Play The Game

Nineteen

Before Bella could properly fathom just how incredible the weekend with Chris had been, the weekend was coming to an end.

She woke up before Chris on Monday morning and pouted as she draped herself over his sleeping body. His chest rising and falling took her with even after his body began to wake up.

"How long have you been awake?" He asked, voice rough.

"A few minutes." She murmured. "Trying to enjoy the time we have left."

Chris laughed. "Bella, the time we have left?" A hard laugh, "we're not dying. I'm just going back to my place. It's not like we won't see each other."

She lifted her head. "I meant the time w have left alone before my brother comes home and ruins everything. This has been nice, just you and me."

"It has." He agreed, sitting up, taking her with him. "And it'll happen again, I assure you."

Her pout didn't lift. "I can always stay with you at your place if it becomes too much here, can't I?"

Chris' head tilted in thought before a smile cracked across his face. "I don't see why not. If Mark can have your friend over I don't see why I can't have you over."

Bella squealed as she  jumped into Chris' arms. For a moment they swayed together before a car door outside the window had them pulling apart.

Another squeal left Bella but this time it wasn't one of delight but of terror.

"Oh shit! Vincent's home." She dashed to the window and frowned at the sight of her brother climbing out of his car. "What do you want to do?" She asked Chris over her shoulder.

Chris had climbed out of the bed pulling his pants on. "I'm not scared of him, Bella. I can face him like an adult. So he finds out I stayed the weekend with you," he shrugged, clearly not worried like she was.

"Okay," she said slowly, taking a deep breath. "Why am I so worried? I haven't cared what his opinion has been lately? Why am I so worked up?"

Chris was in front of her, hands on her shoulders, guiding her through her breathing. "Take a deep breath and then let it out, Bella. Over and over, you've got this."

She took a deep breath in and let it out just as he had instructed. Over and over again until she felt her heartbeat return to normal.

A quick glance over her shoulder, out the window showed Vincent still collecting his things from his car.

"Why am I so worked up over him seeing you here with me, Chris?"

Chris trailed his fingers down her arm in a comforting manner. "You don't like getting caught. Even if it's something you're not forbidden to do, you don't like being caught. Your brother made it clear he doesn't want you and me involved in any way and you're defying him. You're now to the point it feels real."

It most definitely felt real.

The car door shut and Bella led Chris from her room. If Vincent was going to catch them together, she was going to make sure he caught  on to what they'd been up to while he was away.

They stopped in the living room and Bella pushed a still shirtless Chris onto the sofa where he landed with a gush of air leaving him. "Ow." He whimpered once. "Was that necessary?"

"Very." She replied just as the door opened and the sound of bags hitting the floor filled the room.

"Bella?" Vincent's voice rang through the entryway. "Bella, you here?"

"Living room!" She called back and sucked in a breath as she settled herself onto Chris' lap.

"The weekend wasn't as bad as I...thought." He finished as he walked into the room.