The Cost for Freedom

Chapter 11

My eyes slowly open as they begin to slowly adjust to the lighting in the room. They dart to the ornately decorated window and its deep blue curtains, letting in a profuse amount of light. I stretch my legs and roll over to my left side, settling my gaze upon the distinct torso of a man standing in a doorway surrounded by even more light.

"What the," I sit up a little too quickly. "...hell...happened last night?" My thoughts begin to organize themselves as I look around the room before settling my eyes back to Tyler. He was standing with a towel wrapped around his waist in the doorway to his bathroom. His chest was impeccably carved wit muscles, a pleasing amount of hair over his heart and below his belly button. Water droplets pooled at appealing areas to the eye before falling lower to his towel.

His eyes caught mine as I finish roaming over his half naked body. "You remember yet?" he laughed.

I frown as my hand instinctively hold my forehead, "yes... it's starting to come back." I rub my head in pain, "ugh my head..."

"Oh, that," he laughed again. "It's probably something to do with that age old whiskey you had last night. Finished a healthy glass pretty quick... and I'm guessing you haven't had alcohol in while." He had walked to the edge of his bed, sitting down across from me.

"Ya think?" I pull my knees up to my chest in an attempt to stay further away from him. And I wasn't wearing pants. Omg.

I quickly pull the covers back over my bare legs to hide my body from him. He pretends like he doesn't notice and only smiles at me, "You don't have to hide from me ya know... I saw enough last night."

"You what?" I ask, horrified. He couldn't have seen that much... could he?

"Yeah, ok. You're right, I really didn't... I guess that was too soon anyways, huh? I'd prefer that not be the reason I see you like that," he said coolly as he waggled his eyebrows at me.

"Funny," I say unamused. "It is too soon, and you'll never see me like that anyways."

"What? Why not?" His arms were now crossed, even though he clearly was still lighthearted about our conversation, enjoying the turn it had taken.

I cock my head at him, "So you think just because you save me from something like that, you think you can do the same thing?" I present him with a feigned look, a mix of hurt and scared.

"Oh..." he frowns as he reaches for my hand. "Alexis, I would never do anything you didn't want me to."

He was serious. Well, I hadn't meant for him to actually believe me... somehow I already knew he wouldn't hurt me.

When I didn't say anything right away, he continued. "I'm sorry too, I may have crossed the line when I hugged you, but I just felt like you may have needed it. And you did hug me back..." he frowned, twisting his mouth, clearly unsure.

"I did thank you for it, Tyler. For all of it," I say to him, genuinely meaning it.

His tone had turned serious now too, "And I meant what I said too. That's never going to happen again."

"You know, you said something like that to me when we first met. Is that really how you still feel?"

He laughed, "Yes. Of course I still mean it. I only feel that way stronger now..."

I present a small smile, unsure of what to say to that. "Yeah well unless I get a new roommate, or a new room..." I sighed, shaking my head, "I don't even feel like going back there."

"Want me to sleep in the bed with you then next time?"

"Will there be a next time?" He was unbelievable.