When Worlds Collide (Synyster Gates) ~Book 3~

Chapter 59

                 

"You're so tense..." Chloe mouthed against Brian's cheek and caressed his hard shoulders. Her lips brushed his shaven jaw-line before landing upon his, giving him delicate persuasive kisses. His body felt stiff beneath hers and even though she could feel it so close, the rest of him was incredibly distant. "Brian..." She whispered his name in between kisses, rubbing her hands down his bare torso. "Brian-" She sighed, sitting back. "Brian, you're not with me." She raised her voice and turned his head to her. "You're not here." She said to him when he finally looked her in the eyes.

Brian cleared his throat. Both his hands pushed his dark hair back and away from his face, before he sighed. "I know, I'm sorry." Squeezing his eyes, Brian murmured. He then scanned Chloe's features quietly, as if he was thinking something to himself and cuffed her arms. "Just...Get dressed, alright?" He said crookedly and moved from under her.

Puzzled, Chloe climbed off him and pulled the sheet up her naked body. "What? What is it?" She sat up on the mattress.

"No, Chlo." Brian looked back at her while blindly reaching for his sweatpants. "Just actually get dressed, alright? We need to talk." He sounded shaky.

"Brian, you're making me nervous." Chloe blurted out worriedly and slid off the bed. She picked her silk robe off the floor and slid into it reluctantly before dragging her panties on. She wanted to be angry with him but when she noticed how pale he had turned, something inside of her clenched uncomfortably. She made the way around the bed to front him. "What? What is it?" She asked gently and took his tattooed hand in her fair one.

Brian's face was a mystery to her at that moment. He seemed so undoubtedly bothered but in a manner that she has never encountered before: his eyes would drop right to the floor whenever they would meet hers and his breathing wasn't composed. "Chloe-I, I don't even know how to say this to you." He whispered miserably and drew her closer by the hand, bringing it up and pressing her fingers to his mouth. "Angel, I'm so sorry..."

"Brian!" Chloe gasped anxiously. "You're scaring me. What's wrong? Has something happened to someone?" She searched his eyes for answers.

"No, Well, Yes-Maybe..." Brian stuttered, his face turning even whiter.

"Well what is it then? Do you need to go back to California for some reason? It's okay. I won't be mad..." She assured him immediately, touching her hand to his face.

"No, no it's not that." He shook his head. "It's about Cara." His voice cracked when he spoke the name.

"Cara?" Chloe frowned. "What about her? What the hell did she say to you? I'll kill her." Chloe said angrily, her temper rising. She never saw him like this and it was devastating her. She could tell that something within Brian was deeply hurt, even broken. It was driving her insane, it was even worse than the suspense of not actually knowing what it was yet.

"Ahh, fuck." Brian cursed silently, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling in torment. "Come, sit down." He nudged her towards the bed.

She resisted.

"No, I won't fucking sit! Just tell me what it is that she did to you! You're a wreck; I'm worried sick about you!" She protested with her tone rising.

"I remember what happened the last time you were stressed. C'mere." Brian pulled her down to sit anyway. "Angel...Cara, she, she-" He froze mid sentence again, his breath shaking with nerves.

Chloe's eyes watered from the nerves and the sadness that have washed over her. "Brian, just say it. Say it, whatever it is, I can handle. Just tell me." She whispered to him warmly and cupped his face. She stroked his cheeks comfortingly and looked into his eyes as kindly as she possibly could. "Tell me. I love you." She kissed him.