Chapter 12
My heels click onto hardwood and Shadow brushes against my back, hitting the bags of groceries against a wall to turn on the lights. My jaw drops in awe, we entered into the kitchen where everything is stainless steel and black wood. The countertops are an expensive marble, they wrap around the kitchen wall and there's an island in the middle with a decorative red dish. Hanging from the ceiling is a pot rack, with assorted sizes of pans and pots and a wok, and modern LED lights shine through red shades hang low from black poles. It's an open floor plan, with an open arch leading to what I suppose is a dining room but I can't take my eyes off the kitchen. Black granite tiles sparkle on the backsplash as ambient lighting glows from under the cabinets, and all the appliances shine with cleanliness.
Shadow places all the bags on the island and wrings his wrist, looking around he sighs Please don't mind the mess, I didn't know I would have guests.
Mess? This place is immaculate! However do you keep it so clean? I mean the place is beautiful and I have only just seen the kitchen! I can't make myself shut up about the kitchen, I'm so nervous! He rolls his eyes and takes my bag from my hand. His hand holds mine for a moment and he slides it to the handle, keeping those alizarin eyes to mine. He reaches his other hand to my face, oh no what are you doing I think as I freeze, but he keeps going and shuts and locks the door. He turns from me and waves his hand, Come with me, and I'll show you to your living quarters. I force my legs into walking forward, my hands shaking from him looking at me like that. Stop being weird Amy and say something!
Living quarters? My my, so serious! I figured I would crash on the couch or something.
No lady of mine will "crash" on the couch. You will have a bed, a dresser and a bathroom to yourself. You are my guest for the next two weeks, you might as well….enjoy yourself. He says flicking his eyes back at me. My heart stops for a second, and my hands get sweaty, his lady? E-enjoy myself? That could mean so many things, but my thoughts are racing to our session in the closet at school. I shudder and smile, Well that's very kind. I appreciate your hospitality Shadow. We walk past the dining room and into a hallway, past two doors and end up at the end of the hall where he opens the door and motions me in.
Wow. Vaulted ceilings, a dark gray bed with black and white pillows, a large window with heavy red curtains and a wooden dresser with a lamp make this room look so modern and slightly uninviting. I can only imagine Shadow doing all the décor shopping, choosing curtains from his color swatch and bossing people to get the damn shade right or their fired. I giggle as he sets the suitcase on the bed, Is something funny to you miss Rose? he smirks.
No, no. I was thinking of you Shadow. He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms And what exactly might that be? I get the feeling he thinks I think he's corny for being a gentleman but then again I'm not sure what he thinks at all. Well I was imagining you designing your place, being very precise and knowing exactly what you want. Did you decorate this place yourself? I sit on the bed and take off my shoes, sliding them under the bed. Yes, I did. It was hell because online retailers don't have the same colors but use the same names for their fabrics. It's a bunch of shit to me, I could care less how the place looks but I think at the same time it matters to guests. He grazes his hand against the dresser, This is mahogany imported from the Philippines, very expensive and very smooth. I had it custom made for this room and stained by craftsmen. He smiles a bit, I don't know how someone could be so proud of a dresser but then again that thing probably cost more than all the particle board furniture I have.
Your bathroom is here through this door. It has a cabinet with towels and a hamper for your clothes. Please don't throw your garments on the floor, we have a woman who cleans and does laundry every three days. Don't make her job any harder, she's a nice woman and I despise filthy surroundings. He flips on a light and I walk into a huge bathroom with gray walls and a glass shower, a large vanity and sink with a lighted mirror. There are plush rugs and I just want to go and dig my toes in! There's a tub built into the wall with frosted windows above it, small faux plants line against the glass. A gray canvas hamper juts off the wall and doesn't seem like it fits much.
