The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 71: Don’t leave

Chapter 71: Don’t leave

Rhys relaxed and instantly passed out like her words were all that he needed to sleep:

Beatrix dozed off soon after just listening to his steady breathing.

Somewhere in the middle of the night she was awakened by painful groans.

Beatrix frowned as she rubbed the sleep off her eyes, she turned to look at Rhys and saw that he was drenched in sweat and was shaking violently.

The haziness in her head from being woken up abruptly disappeared and panic set in.

"Rhys-" just as she was about to touch him, he jolted awake and sat up on the bed gasping for air.

Beatrix tried to hold his arm but he flinched away like she was about to hit him.

Beatrix’s eyes widened. What the hell had happened? Why did he look so scared?

"Rhys...hey are you okay?" She scooted closer to him but he snapped at her.

"Don’t touch me!" His voice was hoarse yet she could hear the fear in it.

Beatrix swallowed, "Rhys calm down...it’s me Beatrix."

He ignored her and lowered his face in his palm mumbling words that she couldn’t hear.

It was like he was lost in his own world battling his demons.

Beatrix was scared seeing him like this.

She hesitantly placed her hand on his shoulder and he jolted up grabbing her neck.

Beatrix’s eyes widened with fear seeing the blank look in his eyes.

He choked her as she gasped for air.

"Rhys....please...." Tears began to form in her eyes as she struggled to breath.

The pain in her chest was unbearable seeing him like this and even though her vision was blurring from the tears in her eyes and lack of oxygen the look in Rhys’ eyes was making it worse.

"Rhys... Stop, please you’re hurting me." She begged him desperately, but it was like he couldn’t even hear her.

He abruptly let her go and Beatrix let out a series of coughs before she could say anything he ran to the bathroom.

Beatrix quickly pulled herself out of the bed, her pulse hammering with worry as she ran to the bathroom with fear that he might harm himself.

When she got there she saw that he was sitting on the floor of the bathroom with the shower on. The water cascading on his body.

Beatrix didn’t know what to do, how the hell was she supposed to help him?

Beatrix slowly made her way to him and crouched down beside him, the water enveloping them.

She tried to put out her hand to rub his back but he flinched again.

Did someone beat him? Was he abused? God she had so many questions. Did Damien’s father abuse him too? But why would he hit him when he adopted him? None of this made sense.

Instead of trying to touch him, Beatrix decided to wrap her arms around him as she brought a hand to stroke through the back of his hair calming him.

He was still stiff and she could still feel him shaking in her arms.

Beatrix’s heart was breaking seeing him like this. God she was dying with worry.

"It’s okay.....I’m here nothing is going to happen. No one will hurt you."

Beatrix pressed a kiss on his head.

"R-really?" He looked into her eyes searching to see if she was saying the truth.

"Yes. Me and Damien will beat the bad guys. We will protect you."

Rhys froze, blinking rapidly as she watched recognition flashed over his face, looking like a switch had flipped inside of his head.

"Damien?" he whispered hoarsely, like he was still checking.

Beatrix nodded quickly, smoothing her hands over his face.

"Yes, your brother. He would protect you. No one would harm you."

Rhys nodded, "Y-yes... I have Damien...No one can hurt me." He mumbled to himself.

Beatrix’s lips curled into a faint smile when she saw that he was calming down.

It seemed Damien meant a lot to Rhys than she had thought.

He relaxed and buried his face into her neck while she hugged him.

Beatrix had no idea how long they sat on the floor. The cold water flushing on them made her shiver.

She wheezed which broke the spell of the moment. Rhys pulled away from her and his eyes widened.

Whatever trance that he was in seemed to be broken.

"B-Beatrix?" Hewhispered hoarsely, like he was still checking.

Beatrix nodded quickly, forcing out a smile at him.

"Y-yes.." she sneezed again.

He pulled away from her and quickly turned off the water. He sprinted out of the bathroom and brought her towel.

Beatrix removed her shirt and wiped herself. Once she was done, he handed her a fresh bathrobe.

"W-won’t you change too?"

Rhys shook his head and stared at his toes.

"But you will get sick."

"Did I hurt you?" He questioned instead ignoring her concern.

Beatrix shook her head. "No, I’m fine, don’t worry."

He sucked in a deep breath as his gaze fell on her neck.

"You’re lying..." he said, sounding broken.

His face screwed up, his lips pressing together firmly as his chin trembled.

"I-I hurt you." He said as he slammed his fist in the wall.

Beatrix’s eyes widened. She quickly hugged him from behind.

"You didn’t harm Rhys. You’re now hurting me by harming yourself please....don’t do that."

"A-are you scared of me now?" He asked as if he was terrified of her answer.

"No...never. I’m not scared of you Rhys. Why would you even think that?"

His shoulders slouch in relief as he removed her hands from her waist and turned to face her.

He pressed his forehead against her, "I’m sorry love...I-I didn’t mean to scare you."

"Shss...it’s okay. I’m not scared. I just want to help you. You don’t have to go through this alone. Just tell me what can I do to make you feel better?"

He inhaled deeply and just as she thought he wouldn’t reply he did.

"Just don’t leave me."

A/N: It’s officially my birthday yeeeyyyh!!! Thank you for the wishes. Love you!

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