TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapters TEN

River O'riley

My heart races as I stare at the bathroom door, waiting for Wallflower to reappear.. After she had stolen a kiss I would probably have given her for free, she had freaked out and locked herself in there..

-KNOCK-KNOCK-

I lift my knuckles to rap softly.. "Lilly? You still alive, Lassie?"

I hear the running water suddenly cut off.. "Yes." Her faint reply drifts beneath the door..

"You gonna spend the whole day in there?" I coo..

After a long minute, she calls back again.. "Yes."

I chuckle.. "Please come out, Wallflower.. Everythin' is fine.."

The lock clicks and she cracks the door to peek at me.. "Did a bad thing."

"Who, me?" I blink down at her, blindsided by the accusation.. What the hell did I do?

"No.." She shakes her head.. "Me."

I lift a hand to push the door open and she steps back to let me in.. "What did you do?"

Her cheeks turn the brightest red and she shuffles on her bare feet.. "I kissed you, Master.."

I shrug, trying to appear unaffected.. "S'okay.. I'm not mad about it.. I just-- I uh.. I don't wanna put you in an uncomfortable position--"

The poor choice of words fall from my mouth.. She's the most exquisite creature I've ever met, and there are a number of positions I'd like to put her in.. Some of them no doubtedly uncomfortable.

Her head tips to one side in confusion.."I-- I didn't do bad?"

I shake my head.. "Ney, not at all.. You're still lovely.." With an encouraging smile I offer her my hand.. "C'mon now Wallflower, I really need a caffeine kick in the arse this mornin'.."

Together, we sneak down through the living room, past where Lovey still miraculously sleeps and into the kitchen.. I pull the instant bitter shite from the cupboard and begin preparing two mugs..

Wallflower watches as I shuffle around, igniting the gas stovetop to boil water for the coffee.. She twitches at the sound of the valve clicking before the blue flames begin to lap at the base of the pot..

"Did you sleep alrite, then, Lilly?" From the corner of my eye I notice her shifting uncomfortably, swaying from one side to the other..

She nods gratefully.. "Like I never."

"Ye've never slept alrite' before?" I scoff at the improbability.. Sometimes she doesn't make any sense, it's like trying to decipher a broken code..

She puzzles for a moment, an adorable crinkle forming on the bridge of her nose as she wrinkles it in thought.. "Maybe once.."

"O'Aye? When was that?" I probe, hoping for more than I expect she will offer..

"T-Ten years.." She counts cautiously, holding up both of her tiny hands to show me all ten wriggling fingers..

I freeze in place.. "Ten years? What the fuck does that mean? Ten years ago you must've been a kid-- like, what? Fifteen-Sixteen?"

She recoils into herself, turning away from me and wrapping her arms around her chest.. "Yes.. Before I was-- where I was."

I swallow the lump in my throat.. She is telling me something important, I know she is.. I just don't understand it.

Or maybe I don't want to.