Although I want to question him, I'm still slightly rattled by his earlier aggression. Giving one nod, I follow him upstairs. We enter the master bedroom. Perplexed, I stutter, "Is this your room?"

He answers, "I won't be here tonight. Stay inside. The alarm will be on, so do not open the balcony door. Understand?"

"Yep."

He stands deep in thought momentarily and then leaves.

From exhaustion, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I went to bed early and woke up just after 2 a.m. The sweet smell of lavender and vanilla saturates his sheets. As I indulge in the comfort and luxuriousness of his king-sized bed, I exhale. Soon, I hear footsteps.

Anxious that Jude's returned home, I pretend I'm asleep. I hear the bedroom door creak open. Now he's in bed with me. Although he's been an asshole, his sex was terrific. His soft hands start caressing my back. I want to deny him, but I'm getting aroused.

His head at my waist, he kisses my side, then up my back. He's breathing heavily before he caresses in between my legs. Suddenly, he starts patting there, then jumps out of bed and flicks on the light. Eyes squinted. I sat up, and it was Deena.