Love (Blind Vows #3)

by J. M. Witt

  She made an attempt to dart for the door and was met with Will. Screeching, she slammed the door in his face. Turning on me she hollered, “What is wrong with you two?”

  “I’d listen to him, Lucy. He’s more patient with you than I would be.” I could hear Will’s laughter growing more distant, probably because he’d left the bedroom that was on the other side of the closed bathroom door.

  Lucy stared at me and when I offered her my hand to help her in the tub, she refused. Brushing past me, she sank herself into the tub, I began climbing in across from her. “Oh, no! You’re not getting in this tub.”

  Smirking, I dictated, “Yes, I am.” Pulling her knees to her chest, I climbed in across from her and stretched out, happily invading her space. “Besides, we need to talk.”

  Her body didn’t move, but her eyes peered at mine over her knees. “So talk.”

  She wasn’t going to make it easy, but I liked that about her. You’d think I’d have that figured out by now. “Lucy, never was it my intention to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you.” She sat quiet for such a long time that I was beginning to think all hope was lost. “What are you thinking?”

  Closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly, she responded, “My goal going into it was to find my match. You took that from me. Now I’m so confused that I don’t know what to do.” She wiped at her face and I realized she was crying silently. I did this to her. “I care about you. About you both.”

  “Right. Always Will.” I stood up abruptly, splashing water all around us.

  Crying out, “Heath! Don’t. That’s not what I meant.” Her hand clutched mine as she tried pulling me back down to the tub. Sitting back down, I waited and listened. “Will must’ve been hoping to find his match, you too, or you wouldn’t have signed up for it. It all takes me back to the beginning. If you wanted me so much, why didn’t you pursue me?”

  Angrily, I spit out, “I did and every time, you rejected me. You never gave me a real chance, Lucy.” She cowered back slightly as my fists clenched below the water.

  Softly, she countered, “I could say the same to you. I never thought you wanted more than a one night stand with me.”

  “Lucy!”

  “Heath!” She made the first move, unfolding her knees she scooted closer. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust that you wanted more. Contrary to what you may think, I don’t want to fight with you.” I tried to keep my eyes off her face. Her hands searched for mine under the water and I struggled to resist her.

  “I can’t do this.” I stood up and scrambled out of the tub. “You just left, didn’t give me time to explain. Nothing.”

  “I’m sorry. You’re guilty of doing the same thing.” She climbed out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her body. I stood, hands clenching the counter and saw her walk up behind me. Softly, a hand fell to my back. “Heath,” she was crying, “please.”

  Her hands circled around me as she laid her face against my back. Closing my eyes, I relished the feel of her body against mine. Whispering, not sure she even heard me, “I can’t say no to you.”

  Grabbing her hand, I opened the bathroom door and pulled her into the bedroom. I noticed the bedroom door was closed and mentally thanked my brother for that. Turning to face her, I stared at the towel hiding her from my eyes. What happened next was purely primal. All my anger, love, possession, and desperation about her and everything with O, poured out of me and it should’ve scared me and her.

  Yanking the towel from her body, I turned her and pulled her back against my front. My hands roamed her body as she lay lax against me, letting me do as I wished. Her body trembled and I knew it was with desire and not from the cold. The room was quite warm and I was grateful for it. Her fingers delicately traced over my hips and thighs as I pressed my erection into her back.

  Before I knew it, I had her back up against the wall, and her legs around my waist as I sank into her. One arm wrapped around her and the other braced against the wall as I fucked her. She took every inch and moaned with the pleasure of it.

  “Heath, kiss me.”

  Her blue eyes penetrated mine and the hand I had against the wall moved to her neck. She dropped her head against the wall, silently challenging me on. Gently, my hand circled her small neck as I brought my mouth down on hers. She moaned into my mouth and fought for control of the kiss. Her fingers brushed against the stem of my cock as she circled her clit. She clamped around me, slowly losing control.

