by M. Sembera
Life with HIM
A Companion Novelette
To The Rennillia Series
By M. Sembera
Copyright© 2013 M. Sembera
Edited by Margaret Civella
Published by
Broken Bird Media
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.
For more information contact [email protected]
Life with HIM is a work of fiction. All names, Characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination.
Place name and any resemblance to events or actual persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
Special Thanks: Brandon Mayo and Katelynn Luna for the Cover Photo.
Lw~H~
I must have circled the town twenty times before I finally pulled off to the side of the road. I felt lost. There was no place I could go. I understood there were actual places for me to go. However, there was no place I wanted to be. I didn’t want to be told everything would be alright. Everything was not alright. It would never be alright because my parents were gone. They were dead. The feeling of loss was so overwhelming, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My chest was hurting and I started to shake. There was no way to make this feeling go away. All I wanted was to stop feeling the way I was feeling. Then, I realized, there was a way.
Taking several deep breaths, I pulled back onto the road. Shaking my head at myself, I knew this was a bad idea. Suddenly goose bumps covered my arms in anticipation. Every reason not to go was quickly replaced with the way I knew I would feel once I got there. No thought just action. My sadness would be welcomed and shared. Because when we had nothing else we could have each other and I had nothing. There had never been a gap like this in my life. He would fill the void that was slowly swallowing me whole.
Pulling up past the gate, I stopped my car. Slowly opening the door, it wasn’t until I stepped out, I realized, I never put my shoes on. Carefully, I made my way down the path, mentally questioning myself with every step. By the time I reached my destination, I was severed into a million different emotions. The need for just one surpassed the rest and I closed my eyes and made my decision. Slowly reaching up, I knocked on HIS door.
Lw~H~
Slowly opening the door, Henley looked me over. Before I could say anything, he shut the door in my face. I sat down in front of his door. Pulling my knees to my chest, I rested my head on them, letting tears roll down my cheeks.
When I heard the door open, I refused to look up.
“What do you want?” I heard his voice question.
Shaking my head, I wiped my eyes, saying, “They’re gone. My parents are gone.”
It was silent for a while before Henley said, “You left me.”
“I don’t have anyone, I’m an orphan. I don’t have a family,” I cried.
His voice was sad as he asked, “What about your friends?”
Looking up at him, I replied, “I don’t want to be with them.”
“Get up,” he growled appearing angry.
Slowly, I stood up.
Focusing on my bare feet, he snapped, “I can’t let you walk in.”
Frowning, I nodded.
Reaching out, Henley grabbed my arm, jerking me towards the doorway. He leaned down and lifted me up before carrying me into his house. Through the living room and into his bedroom, stopping when we reached the bathroom. Setting me down on the edge of the bathtub, he pulled off his shirt and folded it neatly before setting it on the counter.
Kneeling in front of me, he said, “Don’t leave me again. I need you.”
“I won’t,” I breathed.
Appearing as sad and alone as I felt, he nodded. I placed my hand in is hair, running my fingers through it. Reaching his arms around my waist, he rested his head against my stomach.
Brushing my fingers against the side of his head, I admitted, “I miss the way I feel with you.”
“I miss feeling you,” Henley shared, pulling me off of the edge of the bath tub and onto my feet.
Still on his knees, he stared up at me.
Henley’s eyes never left mine as he unbuttoned my jeans and slid them down my legs. Stepping out of them, my body hummed in anticipation. Every other thought was gone as he placed his hands on my hips and sat me down on the edge of the bathtub. Reaching under my legs, Henley twisted me around, flinging my feet into the tub. I watched him carefully as he turned the faucet on and gently washed my feet.
Starting with the top of my freshly washed foot, he followed my leg all the way to my hip with his lips. Closing my eyes, I sat on the edge of the tub as he continued up my back taking my shirt with him.
Pulling my hair to the side, he kissed from the back of my neck to my ear before whispering, “I need you.”
My breath grew heavy as I turned to face him. When Henley pressed his lips to mine, I was lost in the feeling. All consuming, I willingly slid into the bathtub, pulling him with me. Heat and friction were all I felt, until I heard the crinkle of a wrapper and then there was pain.
Lw~H~
Alone in bed, I could hear him in the kitchen. Cleaning like he did when I had stayed before. Thinking there were worse things to be obsessed with even though, I still found it strange that someone needed anything that clean. Slowly sliding out of bed, I found, not only was my body stiff and sore but my heart felt that way also.
Standing in front of the mirror in Henley’s bathroom, I looked at myself. The hollow feeling inside showed in my reflection. Continuing to gaze at myself, I was mortified by what I had done. It wasn’t anything like when we had messed around. It was invasive and I still felt violated, not to mention the pain that was involved.
I watched the tears roll down my face. Recalling Henley say, ‘All mine,’ when he stopped and looked between us as the only promise I made to myself, ran down the drain. How could anyone want to do that? No matter how many times I had been hurt or injured, it was the single worst experience of my life.
