Killing me softly by Zhavia.

MATILDA pulled her eyelids open with an effort. It felt as though giant elephants were trampling on her eyelids. She stretched, satisfaction flowing through her.

Sex with Rory, was in a word, amazing. No, worshipful- the right word to use. With a blush, she recalled the moment when Rory told her how beautiful he thought her to be. Her blood warmed in memory.

Even the weather had conspired. It had rained all night and now, the sunrise was predictably gorgeous, flaming over the beach. It was a beautiful sight.

He stirred beside her and stretched languidly, it was then she realized he was still asleep. She watched him with a smile, loving the dark richness of his half opened eyes fringed with the most beautiful eyelashes she had ever seen.

He yawned hugely, then reached for her and buried his face in her neck. Surprised, her eyes widened. In the sunlight, he looked incredibly sexy, his body glittering, his eyes wary, his lips shimmering like polished satin. She wished she could stay right where she was, in Rory's arms...forever?

She snapped out of the thought by reminding herself that there's no forever in this.

He kissed her neck " How are you feeling this morning? Any pain?". He asked as he looked up at her.

" I can't feel my legs". She whispered.

" Your legs? ". He reached for the duvet but she warily pulled it up to her chin.

" I want to check it out!". He said in concern.

" I'm good, really". She said self conciously.

" You're sure?"

" Yes. I'm fine"

Rory pressed a quick kiss to her lips as he crawled off the bed. His body was so perfect and well sculptured, like a work of art.
He walked shamelessly to his wardrobe to get his robe showing her his back view.
It was just his back view, Matilda thought. As long as he didn't show his front view, it was fine by her.
As though Rory read her thought, he turned sharply to Matilda in his full glory. At that point, she completely covered her flushed face with the duvet, feeling embarrassed and shy at the same time.

Oops!

What on earth is wrong with Rory???

She heard him chuckle as he walked into the bathroom.

Bit by bit, the memory of last night replayed in her head. When she moaned his name, when she dug her fingers into his shoulders.....oh God...
She screamed. Gosh, this is so embarrassing!
At the same time she hit the bed with her fist. How was she going to face him now?

She screamed again and covered her face with the duvet.

She had fantasied about having sex a thousand times, never had she thought of the aftermath of it. Well, she had sex with Rory- the last person she had ever thought she would get married to, let alone get intimate with.

She counted one to ten in her head as she blew out a breath. Just then, Rory opened the door, body wet and a grin on his lips, he strode into the room. He was still naked.

She shivered.

Was he doing this intentionally?

He strode to his wardrobe in a rolling gait. He took out a t-shirt and shorts. Expertly, he put on his briefs and wore his outfit.

Turning to her, he said " You should have your bath too"

She looked away warily " I know, right? Can you pass my robe...please?"

He chuckled. Matilda was so full of surprises. They had sex last night and he's literally seen all there's to be seen, so her modesty was a criminal offense. He thought of it, he liked her modesty.

" And why should I do that?" He asked with a grin.

She sighed. " Please? Is that too much to ask?".

He laughed. " I've seen it all, Tilda". He rested his shoulder blades against the wall.

She held the duvet more tightly to herself as she swallowed hard.

He noticed the change in her expression- from embarrassed to wary. In no minute, wariness could turn to regret and that's the last thing he wanted.

He picked up her robe and tossed it to her.

" Thanks". She caught it

" You'll need new underwear." He began to open her drawers.
There was no way she could object, she couldn't do it herself because she was naked. He turned with a black lacy brassier and matching panties.

" I like this, what do you think?"

Her underwear? Were they really having this conversation? Oh jeez Is Rory really doing this?

" It's fine".

With that he placed it on the bed.

" Turn around while I change". She said, surprising him more.

He obeyed.

She slid down the bed , stark naked.

She picked up her robe and swiftly wore it. All along, Rory watched her through the mirror of the dressing table with a grin. She was so clueless.

" foolish girl". He muttered before laughing out loud.

" What's so funny?." She asked.

" Nothing"

At that moment, she looked up at the mirror and her eyes met his. She blushed.

She said nothing as she walked into the bathroom.

:::::::::::::::::::

Matilda let the soothing water calm her down. It was still early, but she was tired already. She was really tired and yet her thought never swayed away from the man in the bedroom. By the simple act of looking at his naked body, she had ended up enthralled and aroused. That she couldn't have enough of him was plain...

" Come on, Tilda". She said as she bathed herself." It will end soon"

Her heart ached at the thought of leaving Rory. Well, there's always an end to everything. It's bound to happen anyway.

She got out of the bathtub and wrapped her towel around herself as she wiped herself clean. She then wore the underwear Rory had chosen for her.
Wearing her robe, she walked into the bedroom to see Rory placing a tray of cookies and coffee on the night stand.

" Breakfast?".

" Thanks". Sitting on the bed, she took a mouthful of coffee. Just then, her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the caller's I.D and chuckled. Cassandra was video calling her.

She picked up

" Sugar...

Matilda grinned " How are you?"

" I'm fine and you?"

" I'm good and I can see you're really fine. You look... different". Cassandra said.

" Different? In what way oooo. "

Cassandra grinned widely. Something was up, she knew. Her little sister looked more beautiful and very happy, she wondered what was going on untill Matilda inadvertently adjusted her phone to show Rory who was busy with his phone. That's the reason! RORY BROWN.

" Nevermind, I can see why. Mrs Matilda Rory brown."

She blushed.

" How are you feeling? Have you eaten? Is the baby kicking?"

" I'm not fine o. Every little thing nauseates me, and I always crave spicy foods." Cassandra whinged like a child.

Matilda chuckled " Oh, my God."