  “I want to hear you. Louder, Lucy.”

  She did as I ordered as I moved us to the bed, her moans of desire filling the room and fueling me on. Setting her down, she huffed as I flipped her over, pulling her hips back and picking right up where we’d left off. One hand in her hair, the other reached around to her clit as her breasts brushed against the comforter.

  “If you don’t come soon, you’ll miss out. Come on me, Lucy.”

  I felt her give her body over to my ministrations as she clenched around me. Her climax reached, it soon began to cease as mine flooded me. Pulling out, I stroked myself, seed spurting all over the small of her back. I dropped down next to her on my back and closed my eyes.

  I must’ve drifted off because when I came to, she was under the covers and asleep. I wasn’t sure if we were ok or not. I typically enjoyed cuddling with her after sex and always took advantage of it. This time I hadn’t. Making my way under the covers, I turned away from her, not wanting to wake her.

  ~ Chapter 3 ~

  ~ LUCY ~

  Turning to look at him, his eyes were closed and I realized he was sleeping. Gently, I climbed off the bed and cleaned myself up in the bathroom. Something was bothering him, more than just our fight. He’d never been so, callous—maybe that wasn’t the word I was looking for—with me in bed. I narrowed it down to the fact that we both needed sleep. We’d have time in the morning to talk more. So I crawled under the covers and tried to do just that.

  A few minutes later I felt him stir. Feeling the covers move, he got under the covers, but made no attempt to touch me. Something was horribly wrong. This wasn’t the Heath I was used to. Maybe it was too late. I shook the thought away and focused on sleep.

  When I woke in the morning, the bed was empty beside me. I got dressed and found Will in the kitchen, but there was no sign of Heath. Will put some pancakes on a plate for me and I happily accepted them. I was growing worried and finally asked Will where Heath was.

  “He’s with the tow truck pulling your car out.”

  “Oh. Ok.”

  An hour later, Will asked if I had everything. We’d started packing back up, in hopes to head back to the city. “Yes, is Heath back?”

  He just shook his head. “He took your car to the city. He asked that I take you home.”

  I was hurt and baffled. “I, but. Ok.” Will didn’t say anything and soon we were on the road back to the city. I could tell something was also bothering him and asked. “Will, what’s going on?”

  He glanced over to me and then back to the road. “Did he talk to you about O?”

  Confused, I shook my head no and replied the same. “No. What’s going on?” Dread filled me and I knew something was appallingly wrong and it involved O. My imagination went crazy knowing the danger O faced fighting for our country.

  “He’s been injured. Heath was headed out of town yesterday with Mom and Dad to the hospital he was transported to when you called.”

  Covering my face with my hands, I didn’t know what to say. O was more than just a friend, he was like a brother to me. I could only imagine what his family was feeling. “How bad is it?”

  Will gave me as many details as he had. As we made it back to the city, the snow wasn’t nearly as heavy as it had been at the lake house. The streets were plowed and life was continuing as usual. My car was gone, but Heath’s was parked next to my empty spot back at my apartment. I had to work in the morning and New Year’s was fast approaching. Apparently I would be using Heath’s car.

  “Thanks for the ri
de, Will.”

  “No problem. You have keys to his car?” I nodded. “Ok. See you around.”

  “Will?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Please call or text me if you hear anything.”

  “Will do.”

  I ran into Stacey in the hallway and she sensed that something was wrong. Following me to my apartment I spilled everything, like diarrhea of the mouth. She listened and supported me, but was careful not to criticize Heath.

  “Lucy, what are you going to do?”

  Shaking my head, I was honest. “I don’t know. I, I’m falling for him, Stacey.”

  She smiled, “You fell for him a long time ago. Glad you’re finally realizing it.”

  I tried to object but knew it was pointless. She was right. Had everyone seen it but me? Why had it taken me so long to realize? I wanted Heath. Will was just a distraction, who, being his twin, looked just like him.