Quickly wiping my eyes when I saw him step into the bathroom behind me, I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I didn’t know if he knew he was the reason I had silently cried myself to sleep.
Turning me around to face him, Henley offered, “I can make you something to eat.”
Shaking my head at him, I flinched slightly when he pulled me to him by my hips.
“Are you sore?” he asked with a suspicious expression.
Shrugging, I said, “I need my bag.”
Scowling, he said, “I put it in the closet,” before sharing, “I am going to the shop. I will pick you up anything you need.”
I started to say, “I’ll just grab some clothes from…” with the intention of finishing with ‘my house.’ All of the sudden, I couldn’t breathe. My house was gone, just like my parents were. Shaking and crying the pain in my chest was unbearable.
Henley slid his arms around me, holding me tight. I didn’t want to be held. Squirming in his arms, I couldn’t get away. The more I tried to break free the tighter he held me until anger was the only emotion left.
“Let go!” I shouted, thrashing in his arms.
When he let go, I hit the bathroom door.
I yelled as loud as I could, “Get away from me!”
Henley raised his hand and I instinctively covered my face with my arms.
Wrapping his hands around my wrists, he pulled my arms away from my face, saying, “I wasn’t going to hurt you.”
Shaking my head at him, I snapped
, “I don’t believe you.”
Slowly letting go of my wrists, he walked out of the bathroom.
After standing there for a minute, I walked into his bedroom. He was sitting on his bed staring at the floor. Making my way right in front of him, I looked down at him.
“I didn’t mean to hit you that hard,” he said.
Confused, I questioned, “Why did you hit me at all?”
Keeping his eyes on the floor, Henley, replied, “I didn’t want to hurt you. You were leaving. You wouldn’t have come back.”
“I wasn’t gonna go,” I shared before explaining, “I mean I was but when you called, I wasn’t.”
Looking up at me, he shook his head, saying, “You didn’t like the presents I gave you.”
Fighting back tears when I thought of my grandmother’s bracelet, I said, “It wasn’t what you gave me it’s how you went about it.”
“I had the night planned for us. I thought then even if you left, you would still be mine,” he said before whispering, “You’re my promised land.”
Shaking my head, I stepped closer.
“Something that was saved just for me,” he added.
Almost involuntarily, I slid onto his lap.
Henley wrapped his arms around my hips as I kissed him. I was wary of being so close to him after the horrific experience the night before. For some reason, my body seemed to welcome his touch, acting on its own accord. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, truly wanting it to be different this time.
~
Lying close to him, I kept my legs around his. It was more than just the high of coming undone, I actually felt like I belonged to him.
Recalling him say he needed to go to his shop, I asked, “You’re not going to leave me now are you?”
Shaking his head with a serious expression, he replied, “Not ever.”
“I meant to go to your shop,” I said, smiling at his answer.
Biting the corner of his lip, he proposed, “I might close it down and spend all day every day in bed with you.”
Tugging him closer, I kissed him.
Lw~H~
We spent the next few days growing more familiar with each other. I discovered there wasn’t much I didn’t like when it came to the physical part. I also learned that his obsessive shirt changing was a result of the scar on his side. If he didn’t constantly change his shirt while it was healing, it would stick to the wound. More or less a habit now, he grew uncomfortable if he wore the same shirt to long.
~
Standing in the bathroom brushing my teeth, I leaned my head to the side when Henley came up behind me. Sliding his hands under his t-shirt that I wore, I couldn’t help pressing my back against him. After sharing good mornings, good afternoons, goodnights and ‘it’s been an hour let’s do it again’, my body practically bowed at the sight of him.
Disposing of the toothpaste in my mouth and my toothbrush, as quickly as possible, while still following his tidy guidelines, I turned and faced him.
Running my fingers into his hair, I pulled him to me and kissed him before saying, “Morning.”
Pulling back, I noticed his unhappy expression as he informed, “Herterand needs to meet with you.”
Instantly, my face fell as I shook my head and walked away from him.
Following behind me, he said, “I’ll lay you out something to wear.”
Quickly turning around, I fussed, “No you won’t. I’m not going.”
Shoving me back onto the bed, he hovered over me saying, “It’s important.”
I closed my eyes and whispered, “I can’t.”
Feeling his lips brush against mine, I pushed up towards him before he said, “You need to make arrangements for your parents.”
My eyes filled with tears as I realized, it was my responsibility.
Nodding, I agreed asking, “Where?”
“Roberts’,” he shared before pulling away and walking to the closet.
Scooting towards the end of the bed, I watched him lay the jeans and a bra he bought me on the foot of the bed before setting a pair of socks on top of them. I grabbed the bra and pulled my arms out of my shirt to put it on before quickly replacing the shirt. Lifting my feet one at a time, he slid my socks on for me. Appearing to take the matter seriously, Henley held my jeans to the floor allowing me to step into them. Once he slid them up and fastened them, he pulled me against him.
