Uncompromising (Age Gap, gxg)

Chapter 26

Much like Raquel, Hollie snores. I'm not sure when that started, since it had been a few years since she had slept in the same bed as me, but I really appreciated it. That was because the snoring allowed me to wake up early the next morning and open my eyes to see Zee's warm brown eyes staring back at me as her arms held me gently so as to not hurt my aching back. When she saw my eyelids flutter open, she broke into a smile, and leaned in for a lovely good morning kiss, dragon breath be damned. Honestly, after the events of the previous night, that was exactly what I needed to start my day.

Her hand cupped my cheek gently, and she used her thumb to wipe away a tear that I didn't even feel leak from my eye. "Good morning, beautiful. Are you okay?" she asked in a soft whisper.

Was I? Honestly, I didn't know. A man that I'd known for almost all of my life, who I had once trusted and loved enough to make two wonderful children with, had broken into my house and attacked me in my own bed in some bizarre drunken episode to reclaim a family that he'd never truly had. I didn't think I could be okay after that, and yet all the love and support that I had received from my family and Zee got me through the night. It still didn't change what had happened though, and I didn't know what I'd even have to do next, or how I'd get through the next few days and weeks.

I just shook my head, trying not to move too much and wake up Hollie. "No, I'm not doing well. I don't even know how to feel, or what to do next," I said in a soft whisper.

She leaned in, kissing my forehead, then my nose, and finally my lips. "Stay right here. Roll over and snuggle up with that snoring bear, and I'll make you some food, okay?"

"You cook?" I asked in surprise, and got a nod in reply. Zee was getting all kinds of gold stars this weekend. "That would be a pretty perfect way to start the day after last night."

"Then let me get that started. You just rest, and I'll take care of the rest." Zee gave me one more kiss, this one more lingering, and then scooted out of bed. I was crying again when she left, but this time the tears were happy ones. Could I truly hope that I'd found someone that I could really be with? Her actions this morning had been exactly what I needed and had made me feel better in a matter of minutes. The best part, it was a much more tender intimacy than our usual love making, which wasn't something we'd had a chance to explore yet, and I loved it. I wanted more. I craved more. I needed to be held by her some more.

I rolled over, draping my arm over Hollie's slumbering form, and she snorted once before rolling into me. I couldn't help but giggle at my daughter, and I just held her to me, grateful for her warmth. I felt a wet little nose on my hand and looked over Hollie's body to see Karma and Swiftie rearranging themselves. I hadn't even realized they had joined us, but I should have expected it. They helped me feel good too, and I was happy to give them a few pets before they curled back up and went to sleep. With their example, I did the same and dozed off once more.

I was woken up some time later by Zee, Gracie and Jashanna bringing Hollie and I breakfast. Well, more like a whole feast because the five of us ended up sitting on the bed while eating pancakes. Yes, it was just what the doctor ordered.

"I checked on Raquel," Jashanna informed me. "No puke in my room, but she's still out of it. We left her some pancakes on the stove too."

"She had a few nights like that on campus too, I just never saw it firsthand," Zee admitted while Hollie and I struggled into wakefulness with the tea and coffee they'd provided. Karma and Swiftie were both sniffing around to see if any of the food was edible for kitties, but they gave up when they realized it wasn't. Had there been bacon, it might have been messy though!

I'd been hugged by everyone when they came in, but so far none of them had talked about the previous night, which I could understand. Honestly, as weird as it seemed the whole event was over in under a minute, and yet the terror and hopelessness persisted. Nobody had ever attacked me like that, and I never wanted it to happen again. The fact that it was Elliot, of all people, made it worse. There was no way I could ever thank Zee enough for getting him off me!