Blood Stained Collar BOOK 2 of The Collar Series #Wattys2017 ( BDSM )

CHAPTER 42

Melanie and Reece spent a quiet evening on the couch together watching a DVD, 'The Fault in Our Stars' which didn't help her emotional state of mind. When she sniffed Reece put his arm around her and handed her a tissue from the box on the coffee table beside him. After she blew her nose he pulled her close and she tucked in under his arm. There was no denying he was the next best thing to a comfort blanket, more importantly he had been her rock since arriving in Australia. The fact that he'd fallen in love with her had not been something she had foreseen happening so soon and how quickly they had ended up living together. Now faced with the unexpected appearance of her ex and the feelings she had tried to bury, her heart was twisted out of shape and she couldn't think clearly.

She liked being with Reece, she liked having him here with her all the time. She loved the feelings of warmth and protection he gave to her. Being loved so completely by him had made her feel so special. A red light flashed in her head. She pulled out from under Reece's arm and stood up.

"Are you okay babe?" Reece was about to stand up.

"Sit, I'm just going to the bathroom."

"I'll pause the film and make us a hot drink."

"Thanks, won't be long." She didn't really need the bathroom, it was just an excuse. She needed to get away, her thoughts were overwhelming her. She put the toilet seat down and sat with her head in her hands. A silent gut wrenching scream echoed in her head. Rebound... was her relationship with Reece too soon after Cirrus? She had to think, she could never let him suspect he was her rebound guy, someone to put her broken pieces together and now no longer sure she should be with him. Cirrus was her ex and he should have stayed her ex and not come looking for her in Australia. If he hadn't turned up she felt sure she would have given her heart to Reece completely, but now... now she wasn't sure of anything.

Reece tapped on the bathroom door. "Mel, Hun, are you okay?"

"Coming."

"Your hot drink is not so hot anymore." He laughed.

When she came out of the bathroom she heard the microwave ping and walked to the kitchen.

Without turning around Reece said, "Decided to warm up your drink." As he opened the microwave and took the cup out. He placed it on the counter in front of her and looked up. "Hey, are you alright? Do you have a headache? You're looking very pale."

"Yes, my head hurts."

"Did you take something for the pain while you were in the bathroom?"

"It's not that kind of pain."

"Ohh, what kind of pain is it?"

"It's not physical, it's more of a confused, I don't know what to do pain, that hurts inside here." She placed her hand over her heart.

He came round from behind the counter and stood in front of her. Taking her hands in his he said, "I think I know why you're struggling. This turmoil inside you is because you're torn between me and Cirrus. I'm sorry Mel, but in this instance, there is nothing I can do to help you with your decision. I know I'm being selfish, but I love you and I'm not going to back down and let you go without a fight and I don't intend to let Cirrus win. He did something awful that made you leave him and put hundreds of miles between you. Why would you want to go back to him? Do you really still love him or is it just the shock of seeing him under such circumstances and its sympathy you're feeling? Mel, please, I'm begging you please think about what we have now. We are perfect for each other." He placed her hands over his heart. "I love you with all my heart, please don't break it."

"Reece, I need to think and I can't with you here. I hear what you're saying but I need to be alone for now. I can't think clearly if I am in your arms all the time."

Reece let go her hands. "You're asking me to go, to leave your apartment and go back to my own. Is that what you're trying to say?"

"Please Reece. I need to be on my own and work this out myself."

"Melanie, please don't send me away. I can't imagine my nights without you."

"Reece, stop. Don't beg. I've asked you not to beg. Please go... now Reece, please." She turned around and walked back into the bathroom and locked the door without looking back.

Reece stared at the closed bathroom door for what seemed and eternity and when he realized she was not coming out he dragged his feet to the front door. Before leaving he took the front door key she had given him off the key holder and put it into his pocket. 'I'll hold onto this, just in case of an emergency.' He whispered to himself as he closed her front door behind him.

Melanie sat cross legged on the bathroom floor and sobbed for hours until there were no more tears left to cry. Her throat was dry and sore and her head throbbed. Dragging herself up, she took a couple of headache tablets and turned on the shower. When the steam filled the bathroom, she slipped out of her clothes and stood under the shower till the hot water ran cold. She didn't bother to dry herself and went to lie on her bed naked. Memories of moments spent in Cirrus's arms flashed through her mind. All the old feelings and emotions came rushing back and tumbled around inside her like clothes in a washing machine. She could not remember falling asleep or how long she had been sleeping for when her landline phone rang.

"Hello, is that Nurse Mckinney?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"It's Adel from front desk reception. You asked me to call as soon as I had any information about a Crystal involved in the plane crash."

"Yes, yes of course. What did you find out?"

"I'm very sorry to say she did not make it. She died in the crash. Her body is at the hospital morgue."

"Oh no."

"I'm sorry for your loss Nurse Mckinney."

"No, I'm not related. I was asking for one of the patients involved in the crash. Thanks for your time. I'll let him know."

Melanie stood at the bottom of Cirrus's bed reading his chart. His cracked ribs would heal. The internal bleeding had been stopped. His left leg was in plaster from his hip to his toes, that would heal in time too and so too would his broken left arm and fractured collar bone. He would recover and walk again and she breathed a sigh of relief. She could never forgive herself if he had died coming to look for her. But now she had to tell him Crystal had died. What did she really mean to him and how upset would he be?

She heard the medicine trolley coming down the hallway and knew the morning rounds were starting and tiptoed out of Cirrus's room before he woke up.