I nodded when he asked, “Are you wearing my shirt?”
“I still don’t have shoes,” I reminded.
Nodding at me, he replied, “I’ll carry you to the car.”
Turning away from him, I walked out of his room. Feeling as if I could start crying at any moment. I had trouble concentrating on what to do next. When I made it to the front door, I turned around and he was standing there with my keys.
Piggy backing me down the path to my car, I felt a little bad that he had to walk through muddy puddles from the rain. Henley opened my car door before turning his back to it allowing me to slide in without getting my socks dirty. I started to say something but decided against it when he continued to the house without looking back at me. Sitting in my car, I watched him all the way to his porch. After taking his shoes off, he stepped into the house, never looking back at me.
Driving as slow as possible to Emerson’s house didn’t achieve anything other than a few honks and dirty looks from other drivers. I still ended up in the last place I wanted to be.
Walking up to the back door, I knocked before the door swung open with Emerson on the other side, asking, “Why are you knocking?”
Shrugging at him, I saw my shoes sitting next to one of the kitchen chairs and my green hair thing sitting on the table. I gave Emerson a weak smile before sitting down and putting my shoes on. I was already feeling the need to run and I didn’t want to forget them, again.
When I looked up from my shoes, Hert walked in. Just the sight of him made me cringe.
Serious and right to the point, he sat at the table and laid a packet down, stating, “We can start with your accounts then discuss…” before Emerson broke in, saying, “Give her a minute. She just got here.”
“I can’t stay,” Hert stressed.
Glaring at Hert, I snapped, “You mean you don’t wanna stay.”
“I have to get back to The Office,” he snapped back.
Crossing my arms, I waited for him to say what he had to say then leave.
“This is the paperwork for your checking and savings. The insurance money is in your savings and interest dividends will be deposited into your checking once a month,” he shared before saying, “Mr. Thomas is handling your account and Mr. Roberts has agreed to take care of the funeral expenses for you.”
My head started to hurt as I narrowed my eyes and informed, “No funeral.”
Confused, Hert questioned, “What?”
“No funeral,” I repeated before sharing, “And if there is one, I’m not going.”
I watched Hert’s jaw flex as he stated, “Alright, then there is the issue of your residence.”
My insides twisted as I yelled, “My house burned down, I have no residence!”
“You need a place to live,” he shouted back at me.
“I am fine where I’m at, Hert,” I spouted at him before he slammed his hands down at the table, fussing, “The hell you are.”
All I could do was repeat, “I’m fine where I’m at.”
Jumping up from the table, Hert yelled, “What the hell are you doing there with him!”
“You really want me to answer that,” I spouted.
Visibly angry, Hert shouted, “What, now that your father’s dead you wanna make sure he was right!”
Hert’s comment cut me down to my soul as I stated, “I am fine where I am at.”
After kicking the chair next to him, Hert stormed out of the kitchen and then the house.
I gave a heavy sigh and just sat there. Feeling Emerson’s hand touch my shoulder, I hopped up from the table.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered, heading right for the back door.
Swinging the back door open, I started to rush out and ran right into Jackson. I glanced up at him before quickly making my way around him and heading to my car. I was almost in my car before Jackson grabbed the door and stopped me.
Finding it incredibly hard to look at him, I said, “I need to go.”
“I am so sorry about your parents,” Jackson consoled.
Nodding, I looked past him, saying, “Thanks, I really need to go.”
Moving into my line of sight, he offered, “My parents said you can stay with them if you need a place.”
Shaking my head, I stated for what felt like the millionth time, “I’m fine where I’m at.”
“Ok, will I see you when I come home on break?” he asked.
Nodding as I looked away, I couldn’t stand one more minute with him.
Quickly leaving after talking to Jackson, the sadness I felt turned to anger the closer I got to Henley’s. By the time I pulled up past the gate, I was furious. Flying out of my car, I traipsed through puddles as it started to sprinkle again.
Flinging his front door open, I stomped in. The shock on his face from me getting his floor dirty with my muddy shoes caused me to lose it.
“Oh, am I getting your floor dirty?” I sarcastically questioned as I stomped up and down.
“Why are you doing that,” he questioned, appearing hurt by my action.
Pulling my shoes and socks off, I threw them outside as hard as I could before running past him, shouting, “I told you I didn’t wanna go!”
Lw~H~
Only getting up to shower and eat a little, I stayed in bed crying and sleeping. I felt Henley come to bed each night but he didn’t speak or touch me. I was so depressed I couldn’t bare the thought of anything other than sadness.
~
After a few weeks, I was finally up and around. I slowly walked into the living room, seeing Henley sitting on his couch. Staring at him, he looked distressed.
“Hey,” I said, meaning to sound more chipper than I did.
Scowling at me, he asked, “Do you need anything.”
Nodding, I stepped closer before breathing, “You.”
Yanking me onto his lap, he kissed me. Feeling something other than sorrow drew me closer. Wrapping my arms and legs around him, I laid my head against his chest.
