Blood Ties (Blood Lust Sequel)--COMPLETED

Chapter Twenty-Two: Hurt

After a much needed shower and fresh change of clothes, I brushed my teeth and rejoined Simone in her room. She had ditched her leather ensemble for a silk tank top with matching shorts, and lied on her belly across her bed, reading the contents of a manila folder. 

"Hey!" Her face lit up when she looked up at me. Something seemed to have occurred to her then, and she sat up ramrod straight to give a slight inclination of her head. "Apologies, my queen. How was your shower? Was everything to your liking?"

I stared at her for a moment. "It was fine, thanks." I finally said, confused. "You know, you don't have to be so formal. Especially since we're both in our nighties."

Well, her outfit was a nightie. Delicate and sexy. Mine was more homeless teenager chic, complete with oversized Papa Roach T-shirt riddled with a combination of bleach and coffee stains, and baggy plaid PJ pants. 

I sighed, taking a seat next to her when she offered. "Thanks for grabbing my PJ's."

"Oh no, that wasn't me."

"Then who..?"

"Aiden."

"Oh," I was surprised, but only for a moment. "Of course it was Aiden." 

Leave it to him to find the least attractive outfit possible. Not that I was worried about looking attractive for Simone, but damn. He could have at least found something a little less slouchy looking. 

I heaved out another sigh, and lied back. 

"I suppose this was his way of protecting your virtue." Simone scoffed lightly, picking up a corner of my shirt. 

I snorted. "Pssh, that ship has sailed." 

 She lied down beside me, propping herself up on her elbow to face me. "So you've had a lesbian encounter before?" 

"Well, not that ship." I amended, gazing up at the ceiling. I suddenly had a disturbing thought, and mulled it around a minute before turning my sights on her. "Do I really seem so easy?" I shifted to lie on my side, mirroring her position. "Does he think I'm so loose that he has to try to dress me down so I don't sleep with anyone else?" Does he think I'm a whore, too?

The natural edge to Simone's face softened, and she shook her head. "No, that's not it. I don't think." 

I searched her gaze with mine, encouraging her to continue. 

"I think he knows the effect blood has on you." She paused to bite her full lower lip, looking away. "And he knows the effect you have on me." 

I turned onto my back again, trying to ignore the stutter of my heartbeat her words caused. 

"He just wants to keep you safe." She exhaled, voice gentle.

"Are you really so dangerous?"

"Only to your heart." 

I peeked at her out of the corner of my eye. "What does that mean?"

She smirked, turning to lie on her back. "Aiden and I have a complicated  relationship." She paused to glance over at me. "We actually started out as lovers." 

I sat up. "What?!" 

I wasn't angry or upset in the slightest; just completely blindsided. That definitely wasn't what I was expecting. 

She giggled at my reaction, and pulled me back down beside her. "It was well before I came out. He knew there was something off about me, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Neither could I, of course. Until I put a finger inside Dr. Hadley."