Page 50 of In Every Lifetime
Sarah
Ireached into the shower, opening the window to let out the steam and turning the water to the highest temperature. I hadn’t slept a wink after our almost-kiss last night. Fai was a breath away from kissing me, but his goddamned conscience had stopped him.
Which was my goal with my imagined relationship, but after a night of tossing and turning, I was kicking myself for lying about a boyfriend. It was immature to lie in the first place and even more immature not to talk to him about my concerns. I knew he wouldn’t push any boundaries if he thought I were seeing someone else. I also knew he wouldn’t push any boundaries if I had simply asked.
I sighed, rubbing my hands down my face. I was ready to go home and get some space from Fai to think clearly. Being this close to him was messing with me in more ways than I had realized. I wanted to keep Fai in my life, but I needed space to decide how much I wanted him in it.
I leaned down to start peeling off my socks when a hand came out of nowhere, wrapping around my mouth and pullingme to a stand, forcing me against a wet, hard body. I tried to fight, kicking and clawing at the hand that was clamped over my mouth, keeping me from screaming. I had no time to think, my adrenaline rushing as I realized I needed to get free.
The person holding me pulled me away from the door, closer to the shower and vanity. My feet dragged, and I tried to kick at anything to make noise—to alert Gabriel someone was in here with me. Had they been in here the whole time?
Then I was faced toward the mirror where I finally saw my attacker. Towering behind me, one hand over my mouth and the other wrapped around my torso, was Fai. His eyes held a murderous glint, one I hadn’t seen before. His hair was dripping wet, brushing against his eyes, and his T-shirt clung to his torso, molding to his body.
Every muscle was taut, ready to attack at a moment’s notice. I could see the pulse thumping in his neck, speeding at a rate I couldn’t understand.
I looked him in the eyes, stopping my fight. While I was confused, I knew he would never hurt me—not intentionally.
His arm that was wrapped around my torso loosened slightly, his hand moving to his lips where he placed his pointer finger, silencing me.
I nodded, showing him I understood. He released his hand from my mouth, leaning down to speak in my ear just above a whisper, the shower drowning out any eavesdropping ears.
“We need to leave immediately. Do you understand?” His voice was like gravel in my ears.
I nodded again.
“Through the window, okay? Keep the shower going.” He stepped silently away. I noticed for the first time his shoes were off, his socks soaked through like the rest of him. He must have come through the window. I opened the shower curtain to seethe screen had been removed and his jacket was lying on the threshold.
We moved toward the window when a knock on the door had us frozen again.
“You okay? I thought I heard banging,” Gabriel called through the closed and, thankfully, locked door.
I looked at Fai frantically, unsure of what to do or say.
Fai rested a hand on each of my arms, mouthing silently:I’m not here. Lie.
I began to shake, scared but unsure of who or what I was supposed to be afraid of.
A flicker of emotion flashed in Fai’s gaze—the first I had seen. He leaned down next to my ear again, whispering softly. “Answer him. Okay, repeat after me, honey.”
I nodded, urging him to continue.
“I’m fine; I dropped my shampoo and it went clattering about,” I called as Fai whispered the words into my ear.
There was a pause, but I could see Gabriel’s feet under the crack of the door.
“Good, good,” he finally answered. “Are you sure you haven’t seen Fai? His truck is out front, but I can’t find him anywhere.”
“I know he’s taken up running lately. Do you see his shoes? Maybe he went out for a morning run?” I called, Fai still feeding me the lines. His breath washed across my neck as he whispered, his lips nearly touching the skin next to my ear.
“Hmm…” Gabriel spoke quietly. “Maybe. I’ll go check,” he finally conceded. “Are you sure you’re okay? I thought I heard you struggling. You didn’t fall or anything?”
I laughed lightly, hoping my anxiety didn’t bleed through. “Seriously, I’m totally fine. Just a total klutz. Let me shower off, and I’ll come help you look for Fai. Knowing him, he went for a run, got tired halfway, and walked back.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He started to walk away, his steps stopping again a few feet later. “Oh yeah, I was meaning to ask: Did you go into the office again?”
Fai’s grasp tightened on my arms.
“No?”