  “I’m an idiot.”

  Giggling, “Yeah, well.”

  I threw her a dirty look and exclaimed, “Bitch!”

  Shrugging her shoulders, “That’s why you love me.” I just shook my head at her. “So, he lied, but tell me about everything else. Tell me about the good.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. There was a lot of good. “He’s amazing. I never knew, but he’s so romantic.” She scrunched her face up and I clarified, “In a good way. He’s amazing in bed, like, wow!”

  “Dammit! He’s hung isn’t he?”

  Laughing, I egged her on, “Like a horse!”

  “Of course he is!”

  “I was hurting all week on our honeymoon. In a good way.”

  “Ugh. I need that kind of pain in my life!”

  “Yes, yes you do!”

  We hadn’t hung out like we were used to and I missed my friend. We talked for a good hour about all the things I loved about Heath. She sat and listened like the good friend she was.

  “So, are you still going to move into his place next week?”

  “I mean, I hadn’t really thought about it. I assume so.”

  “What do you mean you assume?”

  I told her what had happened up at the lake house—leaving out the details of him taking me against the wall—about how he’d been gone when I woke. Then I told her about O. I confided in her that I was worried for Heath and how he’d deal with O’s injuries. I was worried about O, as well, but Heath and O were really close, maybe closer than Heath and Will were.

  “Just be patient with him. It’s hard watching someone you love go through something so painful. Especially when he was doing it protecting and serving our country. My cousin is a therapist near Montrose and works with many injured vets.”

  I tucked that piece of info away and checked my phone. There were no missed calls or texts from him. I couldn’t help but worry that he didn’t feel the same way I did. Maybe my leaving on Christmas night had set us back further than we could recover from.

  “Lucy, he’ll be back. I’ve seen how he looks at you. He’s not going anywhere, but you’re probably going to have to prove that you aren’t either.” I nodded and she added, “So. Let’s order take out and watch movies. Just like we used to.”

  “Yes!”

  It was New Year’s Eve and I still hadn’t heard from Heath. Will confirmed he was in New York, with his parents and O. I texted him to let him know I was thinking of him and that if he needed to talk, I was there. I was hurt that he wasn’t responding, but I tried to be considerate of the situation.

  Because of the holiday, I had just gotten home from a short day at work. My apartment was in boxes and I was supposed to move to Heath’s in two days. There was a knock on my door. Still in my scrubs, I answered and saw Will, Dorian, and D’Artagnan standing there.

  Baffled, I asked, “What’s going on?”

  Will answered my question immediately. “Hope you’re done packing. It’s moving day.” I shook my head at him with my silent question. “Heath, O, mom, and dad are coming home in a couple days. We won’t have time to move you then. It’s now or never. How much do you have left? We have two trucks and your car.”

  I corrected him, “Heath’s car.” I didn’t need the reminder that he’d left town with my car and not a word to me.

  Ignoring my comment, he looked around and determined, “You look about done.”

  I blew out a big breath, “Um, ok. We had planned to put my living room furniture in storage, but my bedroom furniture is going to his place.”

  “Yup. Heath said the same thing. We already put his bedroom furniture in storage this morning. Once O gets settled at home, I may move in with him.”

  It was like a slap to the face. Heath was talking to his brothers, but not to me. He was going to get an earful when I finally saw him. I changed clothes real quick and boxed up my remaining items.

  Within a few hours, we were unloading my stuff at Heath and Will’s place. Dorian and D’Artagnan took my furniture to the storage unit while Will helped me put the bedroom together. It was a little weird setting up our bedroom with my husband’s twin brother instead of him. But, everything about the situation had already surpassed weird.

  I couldn’t avoid the topic any longer. “Will, so you didn’t know it was me? Not until…”

  He perked up and looked at me. “No. Not until the day before.” We both stood silent and I realized being in his presence alone did nothing for me, except remind me of Heath. “His heart was in the right place. I never would’ve been able to go through with it, not with you.”

