“Come on, have a seat beside me.”
His intent stare scares me. “I’m fine. Ivan is extremely possessive. Piss him off at your own risk.”
He goes still as he considers the warning. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“I don’t want anyone else but Ivan. Whatever you’re thinking, forget it.”
In a flash he has me up and is pulling me on top of him. An arm goes around my waist, dragging my dress up. What in the fuck? I scream, he’s tearing my panties off. He’s too fucking strong. I’m screaming until my lungs feel like they are going to burst.
Where the fuck is Hannah? My dress tears, his hands are everywhere. Was that a flash? It happens again; it was a flash. I slam my head into his and when it stuns him, I bite into his cheek until I taste blood. He cries out and finally lets go of me. I fall onto the floor with a painful thump.
“Oh my god, Christina. Are you okay? Roger, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Hannah’s arms go around me as she yells at Roger. I’m so confused.
“There was a flash,” I mumble as I shiver.
“Flash? No, I didn’t see a flash. It must have been the television. Come on, let’s get you home. You’re a bastard, Roger, I can’t believe you.” She wraps a blanket around me; my dress is barely on.
Something is wrong. Everything feels so fucking wrong, I shiver as Hannah leads me out. All I want is to be away from this. “Ivan,” I mutter. “I want Ivan.”
Hannah freezes. “He’s away, remember. Let’s not bother him with this. It will only upset him. Please, he’ll kill me if he finds out. It was no big deal, your dress is torn and your hair is mussed. Nothing bad happened, you’re fine.”
Closing the door of the taxi, Hannah gives the address before
turning back to me with a hardness to her that reminds me of Ivan. “You’re fine. There’s no use in making a big fuss over nothing. Roger is a prat but he meant no harm.”
I’m shivering, confused; how could she say it was no big deal? I’m wrapped in a blanket because I’m practically naked. How could she say he meant no harm?
I have no memory of it but somehow I’m in bed, where I want Ivan to be, but he’s not here. Hannah is pressing a cup of tea against my lips, over and over again until it’s gone. It tastes awful, bitter, and then the world goes dark.
***
Christina
Waking up I know something is wrong, completely wrong. I feel it as I struggle to shake off sleep. I turn over to find Ivan beside me, still deep in sleep. What? I reach out for my phone. It’s one o’clock in the morning, Saturday morning. A cold chill runs through me. I slept for more than twenty-four hours. How is that possible?
I see I’ve missed more than twenty messages, holy crap. One by one I read through them. Ivan had texted, then called, then he followed up with texts telling me he got ahold of Hannah, he apologized for my migraine. He’ll be home soon. His last was a text he was due home at nine. He got ahold of Hannah and she told him I had a migraine.
I shudder remembering what Roger did, the way Hannah acted. As fuzzy as my thoughts are, I know something is wrong, very wrong, I just wish I knew what it was. My first thought is to call Hannah, only I know I won’t get an answer from her, not an honest one.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” Ivan is sitting up, his eyes filled with concern. “I was ready to tan Hannah for not taking you to get checked out.”
It flashes, Hannah’s fear of what Ivan would do to her if he found out what she let happen. I shake my head. I don’t know what to do. Ivan’s arms come around me, holding me close. It’s okay, it will be, eventually.
***
Christina
It’s only nine o’clock but it feels closer to midnight. The day started at nine a.m. here in the hotel. I cannot believe the massive wedding is able to take place in one room; well, two massive ballrooms with the wall down between them.
Some miracle worker made the rooms look as if all this were happening in India, at least that’s what Gemma’s wedding planner promised. And from several compliments of guests, they had succeeded. The whole day has passed in a blur of bright colors and loud music. I wish I could have enjoyed it more, but I’m still feeling off. I’m also feeling out of place in the sari Gemma bought for me to wear.
I’ve tried to talk to Hannah only to have her freeze me out. As badly as I want to talk to Ivan, I didn’t dare until I could make more sense of everything. I know he’s feeling frustrated with me though. The only good thing about the whole day is Mishka has stayed far away from me.
I’m wondering where the hell Ivan went to. We’re seated at a small table off to the side of the main table which only has Gemma, Aari and his parents at it. Hannah started the evening on the other side of Ivan, but the minute he left so did she.
Ivan approaches the table with a small plate of food. He’s such a good man, I haven’t eaten much.
“Eat, and I will take you home.”