Promise Me Darkness (Excerpt)

Chapter 6

I slowly woke to a pounding headache. The screeching of a cell phone radiated pain through my skull. I was afraid if I reached over and answered it, my head would explode and every muscle in my body would scream in protest.

Someone moved beside me, rustling the sheets, making the bed dip. My heart rate quickened when Ryder sat up to lean over me. His arm stretched across my chest, turning off the cell phone. After it was silenced, he loomed above me, looking down and studying me closely. His face was lined with exhaustion and worry. I felt responsible for putting them there.

"Maddie, thank God you're awake," he said, lying back down beside me. His arm brushed against mine as he scrubbed a hand over his face.

I attempted to sit up but my head throbbed, sending shooting pain everywhere. I peeked over to find Ryder staring at the ceiling. What was he doing in my bed?

"What happened?" I asked. My voice sounded hoarse, my throat raw from vomiting.

Ryder looked over at me. His jaw was covered in black stubble and his lips were set in a firm, hard line.

"You were blindass drunk. Threw up about a hundred times. I was scared to death you had alcohol poisoning." His eyes dropped down to my lips. "Don't do that to me again, Maddie."

"Why were you at the party?" I whispered, grimacing from my sore throat.

He turned to lie on his side, facing me. "I needed to make sure you were okay." His eyes ran over my face slowly, studying each feature. "I found you barely conscious with that shithead holding you down. You spent half the night in the bathroom, throwing up, before I finally carried you in here."

I felt ill as all the memories rushed back. Ben's hands on me, holding me down. His unwillingness to stop. The feeling of helplessness. I felt abused, vulnerable. When the tears splashed down my face, I didn't try to stop them.

"Shit!" Ryder swore. Reaching over, he pulled me toward him. I went willing. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close. One hand stayed on my waist while the other cradled the back of my head.

"You're safe," he said so quietly that I almost didn't hear him.

"Thank you for taking care of me." I said, sniffling.

"I'll always take care of you, Maddie."

~~~~

I woke up later to an empty bed. I felt colder, lonelier lying here without him. A forbidden thought raced through my mind - What would it be like to sleep next to him every night? I chastised myself. Thinking that way was wrong on so many levels. I forced the thought from my pounding head and crawled out of bed. Throwing on a faded tank top and shorts, I headed for the bathroom.

The girl staring back at me in the mirror was a fright. Smeared mascara, a bad case of bed-head, and pale, greenish skin made me look like the walking dead. I quickly stripped and took a fast shower, scrubbing last night away. But no amount of soap could replace the loss of my dignity.

As the remains of last night washed down the drain, I thought of Ben. I needed to call him. After last night, it was definitely over between us and the sooner he knew, the better. That relationship died the minute he refused to take 'no' for an answer.

But first I needed coffee.

The apartment was eerily quiet. I found Eva sitting at our small kitchen table with her eyes glued to a laptop.

"Maddie! Oh my gosh, are you okay?" she asked when she saw me.

I almost started crying again as I nodded and took a seat beside her.