The Heart of Deception

Chapter 19

Unaccustomed to drinking wine and feeling the liberating effects of it, Lauren reluctantly opted to allowing Kurt to drive them home. The ride home seemed to be never ending. Her helmet felt as though it were made of lead, and the leathers, miles too small. A niggling queasiness began to gnaw at the pit of her stomach. I’ve never suffered from motion sickness before, she thought distractedly, as she tightened her arms around Kurt’s waist. But then, I’m rarely the passenger.

By the time they arrived at the household, Lauren was feeling thoroughly green about the gills. Dismounting, she found her legs to be a bit wobbly, but it felt great to have her feet back on terrafirma. While Kurt put Kermit away, Lauren staggered over to the steps, and dropped down onto the first one. Ripping off the helmet, she took a few gulps of fresh air. Slowly the wave of nausea abated.

“Bedtime my love. You look exhausted.”

Taking her by the hand, he led her up the stairs. At the entrance to the master bedroom, he paused to take her into his arms. His lingering kiss was tender and soothing. With a soft sigh, he opened the door, and ushered her inside, before slipping into the adjacent room.

As she bent down to remove her boots, the uneasy queasiness returned. Quickly stripping off the now uncomfortable clothing, Lauren dropped them in a heap on the floor. Finding only enough energy to slip her bra off from underneath her T-shirt, she collapsed on the bed, and within seconds, was fast asleep.

But her slumber was short lived. She awoke gradually to an uncomfortable twinge in her stomach, which slowly eased, allowing her to doze off again. The second cramp came out of nowhere. The force of it left her feeling winded when it finally abated. A wave of nausea washed over her, before the next spasm hit. The magnitude of each cramp seemed to double with every reoccurrence.

Rolling onto her side, she clutched at a large pillow, and wrapped her body tightly around it. Eventually, the agonising spasms no longer came in bouts. Finding no relief from the intensifying abdominal pain, Lauren buried her face into her pillow, to muffle her cries of distress.

Kurt hadn’t found oblivion in sleep. Even a cold shower had done little to erase the desire that coursed through his veins. He seemed to be in a constant state of erection.

“You’re worse than an adolescent with a hormone overdose!” he mumbled irritably, flinging back the sheet. “You can’t even think about her without getting hard.”

Giving in to insomnia, he got up, poured himself a stiff drink, and went in search of the latest novel he’d bought a few weeks previously. Settling back in bed, he sipped the single malt whiskey, and soon became engrossed in his book.

Suddenly lowering his book, he tilted his head with a small frown. He was sure he’d heard a noise. He listened carefully, but hearing nothing, he raised his book, only to hear it again - a muffled moan, then silence. A minute later, a louder groan was followed by an ominous thump.

Vaulting off the bed, he bolted down the passage, into the master bedroom. In the moonlight he found her, lying on the floor, in the foetal position, at the foot of the large bed. Her breathing was ragged, and broken by whimpers of pain. Snapping on the light, he rushed to her side. Her damp hair was stuck to her pale cheeks, and beads of perspiration glistened on her forehead and upper lip. What frightened Kurt the most, were the bluish hue around her mouth, and the glazed look in her eyes.

“Hang in there, Sweetheart,” he murmured calmly as he gently lifted her cool, damp body back onto the bed. The blood pounded relentlessly in his ears as he fought to remain in control of the situation.