Roommates with Benefits [COMPLETED]

Chapter 51 - Is it... love?

Emma

I wake up, and Knightley is still holding me. Max. Could he ever be my Max?

"Good morning," he says.

"You're still here."

He burrows his face into my hair, and I close my eyes so I can fully enjoy it. "I told you, when you need me, I'm here."

He sounds tired. I peer back at him. He's got dark circles under his eyes. It's daytime. I can tell by the light filtering in between the curtains.

"Did you sleep?"

"I had to watch over you. And I didn't want to risk letting go of you. Not when you asked me to hold you."

I feel like I'm suspended. Like the world stops, and my thoughts are the only thing racing through the universe. He had to watch over me. Wouldn't let me go. Because I asked him to.

I blink as it comes crashing down on me. Slowly, I turn around in his arms so I can look at him.

And my breath is knocked out of me. For the first time, I can see him. I can see his emotions. It's all so clear in his eyes.

I place my hand on his cheek and run my thumb over his eyelid, forcing him to blink. When he opens his eyes again, he laughs.

"What are you doing?"

It's love. He's looking at me the same way my father used to look at my mother. The way my mother never looked at my father.

"Max?"

He releases his grip and strokes a strand of my hair away from my face. His fingers brush against my skin so lightly, as if he's afraid of hurting me. Afraid I'll pop and disappear like a bubble.

But he moves my hair out of my face, and it's such a loving gesture, so patient, that it tells me all I need to know. I cry again. And he holds me. Tears and sobs stain his t-shirt, but he just holds me tight.

"Shh," he says softly and kisses my hair. "Everything is ok now. Everything will be fine. I won't let anyone ever hurt you again."

I cry to get rid of all the tension and pain and I believe him. I believe him when he holds me. When he says he will always be there for me.

When my tears finally dry, I can't look at him. There is so much emotion and it's so raw, I know I'll start crying again. So instead, I clear my throat.

"Is Hannah still here?"

"Yeah, I should probably check to see if she wants to go home. I promised I'd drive her."

I nod.

He finally lets go of me and fetches me some water. My body is completely dehydrated from the drinking and the crying. And the throwing up.

I follow him out of the room and spot Hannah on the couch in the living room.

"How are you?" she asks.

I shrug. "Fine. Thank you for looking out for me."

She gets up and hugs me. "It's what friends are for."

"I'm sorry I made a mess of things."

"I just can't believe that dude had the gall to do what he did."

My head aches and I just smile in reply.

Max offers to take Hannah home, and she just asks if I'll be ok. I give her another hug and assure her I will. She winks at me with a look at Knightley before she leaves.

While they're gone, I dig out some clothes I left here and turn the shower as hot as it goes.

I take my time and let the hot water rinse away every memory of last night. Except Max. He came for me. He stayed with me all night and held me when I asked him to. And the way he looked at me... It has to mean something.

When I finally get out, he's already back. I get dressed in a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. Sounds and smells lead me to the kitchen.

He's making breakfast. I stop and look at him as he takes the bacon out of the oven. He moves the strips to some kitchen paper before he turns. As he takes the plate, I see his bruised knuckles.

He smiles when he sees me. "How are you feeling?"

I shrug and sit down at the counter. "Ok, I guess. The headache is almost gone."

He puts food in front of me, and I blink at it. At his hand. "What happened to the guy?"

"Don't worry about it. He won't hurt you again."

Maybe I should be afraid, but I believe him. When he puts down the coffee mug, I put my hand on his wrist. He stills as I gently lift it and study the bruises.

I run a gentle finger over his knuckles. He shivers and I can't stop myself. I lean in and kiss his hand gently. Then I place it to my cheek.

He's barely breathing as I close my eyes and take a relaxing breath.

"Emma." The door flies open and Noah storms in. He stops when he sees us and Max pulls away his hand. "Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" He looks me over.

"I'm fine."

At the words, he spins to Max. "Is the guy dead? If not, he will be. I'll kill that son of a bitch."

I get up and give him a hug. "I'm fine. He didn't touch me."

"Did you tell dad?"

"No, and don't you dare tell him, either. He's got enough going on right now."

"We've made sure all the sororities have his photo," Max says coldly. "Along with every bar, club, diner, frat house and debate club here or at River University. He won't be able to pull that crap around here again. Not to mention Blue and his boys had some aggression they wanted to take out. He'll be walking funny for quite a while."

"He still got off too easy," Noah grumbles.

"I'm fine." I say again and sit back down. "Do you want breakfast? I think M... Knightley cooked for an army."

"Yeah." Noah sits down next to me and we eat.

I stay silent while they discuss how else they can make the guy's life a living hell. I have to rein them in from some of their more crazy ideas. But I have to admit, even though I can't condone their behavior, it feels good to know they care enough to want to ruin someone's life.

Once I've eaten what I can, and Noah has headed back out to the club to see if he can find mine and Hannah's jackets, I feel tired again.

"You need more sleep," Max says.

I only nod and head toward my old room. I stop in the doorway. It looks so empty. Gentle hands grab my shoulders and steer me further down the hallway.

"You can sleep in my bed. I won't bother you." I let him lead me to his bed and sink into the warm comfort that is his scent.

"You wouldn't bother me," I say, as I drift off.