Chapter 84: Chapter 84

Scott picks me up the next evening after supper. I’m perkier on day three because I know I’m leaving after supper. Scott carries my duffle bag of belongings. He has a smirk on his face, “I rented a car I think you’re going to like.” When we get to the hospital parking lot I take a deep breath of air into my lungs, it has been over three days since I’ve been outside. There are six or seven people clustered around an automobile. Scott clicks a button on his key fob and the onlookers are startled by the beep the car makes.

I smile at him. “You've got to be kidding!” In front of them is a sleek, red Ferrari 458 Italia. “How much did this rental set you back? You’re such a kid!”

“You don’t want to know, but you’re worth it.” His face lights up with excitement. I want to give him a squishy hug, but I don’t.

“You know you did it for yourself?” I tease.

“Maybe! Get in.” He grins back at me.

He opens my door and then gets in himself. The car has a standard transmission with a soft leather interior, definitely the most expensive car I’ve ever been in. I didn’t even know anyone can rent a car like this. It amazes me how an exotic car that Scott only rents can take my mind off my problems so quickly and easily. It's good medicine, the car makes Scott look more exotic if that is at all possible.

“You didn’t rent this just to take me back to the Village, did you?” I question.

“No, I did this to escape with you. The camp can run itself for a few days.

Coach Tammy volunteered to teach Mira while we’re gone." Scott’s eyes look rough, his face scruffy, but he has an edgy, sexy look about him. He’s not himself though; he looks troubled.

“You’re a mom?”

“Still hanging in there by a thread.”

“I’m glad. Where are we going?”

“I booked two rooms at the Fairmont.”

“Where?”

“Lake Louise, it’s in the mountains.”

I sit back and enjoy the drive, staring now and again at Scott’s profile. The seriousness in his eyes reveals maturity beyond his years, his perfectly shaped nose, his soft lips that I crave to kiss all the time melts my heart. His neck boasts a large jugular vein, his contoured bold shoulders drop gracefully to beautifully rounded biceps. He looks as exotic as the car we are driving in, if not more so. The baby in my belly could very likely be his. The nurse said that during stressful events, the body doesn’t act the way it normally does. It could belong to either.

He stops at a light and his eyes meet mine. I can see deep into his distraught soul, he is worried about me and his mother. I can’t even imagine how he will react to the news. I want to bring him comfort even though I am more damaged than he is. It’s getting darker and darker outside and I’m starting to feel nervous driving through the mountains in the dark, “Are we almost there?” I ask timidly.

His hand closes over mine reassuringly, “It'll be all right. I’m never going to let anything happen to you ever again.”

We get to the Fairmont in good time. Scott takes the travel bags out of our car before handing them over to the valet to park.

“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Scott comments peering at the car. “Yes,” I agree. Admittedly, not even thinking about the car.

We go to the lobby to check-in. Scott books two adjoining rooms. He whispers to me, “If you need me, you just come in any time.”

I always need you, you just don't know it. There’s so much you don't know.

“Thank you.” My eyes hold his. He returns my gaze. The depth of emotion his eyes reveal speaks volumes.

When we get to our rooms Scott drops my luggage on the bed before turning to leave. “Do you want the middle door open or closed?”

“Open.”

“Sure.”

He opens the door and leaves to go to his room. He opens the adjoining door so our luxurious rooms are essentially one.

I’m checking the bathroom out of habit when I hear the television turn on in my room. He calls room service ordering a snack to be delivered to my room. I called out to him, “Scott!”

He comes into the bathroom carrying two glasses and champagne, “You want me to run a bath?”

“Would you?”

“Sure,” he says. His voice is deep yet soft, almost soothing. He runs the water and starts pouring the champagne before running the jets to get a generous surface of bubbles to appear. Then, his eyes pierced mine, giving me his undivided attention. He undresses me letting my clothes fall to the ground.

He reaches out placing his hands on my shoulders and then slowly slides them down my arms until he’s holding my hands, “I’m not going to hurt you,” he reassures.

I take a deep breath, “I know,” I whisper.

Naked, I step into the water, and once seated, Scott hands me my glass. He undressed and joins me. We savor every drop of our alcohol, and my conscience gets the better of me, “There’s something I need to tell you.”

I slide between Scott’s legs, leaning my back into his chest. I could feel him stiffen and his body become rigid, “Are you okay with this?” Scott asks concerned.

“I am,” I reply with newfound confidence. It must be the counseling because discussing my problems with Dr. Carson, makes me function better.

“Scott, I’m pregnant. The first time I was brought in after the rape, they offered me the morning after pill, but I didn’t want to take it in case I was pregnant with your baby. They never told me I was pregnant until this hospital visit. The doctor apologized and said it must have been missed. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” He drops his chin on my clavicle and wraps his arms around me where the baby is. I turned my head slightly to see tears running down his cheeks. I snuggled into him more waiting for him to put words together. He places his finger on my chin and turned my face to his and then kisses me carefully.

He stops for a second not appearing to have taken any time to consider options and says, “I don’t care who’s it is, I will love him or her because they come from you,” he says honestly.

