Never Told You

Chapter Eight

My eyes fluttered open, and my head instantly hurt. I went to move, and my entire body ached. I looked around the room. The walls were grey, and the bed I was in was huge. It was comfy, and shaped to my form. I tried sitting up once again, but slipped backwards. My arms were shaky, and I could barely breathe. I heard the door open, and sat up with all my energy. River walked in, and looked concerned.

"Lauren, are you alright? I brought you some tylenol and water." Hunter had cut his bottom lip. What had happened? I slowly reached out and took the pills and water from him. I swallowed the pills all at once with the water.

"I need to use the bathroom." River nodded and pointed to a door in the room. I slowly got up, wincing.
"Do you need help?" I shook my head no and walked into the bathroom. When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I was taken aback. I had a cut on my forehead, and a purple bruised cheek. My body began aching even more. I lifted my shirt, only to see my entire left side was bruised from my hip up to my armpit. There was a big white bandage near my belly button. I peeled it off, and saw a big hole that looked like a rigid piece of glass and cut through my skin. I pulled my shirt back down, and saw my jeans had a hole ripped in them on the side. I splashed my face with water and sat down. The events of last night flooded my mind. Remembered being thrown on the ground, and my pants being pulled off. Everything after that was a blur. I gathered myself to my feet again and began walking towards the bed. Once I opened the door, I lost my strength and began to fall forward. River's swift arms wrapped around me and kept me from hitting the ground. He then helped me to the bed and sat me down.

"What happened last night? Why am I here in your room, River?" He looked at me with concern clouding his eyes.

"I found you in the alley with that person hovering over you. I ripped him off of you, and beat him up. In the process, he picked up a piece of glass, and tried stabbing me with it. I knocked him against a wall and it went into your stomach. I took you to my friend. He's a certified surgeon. He dressed your wounds. I then brought you here." River's breath was shaky.

"So that's why your lip is cut?" River shook his head no.

"I chewed on it too much waiting for you to wake up. This is the only thing I got." River lifted his shirt up to reveal a small thin cut that had ceased bleeding. I nodded, and he pulled his shirt back down.

"I'm glad you didn't get hurt worse. You shouldn't have jumped in like that." River looked at me shocked.

"If I hadn't you would've gotten injured a lot worse. I wasn't going to let that happen." I nodded, butterflies in my stomach. River cared about me, and I couldn't resist him. He suddenly moved closer to me.

"I guess this is where I say thank you." River nodded.

"You're welcome." He was so close to me. My breath hitched in my throat. The effect he had on me never went away. He was hard to stay away from. He then turned my head to look at him. I stayed silent. "I want you, Lauren." He then leaned in and kissed my lips gently. He slowly pulled away from me, searching my eyes.

"I..." I paused. I wanted him too, but were our wants the same? "I want you too, River." I then pressed my lips to his. My lips burned from the passion, my body's aches fading. River pulled me onto his lap so I was straddling him. I ran my hands through his hair, making a mess of it. He ran his hands down my back, and left them on my hips. He then tucked one up my shirt, and I tugged on his hair. A soft moan escaped his lips. I then pulled away for air and fell to the side of him.

"Is everything okay, Lauren?" I nodded before speaking.

"We should stop." He nodded in agreement. I then sat up, the pain evident once again. He looked at me before speaking.