" It's not funny at all"

" It's funny as hell". Matilda laughed.

" It's not. This morning, I woke up three o' clock and I was really hungry. So, I woke Gray and asked him to prepare me pepper soup, which he did and I ended up not eating it. Guess what? I told him to prepare vegetable soup after spending thirty minutes preparing the pepper soup. He was so frustrated."

Matilda laughed so hard that tears rolled down her cheeks " it's the beauty of it. When you finally have your baby, trust me girl... you're gonna look back and laugh at these memories"

" I guess...I have to go. Bye. I love you"

" I love you, too"

She hung up with a grin.

" Thanks for breakfast". She cleared the tray.

All through the day, the shopped for souvenirs for their family and friends, by the end of the day she was really exhausted.

***

She stirred restlessly beside him, the action jerked him awake. He yawned and rose lazily. He didn't want to wake her, not yet.
Humming happily, he rushed to take his bath. He wanted to prepare her a scrumptious meal this morning. He badly hoped she won't have any the mind blowing sex they had two nights ago and her wariness- one thing that bothers him, he hoped that too would not be an issue.

He got dressed as he glance her way, she was still asleep. She stirred and stretched languidly and then relaxed again, revealing her breasts peeping from her robe. Rory jerked. Goodness! He was starting to want her. Damn!
Holding his breath, he walked to the bed , he gently covered her with the duvet without touching her. If he did, he was so sure he would have her.

Her phone buzzed from the nightstand.
A message.

He smiled. It had to be Cassandra.

Curiosity took the best part of him. He opened the message. His smile faded when he looked down at the content of the message.

' I love you, Matilda and I can't wait to hold you in my arms again ❣️❣️"

His eyes widened in shock at first, then anger. His jaw locked, he gritted his teeth and bit his tongue against the anger that shook him. He looked at her soundly asleep on the bed.

" Whore!" He muttered.

He stared at her angelic face. Oh God. This lady could charm, she could laugh and charm, even her face could charm a man. Damn!! He has fallen for her charm. He should have known when she had freely gone his arm. What a great actress she was . He clenched his fist in anger against the urge to wake her and....

He couldn't do anything to her because he was the fool here. So foolish to have thought something lovely could grow out of what they had shared, sadly, he was wrong.

**

" Past ten!!!" Matilda shrieked.

She lazily climbed out of bed. A smile curled her lips. She was supposed to feel bad about the whole Rory thing but instead she felt a sense of triumph. She liked things about him except the fact that they would part ways in few months time.
Rory could be nice if he wanted to be. Yesterday, they spent time together, the way it should have been from the onset.

She sank herself into the bathtub. Slowly, slowly she dozed off, in the bathtub.
Hours later, she opened her eyes, cursed at herself for sleeping off and scrambling out of the bathtub. She picked out a cropped top and a short.

But ... where's Rory?

She decided not to call him in order not to give him any idea.

When she could take it no more because she was so worried, she called but he didn't pick up.
She felt strange. Something was wrong.

She decided to send him a text

- Rory, where are you? I'm really worried. Please come home-

Different thoughts ran through her mind. Did he find her repulsive?

" No. Everything is fine" she assured herself

***

DAMN HER! DAMN HER!!

Rory hit the steering wheel hard.

His phone beeped.

- Rory, where are you? I'm really worried. Please come home-

He scoffed.

Acting all innocent and sweet again! How could she have bamboozled him.
He hit his head on the steering wheel multiple times.

Matilda...oh Matilda. She was tempress, a liar, a beast.
Strangely, he has never felt this hurt in his whole life.

*

Matilda paced back and forth in the bedroom. Something doesn't feel right, she was so sure. Just yesterday, they had a nice time shopping and chatting. And it was past five in the morning and he was yet to be seen. Panic sizzled through her and at the same time, her anger rose. She has barely slept last night worrying about him.

She heard the main door open. She stopped immediately and ran to the living room, almost falling in the process.

They met halfway to the dinning table. She paused when she saw him. He looked completely worn out, his eyes were weary, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his chest. Has he been drinking?

" Rory" She cried.

He looked at her, pure fury in his eyes.

" Where have you been? I was...so worried...

He frowned.
Why couldn't he stop getting mad at her? Because he couldn't bear the thought of another man loving Matilda, let alone touching her.

" Like you care" He said coldly.

Confused, she squinted at him " what's wrong? Did something happen?". She grabbed his arm.

Ruthlessly, he pushed her hand away from his arm " Don't touch me, you whore!"

Whore?

She watched him walk him into the bedroom. He just called her a whore, she recalled. No one has ever called her that before.
No this couldn't be happening! She walked towards him.

" Rory, talk to me. Is something wrong?"
.

He turned and really looked at her. Her eyebrows were slightly raised in concern, at the same time, her eyes were misty as though she'd burst into tears anytime soon.
This lady still had an effect on him. No mater what he did, no matter where he went, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

Matilda touched his shoulder lightly " You can talk to me"

He scoffed and shrugged off her hand " Don't you dare touch me with your filthy hands! Talk to you? Wow! Unbelievable. What do you think I'll say to you? I refuse to fall victim again, I refuse. "
He pointed his finger at her " You whore!!"

With that, he lay on the bed.

Blinded by her tears, she walked out of the house, then ran to the beach, the only place she felt at peace.

Regret. She had promised herself not to regret ever giving herself but what's this? Old doubt, old fear began to set in. She was never good enough from the start, she told herself. But, she had always wanted to try, to feel what it was like to be in love and to be loved. And, this is it! What love had to offer.
She shut her eyes against the tears that fell down her cheeks.
First, a break up after seven years of relationship and now this. Seems, some people are not destined to taste love...