Chapter Eight
Claire
I woke up in the morning and got the shock of my life. Rogue, my stepbrother, butt naked with me in my bed, and I was in the same state. Not to mention the various aches in my body and the suspicious liquid leaking out of me between my thighs.
Fuck.
That was what we’d done yesterday. Even asleep, how was that something I could forget? It had to be one of the dumbest things I’d ever done, and I had done a few crappy things in my time, a few in high school and mostly in college.
Mom wasn’t going to be happy.
Fuck!
Then again, she didn’t need to know.
Except, we were supposed to meet her yesterday, and she was bound to have questions about what we’ve been up to and even worse, if we’re getting along. We shared bodily fluids so we’re getting along a bit too well.
In my bed with Rogue fucking me in many different positions.
I couldn’t say that. Neither did I want to deal with Rogue once he woke up because I didn’t doubt things would be awkward after this. I was supposed to live with him, but I needed to grow some self-control.
“Shit,” I hissed to myself as I carefully slid out of bed.
I had never hurt this bad after sex. Not that it was particularly painful, but it was uncomfortable. Then again, I’d read about how aches the morning after were marks of great sex. Speaking of marks, I finally made it to my bathroom, waddling awkwardly with the ache between my thighs, and saw quite a few in my mirror.
Lucky for me, they were all below the neck, or I would have had to go out with a scarf. It was fucking hot out in this season, so any adult with a healthy sex life, or even a teenager getting a head start on some adults, would know I was trying to hide something.
I couldn’t blame him, though. I didn’t stop him. Hell, I even encouraged him, a lot.
I jumped in the shower. I didn’t even wait for it to warm up, thinking the cold spray might clear my mind up a bit more. I trembled as I waited for the water to warm up properly, then gave myself a thorough wash a couple of times. The hot water felt divine on my skin, and it felt like it was taking care of my aches wherever the drops fell.
By the time I got out of the shower, I felt a lot better. Until I realized I had to go back into the bedroom.
I just hoped that he’d left by now. If not, then he didn’t wake up until I was out of the apartment.
I didn’t know how long we were fucking for, but it was well into the night, and it had left the both of us exhausted. The only reason I was awake so early, was because I had a strict schedule with myself that I had kept in the four years since I moved into the apartment, so I always woke up by seven a.m.
Rogue…should stay asleep for a while longer.
With slippers on my feet, a bathrobe around my body and a towel wrapped around my hair, I crept over to the door and slowly pulled it open. I looked into the bedroom and breathed a silent sigh of relief when I saw Rogue’s motionless body on the bed.
Slipping into the room, I hurried over to my closet. I picked out an outfit, a dark grey skirt suit to match my mood, then hurried back to the bathroom to get dressed there. I wanted to dry my hair with the dryer, but it would cause a bit of noise. I kept it wrapped in the towel for as long as possible, then let it all fall and combed it. It would just have to dry on my way. I could always drive with my window open for the wind; natures convenient dryer.
All I needed were my shoes and purse. I could put on my make-up in the car.
Mentally patting myself on the back, I walked back into the bedroom. I picked what I wanted, and snuck my way out of the bedroom, letting out a sigh. In the living room, I stopped to put on my shoes. I hadn't locked the bedroom door, so the click of it closing wouldn’t risk waking Rogue up.
I stood up to leave the apartment, only to pause. I frowned, looking around. There was food in the fridge and a spare key on the kitchen counter that was easy to see. I wasn’t going to lock Rogue up while I was out with no food or some shit, like a forgotten pet. Still, I felt like I had forgotten something.
In the end, I didn’t remember, and I left the apartment.
Once I was in the car, I stopped to apply my makeup before driving off. My hands froze when I caught sight of a mark on my neck that I’d missed and winced. Shit, I’d thought my neck was at least free. Putting the makeup away, I touched my fingers to the mark. The skin felt a bit inflamed, and it was a dark pink spot that stood out against my pale neck.
As I touched myself, my mind moved to thoughts of last night; thoughts of Rogue. He was the last person I wanted, or needed, to be thinking about. I used some makeup to cover the mark on my neck, then put everything away.
I had to get to work, I had to get going, I’d only started my car when my phone rang. I glanced at the seat beside me where I’d left my purse. I slowed the car down then reached across to pull it out, and picked up the Bluetooth headset that I used in my car. I put it on, then accepted the call and focused forward as I pulled out of the parking lot.
“Hello, Mom,” I said, trying not to let the guilt out in my voice.
“Honey, what happened to you yesterday? I waited for you to come and you didn’t show up.”
I grimaced. “About that...sorry. Rogue was worried, too, but he was also feeling pretty tired, so he wanted to sleep early. I should have insisted…”
“No, it’s fine,” Mom said quickly, reassuring me. “It’s fine. In fact, Richard is doing well, just a bit better than yesterday, but any improvement is a good thing.”
“It is,” I agreed, feeling a bit relieved. Rogue would be glad to know his Dad was doing a bit better, at least. “I promise to come after work today, all right? I’ll see if I can stop by home to get Rogue to go with me, or just get him to meet us there. I’m on my way to work now, so I’ll see you later, all right?”
“Sure, honey. Don’t let me keep you. Bye.”
We cut off the call, and I put the headset aside.
I got to work on time and was busy from the moment I stepped in. There was quite a bit of work for me to do, but usually, I could do it all just fine. This was a bit of a special case, however, as I had too much to worry about. Rogue, still in my apartment, probably waiting to ambush me about last night and my sneaking off this morning. Richard’s poor health, and how I was going to face both him and my mom after I’d fucked Rogue last night.
My head felt like it would explode several times during the day, but I held it together.
Then work was winding down, and I was already thinking about leaving so I could fulfill my promise this time. Only to be stopped by a phone call on my office line.
“Claire? It’s Simon. I’ve got a job for you, so meet me. Right now.”
I blinked at the unexpected command because it would not be a request from Simon. He was one of the senior partners.
“Um, sir? Is there something I can do for you?”
“Yeah. You and I need to work on a case together; I need you to come to my office so we can start to go through the documents. My office. Ten minutes. Don’t be late.”
I stared at the phone after he’d hung up.
“Weird,” I muttered to myself, putting the phone down.
Why would Simon call me to work with him? He was a senior partner at the firm and I was an Associate. I was too junior to be working with him. But, since it came straight from him, I couldn’t reject it, either.
Today just seemed determined to give me a headache and it was coming on strong and fast and I knew that I had to control it otherwise I would avoid seeing Mom after work and I needed to see her. At least that would buy me some time from avoiding Rogue, which meant that I would go home. Much later than usual.