I slowly open my eyes and the soft glow from the moon filters through the window, casting shadows on the walls. Mike and Tessie lie next to me, both sound asleep. My arm drapes around Tessie and I feel the warmth of her body against mine. My head starts to feel dizzy from all the tequila.
I lay there peacefully, enjoying the calmness of the moment. Mike suddenly jumps out of bed with a sudden burst of energy and shouts, “I CAN SAVE THEM!” Mike's sudden outburst fills the room with deafening screams reverberating off the walls. He paces back and forth, muttering to himself with an intensity that suggests a deep-seated anger. Startled awake, Tessie looks around, trying to make sense of the chaos. Trembling with fear, she turns to me and asks in a quivering voice, “What's going on?”
Mike collapses onto the floor, his body trembling with emotion. He repeats the words, “I can save them! I can save them!” his voice growing louder with each repetition. Tessie jumps out of the bed and rushes to his side to comfort him. But before she can reach him, I quickly intervene, grabbing her arm and pushing her away from Mike's erratic behavior.
I quickly move to Mike's side, feeling a sense of urgency with my every step. I place my hand on his shoulder, hoping to calm him down. “It's Nate,” I say softly, trying to reassure him. However, Mike's reaction is not what I expect. Without warning, he pushes my hand off his shoulder and throws a punch towards me. Reacting quickly, I dodge the hit, avoiding any physical harm.
I grasp Mike's hands firmly, ensuring he cannot cause further harm. With his eyes shut, he gradually begins to calm down, though tears continue to stream down his cheeks.
I walk alongside Mike, gently guiding him towards the bed and ensuring he lays back down easily. Tessie stands motionless at the threshold of the room, worried as she observes the situation.
I tenderly grasp Tessie's hand and guide her out of the bedroom and into the cozy lounge. With a hint of remorse I say, “I'm sorry, baby, for pushing you. You're not hurt, are you?”
Tessie paces back and forth, asking, “No, I'm fine. What was that about, Nate?”
I intervene by placing my hands on her shoulders to stop her pacing. “That happens some nights,” I say calmly. “But you may want to ask Mike. It's not my place to say anything.”
“Will he be ok?” she asks.
I reach out and hold her close, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. “He will be fine,” I reassure her, my voice gentle and soothing. “Let's go back to bed. We should stay in your room.”
We walk to her room hand in hand.
As I crawl into Tessie's bed, I can’t help but notice how chilly the sheets feel against my skin. The bed has not been used since she moved in. However, the cozy sensation of snuggling up together slowly fades the coldness of the sheets as we eventually drift off to sleep in each other's arms.
CHAPTER
FIVETESSIE
As soon as I open my eyes, my head feels heavy from last night's drinks. I stretch my arm to check the time on the alarm clock. The digital numbers glow brightly in the darkness, showing 6:30 a.m. I turn my head to look at Nate, who is soundly asleep beside me. Trying not to disturb him, I slowly and carefully slip out of bed, my bare feet gently touching the plush carpet. I hear a faint noise from the kitchen, piquing my curiosity. With cautious steps, I tiptoe towards the door, hoping to investigate the source of the sound without waking Nate.
As I make my way into the kitchen, I spot Cain sitting at the table, sipping a steaming cup of coffee. His police uniform is still on, indicating he must have just gotten off work. He looks up and inquires, “What are you doing up?”
I join Cain at the table and mention, “I heard a strange noise from the kitchen. It's got me wide awake now; I doubt I'll be able to fall back asleep. How was work?”
Cain reaches for my hand and says, “Sorry for waking you. Work was mostly uneventful, except for dealing with some unruly and intoxicated individuals we had to apprehend.”
I reach for his cup of coffee and he looks at me in surprise. I take a sip, feeling the warmth of the liquid spread through my throat. “Sorry, I was feeling thirsty,” I say, trying to justify my actions.
Cain raises an eyebrow at me, waiting for a response. “How was the movie night?” he asks, his tone curious.
I gaze intently at him, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. I then playfully raise my eyebrows, prompting his eyes to squint slightly.
Cain grabs his cup of coffee and lifts it to his lips. Before taking a sip, he utters, “They better have been gentle.”
I find myself at a loss for words. I take a moment to scan the kitchen, my eyes darting around the room as I gather my thoughts and formulate a response.
“Well...uh…I’m not an anal virgin anymore,” I stutter. I can feel my cheeks turning hot.
Cain appears frustrated as he takes a deep breath and folds his arms across his chest. His eyebrows shoot up in surprise as he turns to me and sighs. “I wish I had been here last night,” he says with a hint of annoyance. “You're making me a bit jealous.”
Suddenly, a voice startles us and we turn to the left. I see Mike standing at the door frame, his arm leaning against it for support. In a calm tone, he utters, “She is also a squirter.”
I blush as I avoid Cain’s stare, shy of his reaction.
Mike walks in wearing only his boxers. He approaches me with a gentle smile, leans over, plants a soft kiss on my forehead, and greets me with a warm, “Morning.”
I am feeling a bit uncertain about how to approach Mike after what happened last night. I should address it, but having a private conversation with him may be best. He may not remember what happened.
Mike sits beside me and Cain directs his attention towards him. “It seems that you and Nate got lucky last night,” he says with a hint of curiosity.
“Very,” Mike replies with a smug look on his face as he places his hand on my thigh.
Cain rises from the table, casting a curious glance at Mike and me before asking, “What's happening with college today?” He takes a few steps towards the sink, his footsteps echoing softly across the room.
Mike leans in and places his arm behind my chair. In a calm tone, he says, “Tess is planning to drive in her car. I'll follow behind her to keep a low profile to ensure that students and other professors don't get suspicious.”
Cain leans on the kitchen counter and nods in agreement. “That sounds like a good plan.” Despite his affirmation, the situation still weighs heavily on my mind. I can’t shake the feeling that I am being treated like a child. Is it truly necessary for three grown men to constantly monitor my every move? I muster up the courage to voice my concerns, “Do you three really need to be watching me all the time?”
Mike presses his lips tightly together, shooting a quick glance towards Cain before speaking up. “I'll let you have this one,” he says, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. “I'm going to go and have a quick shower.”
Cain approaches me with confident strides, his imposing figure towering over me as I sit on the chair. I raise my gaze to meet his, only to be met with an annoyed expression. He speaks with a sharp tone, conveying the gravity of the situation. “You don't understand the seriousness of this matter, Tessie,” he says.
I part my lips to speak, but he abruptly cuts me off.
“I saw that female's body, stabbed, raped, and with rope around her neck. It wasn’t pretty. I will not let that happen to you. So yes, you will be watched. You were helpless in that forest. You can sit there and say you could have saved yourself, but the truth is you couldn't. Even if some murdering freaks didn’t stalk you, you fail to forget you’re ours.”
