Chapter 59

Voodoo

Rhi POV

I'm surprised. "You're still here." It's not really a question, but more of an acknowledgement.

For a moment he doesn't say anything and I can't get a read on his face. Finally, he responds. "You sound surprised."

I look down, my head a jumble. Words and letters scattered into nonsense, like Scrabble ties thrown in a box and mixed up. Looking back up at him, tears in my eyes, I respond. "Yes, I am."

Leaning forward with me still on his lap he places his coffee cup, that I didn't realize he was holding, onto the table in front of him. Then, leaning back he looks down at me, shifting my body so I'm face to face with him. Wiping the tears from my eyes, he holds my face in his hands, then lowers his head to leave a kiss on my forehead. Touching his forehead to mine, he looks at me intently.

God those eyes are amazing.

"Rhi. I'm not going anywhere. I want you. Only you. Past, present and future. Whatever happened in the past has made you into the woman I can find myself loving today." He dips his head and kisses me gently, causing my breath to hitch.

I'm not sure how to respond to that so I don't. Instead, I ask, "What time is it?"

It's about 7:15. You slept through the night." He responds. "Do you need anything? Drink? Bathroom? Food? The pain meds you didn't take last night like planned?" He asks with a smirk. "Though I do think it's a bit late for that, considering the doctor will be here soon and will probably want to give you something."

I smile, "Oops. I forgot."

He chuckles, "Sure you did. But that's OK. Only a little while longer and we can get you fixed up." He smiles, "So, do you need anything? Do you need to use the bathroom? You've been sleeping for a while now." He asks again.

I look at him shyly, a little embarrassed. "Actually, I do need to use the bathroom." I tell him.

Looking back at me he smiles again, "OK, hang on." Slowly he stands up with me and helps me stand.

I'm stiff and my legs have been numb for I don't know how long. I'm having a hard time standing on my own. My eyes widen as I look at him, as reality sets in.

"What's wrong?" He asks when I don't move.

I smile and laugh a stilted laugh. "It seems that my legs don't want to work. They're numb. Which means they've fallen asleep and any time now the blood is going to return." My eyes get impossibly larger when I realize something else. "It's going to feel like I'm being stabbed with hundreds of pins. They're going to hurt like hell!" He looks down at me, trying not to laugh. "What's so funny?" I raise my eyebrows as I look at him.

"Absolutely nothing, baby. I just imagined a voodoo doll." He's still trying not to laugh, "I'm sorry baby, you're right, it's not funny." A snicker escapes his lips. "Yes, it's going to be painful. Let's get you to the bathroom quickly, before it kicks in. Are you ok with that or do you want to wait until it goes away?" He asks and I can still hear some humor in his tone.

I think about it for a few seconds. I haven't got time to waste pondering everything. It won't take long for the pain to come, but it will take longer for it to leave. I'm sure of that.

"Well, considering that they're numb right now, I don't think I could walk to the bathroom at all." I sigh, "Maybe I should just sit here and wait it out."

With a smile on his lips, he offers, "I can carry you if you want."

I look at him incredulously. "You're joking, right? I'm not going to the bathroom with you standing right there!"

He laughs, "No, I mean I'm just going to carry you to the bathroom. What you do in there is your business. I don't need to know what you're doing."

I chew on my bottom lip as I think it over. I can't waste any more time. "OK. Can you please? We should probably hurry because when it hits I might end up peeing myself!" I laugh to cover up my nervousness. God I'd be mortified if that happened!

Bending down, he picks me up, bridal style, and carries me to the bathroom. Just as he sets me down I can feel my legs start to get blood flow and I know that time is running out. If I don't hurry I'm in trouble.

"Um, can you please step outside?" I ask, looking at him. This is so embarrassing.

"Sure, I'll be right outside." He laughs as he closes the door.

Sitting down, I relieve myself. My god I never thought something could feel so…relieving. I laugh out loud, flush the toilet and stand up.

Well, I TRY to stand up. My legs have started tingling and the pin pricks have started and the pain begins to set in. "OH MY GOD!" I yell and my voice echoes around the room. Oh my god the pain!

I hear Alex outside the door, "Rhi? Are you OK? What's wrong? Baby, I'm coming in." He sounds worried. He's worried? I'M worried! What does he have to be worried about? His legs aren't the ones that feel like they're being ripped to shreds by hundreds of piranha!

"ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY NOT!" I shout, "Don't you DARE come in here!" I squeeze my eyes shut hoping by doing that the pain will go away. Spoiler alert! It doesn't. Shocker. "OW! OW! OW! FUCK THIS HURTS!" I yell again. Trying to calm myself down I say to myself, "I'm good. I'm cool. I'm fine." When that doesn't work, I yell again, "FUCK! OW! OW! OW! Don't come in!"

There's silence as I try to take a deep breath when I hear Alex's voice, "Rhi, I'm coming in." I want to die with I hear the door open. I'm stuck, sitting on the toilet, my shorts and panties around my ankles. KILL ME NOW! Thank god I flushed the toilet!

Believe it or not, my ass and legs WERE numb but right now they are prickling to life in the most painful way imaginable. I've NEVER had my ass fall asleep!

"NO! Alex, get out! This is embarrassing!" I holler at him.

He looks at me, "Rhi, it's nothing I haven't seen before. Or did you forget already?" He gives me a wicked smile and a wink. He looks behind him briefly. When he turns back around he's smiling, "Baby, your legs hurt, don't they?" I can see he's trying not to laugh. FUCKER.

"OW! OW! OW! My ass too! It fell asleep too!" I yell at him again. "GET OUT!"

Alex just stands there, looking at me like I'm some whacked out twitching crackhead needing their next fix. Then the bastard starts laughing! "What are you laughing at?! It's not funny!" I pout, but not for long. "OW! OW! OW! FUCK! It hurts!"

He's laughing harder as he takes a closer to me. I yell, "STOP! NO! Don't come any closer! OW! OW! OW!" I put my hands out in an effort to stop him. Who am I kidding? I'm DEFINITELY in no position to defend myself.

He laughs even more then stops, standing in front of me. "Come here baby, you need to stand up and move your legs to get the blood flowing faster. Sitting down again isn't going to help it go any faster."

I look up at him, mortified, "This is so embarrassing!" I try to push him away but he's like a brick wall and is definitely not moving. Especially with only one fully functional hand.

He stands me up, places my hands on his shoulders for balance and bends down to pull up my panties and shorts. I can feel my face heat so I know I'm turning bright red. "Baby, this is definitely not how I envisioned this morning starting." He chuckles, "I'd rather take your panties and shorts off you than put them on." He gives me a salacious smile and winks at me. He smacks my bottom, slowly rises, kisses me on his way up, stands, smiles and says, "Come on, let's walk."

I look at him like he's insane, "Why don't YOU try walking with legs and an ass that's screaming at you! UGH! This is bullshit!" I pout once again, hoping for at least a LITTLE sympathy. Instead, all I get is more laughter. This time, Kate and Ana join in. "Just great. The peanut gallery." I mutter under my breath.