her pump, which she’d rested on the edge of the sink.
Suddenly, she’d found herself screaming out for a much different reason. Oblivious, Trey held her, his arms wrapped tightly around her, his face nestling into her neck. Desperate to hide her pain, she’d stilled against him, remaining silent, but the mirror had given her away.
“What’s wrong?” he’d asked.
Before she could form a lie, she saw his reflection catch sight of the needle resting innocently beside her.
“Oh, fuck, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? No, of course you’re not.”
“It’s not your fault. I got carried away. It could’ve been worse. I just need to breathe through it and put the needle back in.”
Overcome with a childish sense of shame at ruining such a perfect moment, Claudia had made quick work of disconnecting the pump from the needle. Yet, as she tried to leave, his hand moved to her arm, stopping her.
“No, I want to watch. I need to understand.”
His eyes had held so much worry and agony, Claudia wondered if it had hurt him, more than her.
“O-okay.” Averting her eyes, she went through the grueling process of inserting the long needle into her stomach.
Even now in the shower, she could remember the feel of his intense gaze as her hands worked. When she’d finally finished, he tilted her chin so she had to face him.
“Thank you for that. I promise to be more careful with you.”
“It’s not like that…”
“Shh, let’s go take that shower,” he’d responded simply.
After Trey had managed to kiss most of her body under the water, she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Do you feel better?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“Don’t be sorry. You can’t help it.”
Claudia leaned in, resting her cheek against his chest.
“My whole life…this body has been my biggest enemy. It didn’t help I grew up in a world of athletes and had a model mother. Everyone in my family…their bodies are their careers. I know my dad was disgusted with me…and my condition. I refuse to believe I’m sick, but I know he always saw me as broken. He left so soon after that, for good. Or bad, who knows.”
“If that’s true, then I look forward to kicking his ass someday.”
“It would be tough for you to find him. He only surfaces to do random NFL commentary, or to gamble in Vegas.” Trey moved his chin to the top of her head and grunted a little. She continued. “I did everything I could to be like everyone else, but at night, I’d go to sleep and wonder if I would always be nothing but a monster with a big, lumpy pump connected to my stomach.”
“I personally am a big fan of that pump,” Trey said, leaning back to show her the teasing grin on his face, as he started caressing her bottom. “I sure as hell don’t like the idea of the alternative. And, for what it’s worth, I think this body of yours is perfect.”
“You’re proving to be a secret softy, Trey Adler.”
“Only for you, Claudia McCoy. And not just in that way. You’ve ruined me for the world in all kinds of other ways.”
She swallowed, hard, “Then I’d better get back to work. This escape has been amazing, but you are in serious trouble, and I don’t want to lose you to it.”
Trey nodded, turning off the water, and helping her out of the shower. She grabbed two towels, studying his strained expression. The loud rumbling of thunder interrupted their nervous conversation, followed by the flickering of lights, and then darkness.
“Shit,” Trey muttered.
“It’s okay. We’ve got candles, there’s one in here, and the lantern in the living room. Let’s set up shop in there. I’ll make a fire while you collect all the paper files.”
“You seem pretty relaxed, considering the mess I’ve dragged you into.”
“Believe me, I’m freaking out inside a little,” she answered, rummaging through a drawer, then lighting a candle before hanging up her towel and carrying the small candle into the bedroom and finding one of Trey’s button-down shirts to wear. She had her own clothes, of course, but she liked the idea of being close to him. “But we can’t control everything,” she added. “All we can do is try to find a solution. Now, go out there and get me some wood.” She smirked and handed him another lit candle.
“You know how to make a fire?”
“Of course I do, city boy,” Claudia taunted, pressing her hand on his chest and letting