  “No, I know.” We didn’t say anything else. I think we were both slightly uncomfortable and knew that it was a discussion I should be having with Heath.

  I invited Stacey over, but she had a date and I didn’t want to take that away from her. Will had left and I was left alone. Before he left, he gave me the code to the back stairwell that lead down to the gym. Since, apparently, I had nothing better to do, I decided to get a workout in. Wearing my workout clothes and with a bottle of water in hand, I headed down.

  Their gym was open 24/7, but since it was a holiday, the gym was virtually empty. I got on the elliptical and with my earbuds in, began climbing away. Twenty minutes later, I was surfing through my playlist. I put on the song that’d been haunting me that I currently loved to hate. What Kind Of Man by Florence and The Machine blared in my head.

  One kiss between us all those years ago had changed everything. Then another kiss this past summer changed everything again. But, his absence the past week had me on the edge of breaking. How could he do this to me? He promised he wouldn’t hurt me, begged me to trust him. I upped the resistance on the elliptical and pushed myself harder. The adrenaline and my anger got the best of me as I screamed out in frustration.

  Embarrassed by my outburst, I looked around to see a couple lifting weights staring at me. I just waved and apologized as I made my way to the locker room. Splashing cold water on my face, I tried to get my emotions under control. It was time to call it a night and head back upstairs.

  ~ Chapter 4 ~

  ~ HEATH ~

  I knew I shouldn’t have left without talking to her, but I just wasn’t ready for the talk I knew we had to have. Will would make sure she got home safe. He’d taken me to her car, with a gas tank in hand, and helped me dig her car out before we parted ways. The tow truck arrived shortly afterward and pulled her car out to the road. I had to get to O. Then it dawned on me that she didn’t even know about O. Without meaning to, I’d just made matters worse. I debated about turning around, but couldn’t follow through with it.

  Several hours later, longer than it should’ve taken due to the road conditions, I was parking at the hospital in NYC and headed up to his floor. Checking in at the nurse’s station, they sent me on back. I knew about his leg, but I wasn’t prepared to see him looking as battered as he was.

  Bandages covered the left side of his face and arm. The blankets laid flat where they should have been puffed up had he not lost his leg. My dad walked over and h
ugged me before I even realized they were there. O appeared to be sleeping and I soon found out that he was heavily medicated and had yet to wake since my parents arrived.

  A few hours later, O’s voice pulled us all from our conversation. “What’s a guy got to do to get some peace and quiet around here?” He was attempting a smile and my mom ran over to his bedside and kissed his face.

  After my parents got their hellos in, we clasped right hands and nodded at each other. He was hurting, mentally and physically, and trying to hide it. We were told he knew about the loss of his leg, but no one wanted to mention it either. We’d also been warned to expect outbursts from him, which was completely understandable.

  My parents had gone down to the cafeteria for dinner and promised to bring me back some food, leaving me with O.

  “So, how’s married life?”

  Trying to cover the uncertainty in my voice, I lied, “It’s great. Things are good.”

  He laughed, “You’re full of shit. How the hell did you end up marrying Lucy Roberts? I know it was more than coincidence. Spill it.”

  He’d missed out on all the details and I resigned myself and told him. I’m sure he could use the distraction and I needed someone to talk to. I told him how Dorian found out and told Will and how I’d walked in on that conversation.

  “She said yes, you married her. So what’s the problem?” He stared me down and put the pieces together. “You idiot. You didn’t tell her it was supposed to be Will, did you?” He waited and shook his head at me. “How’d she find out?”

  “Christmas.”

  “Nice.”

  “I tried talking to her, but she left and mom helped her.” That got another laugh out of him. “Mom refused to tell me where she was…”

  “Probably the lake house.”

  “Yes, seems everyone was able to figure that out but me.”

  He shrugged his shoulders, “You’re blinded by love. So, have you talked to her yet?”

  “Yes, no. Not really.”