A large sob escapes my mouth as his lips find mine again. There is hunger in his kisses and he’s pressing into me. He wants me and I think I feel ready for him until we hear a tap on the door interrupting us, “Damn,” Scott curses. “Sorry,” he says getting out of the bath quickly and putting on a robe so he can answer the door. I drain the water following him out.

After dressing, I go into my room. There is a table covered with a white tablecloth and two plates with silver domes overtop and a full-sized bottle of wine with two glasses. He puts on a new pair of pants but sits bare-chested across from me. It serves as a distraction from my tasty dinner. He pours another glass of wine for himself and holds my hand after cutting his steak, making us eat and drink with our free hands. It’s the best I feel in a long time.

“Feed me a shrimp,” he directs. He knows I love it when he takes charge. I take one by the tail and hold it to his lips. His tongue deliberately licks it before taking it into his mouth. My body shivers with anticipation as I watch him. His eyes close and he whispers, “Delicious,” he says not referring to the food. My desire for Scott to savor me the same way increases. I want his mouth on me.

“Feed me too, please,” I beg submissively.

Scott takes one of my shrimp and holds it before my lips. I ever so languidly begin to lick the shrimp, and then I slowly cover the shrimp with my mouth biting it free from the tail. I closed my eyes and swallow. He takes my wine glass and offers me the substitute orange juice he pours into it.

“Everything tastes so much better when you feed it to me,” I purr seductively. His eyes are carnal with desire for me.

“Isabella, you’re making this way too hard for me,” he complains. “You started it,” I defend myself.

“Get on the couch,” he orders with a sexy, breathy voice.

I do as I’m asked. There is apprehension mixed with tension in the room. He places one hand on the cushion by my hips and the other near my head and he leans down to kiss me from his standing position. The kiss is laced with intense carnal desire, giving me cold shivers. This is going to be amazing. Then, it stops! He pushes himself away from me fighting his conflicting needs of providing me with safety and his personal needs for intimacy. He leaves the room through our connecting door and closes it behind him separating us like an angry bear. As the lock clicks shut, I find myself yearning for him to come back.

I take the comforter from my bed and lay on the couch where Scott wanted to make love to me. I look out the window and gaze at the stars, lost in some wonderful memories from the past. However, I savor the new feelings I have tonight. My spectrum of thoughts and feelings is so wide, I can’t help but wonder if this is what the beginning of recovery feels like. I slept well that night, never moving from the sofa.

I knock on Scott’s door in the morning to see what he wants to do. He opens the door for me and goes back to the bathroom. I caught him in the middle of brushing his teeth. I sit on a chair in his room and look out the window. The sight is breathtaking.

“I thought we would go for a walk this morning,” Scott says coming out of the bathroom.

We have a light breakfast before heading out. We bring water bottles at the gift shop along with a few travel-sized essentials before strolling around the lake holding hands as if we are on our first date. The still water is clear, deep blue, with snow-covered mountains reflecting on it, it is like a scene plucked from every artist’s fantasy and made real. Lake Louise is a beauty that can never be truly depicted on canvas, although hundreds of artists have tried. The serenity and grandeur of it bring tears to my eyes. I let them fall.

Scott sees my tears and remains silent, he just stays there, by my side. He is my soldier; harboring strength I can only draw from him. He squeezes my hand tighter leading me through my path of darkness to a side where security and tranquility await. Scott picks a spot and we sit together. His concerned eyes stare into mine as he speaks to me. Scott is always a man of few words, but when he speaks, everything he says is well thought out and intelligent.

“Kitten (My dad used to call me that), I brought you here to find the strength and courage you need for your next step in recovering.” He touches my cheek with sweet tenderness as he speaks. I looked at him not knowing where he is going with this, “Your trial starts in a few weeks, can we visit my mom before it? I don’t know how much more time she has. I want you to come back to Lagos with me to see her.”

“Sure,” I would do anything to be there for him the way he’s been there for me.

He places two fingers on my chin and lifts it. I’m staring down at the ground instead of him. He makes my eyes meet his. “You are not a whore. This was not your fault. I’m sorry I said you weren’t worth fighting for because you are worth fighting for. I said that out of anger,” my eyes fill up with tears from his words, “I’m going to make love to you now,” he tells me.

“You are my soldier and my hero Scott,” I finally share my epiphanies. He starts with baby kisses, lightly pressing his lips to mine. Each kiss gets longer. Then he starts licking my lips before he slowly pries my mouth open. I welcome him in savoring his sweet kisses. The calmness of the lake soothes me during his slow, deliberate advances.

“It’s taking everything in me to move slowly until you’re healed.” “Take me,” I encourage.

He kisses me raking his fingers through my hair, his tongue becoming brisker, and then like last night, he forces himself away from me, “I’m sorry, but I change my mind. I think I’m rushing you too much.”

“Let me be the judge of that!” I insist.

“Believe me, I want you, Isabella, you don’t know how badly. That’s why it’s important we don’t rush it.”

We stomp back to the Fairmont with Scott still supporting a half-a-hard-on, both of us grouchy from unfulfilled needs, but I know he has a point, and the last thing I want is to hu him.