This is amazing, I've never seen a bathroom so nice. You have a beautiful place, Shadow and I'm so happy to be able to stay here. It's much nicer than any hotel I've been to. He blushes a bit and clears his throat, I'm going to put up the food, why don't you take a shower and meet me in the kitchen? We can make a nice dinner with the grocery store of stuff you brought. I laugh a bit and look to the shower and get nervous. I don't really know how one of these works, can you show me? I don't want to have to call you in while I'm naked! I blurt out stupidly. He smiles and I could swear I heard him growl, Well we wouldn't want that now would we, Amy? He keeps his eyes on mine as he walks to the shower, he leans in and pushes a red button making water fall from a square head on the ceiling. All you need to do is push the red or blue button, there are arrows to adjust the temperature here and to turn it off hold down this silver button. A real waterfall shower, now I've really died and gone to heaven, I have always wanted one of these. This place is so amazing… I wish I could stay forever. I accidently whisper aloud. He turns the shower off and looks away from me, he mumbles something and walks to the door. Just take your shower. I think I made him angry.
I start to unpack my clothes into the dresser, first drawer for my underwear and socks, next shirts and then jeans and bottoms. I pull out my lingerie I accidently grabbed, I feel a flit of butterflies but just throw them in with the rest of the stuff. I go and hang my dresses Shadow packed into a closet with mirrors as doors, I might wear one tonight but I'm just really feeling like wearing a skirt.
I turn the shower on, and I think I did it correctly but I guess we'll find out. Steam starts to warm up the bathroom and I lock the door, a habit I've picked up along the way. I pull my clothes off and put them in the hamper and staring at my naked body I feel shame. There are scars and healing cuts across my abdomen, bruises on my thighs and shoulders. My beautiful body is destroyed, Gods temple vandalized. There are tears forming and I just want to cry, but then I look at where I am. Today has been a long and horrible day, but I came out of it a winner. I'm no longer the victim, thanks to some homicidal maniac out there. I grab all my bath stuff and step in the shower, putting everything into neat spots on the tiled shelves. I smile to myself, thinking that Shadow is so nice to me. He keeps an amazingly clean home but it feels so empty and cold, even if it's covered in a warm red tone. Do murderers keep their homes this nice? Surely not, but then again, a lot of them are perfectionists. I start to get freaked out, surely not! I step under the warm water and it feels so nice. The water is soft and doesn't stab at me like my shower does. I squirt out some shampoo and lather my hair, and I feel like I'm in a commercial. I start to sing to myself, and smiling away all the pain of today. I feel like I'm in a new world.
I start shaving my legs by sitting on the little seat area in the shower, and as I finish the last stroke I hear a squeak. The water shifts and suddenly it's ice cold, I jump up so fast and slip on fall right on my butt. AH SHIT! I scream as I fall in slow motion, and bang my head against the seat as my butt slides down the shower. My eyes get hazy and I see red trickling across the tile to the drain. I hear muffled noises and a wave of cold air, then the glass door opens and I'm swept up into a big black towel. Once everything slows down, I feel myself being put on the bed. I squint my eyes and I see Shadow walk out and come back with a box. He turns me on my side and pushes my hair away, he blots at the cut. What the hell did you do in there Amy? Are you trying to hurt yourself or something, you're so troublesome! As he's chastising me, I snuggle up into the luxurious towel, I can feel it against my breasts and my stomach. I smile like a child whose mother puts a Band-Aid on a cut and kisses it. Wait a second, something isn't right.
Oh my god! I flail and jump off the bed, pulling all the covers with me to cover myself. What are you doing in here? Why, I mean how did you get in the bathroom? I locked the door! Who do you think you are you pervert! Did you see me naked? I cannot believe you!
He wads up the bloody white towel and stands up. I heard you scream and a loud bang so I came to see if you were okay but the door was locked and you wouldn't answer. So I used my key and came in, and luckily I did because you hit your head pretty hard and I stopped the bleeding.
That's so rude, you seen me NAKED! my face feels red hot as I stomp my foot and point at the door. Get out!
He shrugs and grabs his box of medical supplies, shutting the door behind him. Ugh. This is off to a great start. My heart is racing and I feel warmth down below, I think I got excited, but why? Because he invaded my privacy? Because he held my naked body in his strong arms? I don't know. But I kind of like it.
