Heartbreak Warfare :: Chapter Ten
It was almost noon when Bo's eyes finally decided to open. The bedroom was bright. He was wrapped tightly in a cocoon of blankets. They were damp. He was alone. He sat up quickly, ready to panic, but relaxed when he saw her sitting in a chair by the bed. She was curled up with a book.
Hope lowered her glasses, "What's wrong?"
Bo gave her a small sheepish grin, "I thought you were gone."
"I would never leave you, Brady," Hope shook her head and moved to sit with him. She had a hot cup of tea, "Here, I made this for you. It's peppermint. It is supposed to be good for nausea."
Bo took an obedient sip. The hot liquid felt good on his dry throat. He stared at the tea and then looked at her, "I would never leave you either… but you thought I did."
Guilt flickered in her eyes, "Bo…"
Why he intentionally just inflicted pain on her, he would never know. He felt terrible. He didn't know the man that inhabited his body anymore. The constant anger. The physical pain. The memories of the torture. He hated himself.
"I'm sorry." Hope's eyes watered, "I'll spend the rest of my life being sorry."
"No, I am…" Bo shook his head and cupped her face, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Here you are…. dropping everything to stay here and take care of me."
"I want to." Hope reassured she reached for his hand, "This is where I want to be."
"This is where I want you to be." Bo pulled her to him, kissing her softly. She hovered before gently pulling away, leaving him with a disappointed stare.
"I also have some sprite, soup, and saltines in the kitchen if you ever feel up to trying food." Hope offered. She played gently with a few of his curls, "I'm worried you're getting dehydrated."
"You went out?" Bo asked.
Hope shook her head, "No. I told Caroline you had the flu. She came to pick up Ciara and brought a nice care package."
"This feels like the super flu." Bo sighed. His muscles weren't cramping as bad as they had the previous day, but he didn't feel anywhere near normal.
"Well the symptoms are very similar." Hope nodded, "Do you need anything?"
"I want to take a shower." Bo stretched. It hurt. The pain seeped into his bones.
Hope stood from the bed and offered her hand. Bo accepted her assistance out of the bed. Once he had his balance he stretched again.
"I think I can do it alone today."
Hope complied, "Promise you'll take it slow?"
"Promise." Bo nodded.
"Okay. I'll be out here if you need anything." Hope smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. He could see the worry she attempted to hide.
He made his way into the bathroom. He felt like an old man, shuffling and stopping occasionally to keep his balance in check. He stripped himself of his boxers and stepped into the shower. He didn't feel as dizzy today, but his stomach was still unsettled. His skin itched. It itched everywhere. He turned the water to cold. He was tired of burning in his own skin. He'd spent the entire night tossing and turning in pools of his own sweat. His head throbbed a little where his fall had left a goose egg. The more awake and aware he became, the more being in his own body made his skin crawl. He needed something. Anything. His body was craving euphoria. Heroin was cruel. He tried to think of something pleasant. Anything that would keep his mind off the need for a high.
He washed the sweat out of his hair. He massaged his scalp, taking him back to the night before when Hope's hands were the ones tangled in his hair. She had been so tender with him. The thought of her hands anywhere on his body made his groin groan with need.
"Shit." Bo cursed under his breath, shaking his head. The more he tried to avoid it, the more aroused he became. The discomfort was unbearable. His entire body betrayed him with screams of hot, searing, pain. The water was ice cold, but fire shot through his veins. He felt the sudden urge to vomit. He leaned over and heaved, but there was nothing to offer besides a single gulp of peppermint tea.
"Bo?" Hope's concerned voice floated into the room, "Are you okay?"
She could hear him trying to vomit from the other room. He said nothing, but the water slowly turned off. She went to him, opening the shower door in a rush. She found him hunched over against the shower wall, eyes hooded with arousal and pain. His manhood stood straight up at attention, throbbing with thick need.
Hope's heart stopped. Her throat closed.
"Fancy Face." Bo's voice cracked with discomfort, "You have to help me."
This was uncharted territory. She didn't know how to help him. A small flicker of fear ignited deep in her gut. He looked miserable.
"Let's get you out of the shower." Hope offered. He leaned on her, his penis bucking at the closeness of her body.
Out of pure primal instinct and need for release, he grabbed her chin, kissing her forcefully. She was suddenly pinned against his broad chest, and she couldn't help but wonder where his sudden strength came from.
"Bo…" She protested into his teeth. He was coming at her like a starving carnivore. He clumsily guided them back into the bedroom, trailing water from the shower to the bed.
Hope felt herself being thrown backwards onto the mattress she'd just stripped of soiled sheets. Yesterday the man could barely stand, and now he was 'the hulk' having no trouble man handling her. His eyes were dark; his face contorted.
"Bo, please…" Hope begged, "You're not well."
"Hope…." His eyes closed for a moment, "Please. I need you. I need this… more than I ever have."
Hope swallowed a hard lump. Her husband was so broken. She was unsure of where exactly the sudden tears came from, but she saw them blur her vision. She couldn't find her voice. She didn't recognize him in this moment. His withdrawal was morphing him into a monster in a second's notice. He was in desperate need for a high, and orgasm was the only one he could get his hands on. She nodded slowly, ignoring the tear that escaped down her cheek. She slowly shed her sweater, giving him the okay signal. He was on her before she could finish.
His breath was hot as he assaulted her neck. His hand tangled in her hair, rooting itself at her scalp. He fumbled with her blouse, his frustration obvious. She attempted to assist him, but he batted her hands away. He distracted her with a deep kiss, sucking hard on her bottom lip. Her hands found his neck, pulling him closer. She could feel her body begin to betray her reservations. His hands had released her breasts from her bra. His fingers roughly rolled her nipple.
"Bo…" Hope whined into his kiss. It hurt so good. Her body felt flushed. She couldn't breathe. She reached for his shaft, grabbing it with a firm grasp.
"Ohhhh," Bo reared back with a roar, his entire abdomen contracting at her touch.
His vision was blurred, his muscles screamed, his head protested, but he couldn't think of anything besides getting inside of her. He felt like an animal. She tasted so good. Her skin on his sent a good fire through his blood, overpowering the burning withdrawal symptoms.
He didn't even have her pants all the way down before he thrust inside of her, "Oh…. God… Fancy Face…." He could have orgasmed at just the feel of her walls. He paused, rubbed his forehead, and attempted to compose himself, "Shit…"
"Bo?" Hope was starting to panic. She was aroused, but she could easily turn off that button in a situation like this. She sat up to meet him, his manhood still throbbing inside of her. Bo lost control again. His eyes flashed dark and his face contorted as his need for release overpowered him once more.
He pushed her backwards, falling on top of her. The weight of his body crushed the air out her lungs. He drove into her with abandonment, screaming and grunting with every thrust. His face was buried at the base of her neck, nipping and sucking to hide his pained cries.
Her toes were starting to curl. Her muscles were starting to tense. She tried to let herself get there, but it was too late. She felt him violently release inside of her. His entire body trembled as he let the tension go. She held him close to her as he cried out through the pain.
Searing heat shot through him. He was spent, but the euphoria of orgasm sent him into the high he'd been seeking. It wasn't the same, but it was better than nothing. He felt a little relief from the aches and pains as he rolled over. He passed out in a matter of seconds.
Hope's heart still raced and her chest swelled with emotion. She covered him with a throw blanket and slipped into the bathroom. As she closed the door behind her, she sank slowly to the floor, drawing her knees up to her chest. For the first time since he'd been home, she sobbed.