The billionaire's sweet editor
Chapter 22: Iris: Not-so-tear-jerking-tale

Chapter 22: Iris: Not-so-tear-jerking-tale

LUCAS HAS me plastered on top of him, arms wrapped around me protectively, legs intertwined with mine. It’s helping me ease out all the tension I’ve been feeling since the nyctophobia hit a while ago.

All the lights are on and it’s brighter than daylight in here. Lucas has already performed first aid on my elbow, making sure to use the proper medication after he googled how to apply ointment on a scar without making the patient feel pain. As if that’s a thing.

It was kind of cute watching him fret over something so small because I’ve only ever seen him give that much focus to his work.

Like the last time I used him as my pillow, he hasn’t asked me anything. He just keeps on rubbing my back with his thumb and kissing my forehead. It’s soothing, but the silence is stretching and even though it’s comfortable, I have this undying urge to explain myself to him.

Fidgeting with my nails and deciding to speak up first, I take in a deep breath. "You’re probably wondering when it started?" I ask and wait for his reply. Impatiently.

"Well it’d be kinda weird not to wonder after seeing it happen for a second time, but I want you to tell me about it when you feel comfortable enough to," he answers, tucking hair behind my ear. Him admitting he’s curious surprisingly makes me happy. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I let it out.

Without waiting for any more pushing, I begin telling him my tale. "It started when I was seven after my parents separated. Mom began working double shifts after my dad refused to pay maintenance and I’d be left alone at home in the care of a couple who loved next door."

Pausing to collect myself before I get to the gripping part, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, countless images of those haunting nights replaying themselves in my head. "One day after Mom left for work, there was a blackout. I was okay with it because Mom always left a torch for me to use since it happened a lot, but it wasn’t a normal blackout. My neighbors soon noticed that our house was the only one with an electric fault and when they left the house to go check on the meter outside, that’s when my dad took action."

Lucas must feel the suspense too because his thumb stops rubbing my back and I feel him getting tense under me. "I later heard he was in a custody fight with mom, but she kept winning thanks to her parent’s influence. Maybe he got fed up with losing to her, or he just wanted to prove a point that he has as much power over me as my mom, but that was the beginning of his countless assaults."

"Beginning?" Lucas finally quips, tipping his chin to face me.

"Yes. He would come home whenever mom would be out at work, turn off the electric system outside the building, and when my neighbors would leave, he would start knocking on the door, whispering my name, and asking me to run away with him. Most of the time I screamed and the neighbors would come and drive him away, but one time he actually broke into the house and scooped me away."

A hiss escapes from Lucas but he immediately muffles it, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

I let out a chuckle, "Don’t worry, he was caught before we left the house, but that made my mom worried. She came home that exact night and told me to pack my bags. The next thing I knew we were standing outside my grandparent’s gate, knocking, but no one answered. I was still in shock and crying when she told me to wait outside and—" Letting out a shaky breath, my fingers grip Lucas’ shirt as I struggle to find the words to explain this to him without tearing up.

"You don’t have to force yourself to finish," Lucas whispers in a soothing silvery voice almost like my guardian angel watching over me as he gently rubs my back with his thumb.

My story is not very traumatic and tear-jerking like the ones in those sad novels, but it was the catalyst needed for seven-year-old me to start fearing the dark—and hate my parents. Telling someone about this means I trust them, or at least that’s what Dr Murphy—my therapist from eight years ago—told me.

I know for certain I don’t fully trust Lucas yet, I mean, that would be stupid since I don’t know him that well—but for some reason, telling him about this feels a lot easier than it did with Doctor Murphy. Maybe it’s the way he’s soothing me whilst listening and cutting in at the right times, or it’s his comforting voice, but it’s enough to push me to finish my story nonetheless.

"She left me alone outside the gate, and I cried and flinched at every sound until I got tired of it and slept on my luggage. No worries though, my grandparents found me the next morning and that’s how I ended up living with them," I add with an icy laugh.

When I raise my head I expect to see pity in Lucas’ eyes, but instead, he looks angry. His jaw is clenched, eyes gazing up at the ceiling as if to stop himself from crying.

"I’m glad you’re safe," Lucas says through gritted teeth sitting up straight and pulling me up till in straddling his lap. "And I’m sorry for saying this about your parents but fuck them, they don’t deserve you. I feel pity for them for not seeing how precious you are."

A stray tear rolls down my cheek and Lucas catches it with his thumb, stroking my cheek as he wipes it off. "You’re such a strong woman, Iris, and I hate how I ignored it all this time until you told me this. If I ever treat you like crap, I want you to smack me in the head and tell me to fuck off."

Nuzzling in his palm, I smile at him. "You should know by now I never forget such important details."

"Please don’t. That way I’ll know when I fuck up."

"I’ll hold on to that one for when it’s needed."

"Please do."

Leaning in and resting my head on his chest, I wrap my arms around him. "Thank you for today, Luke."

"You’re welcome, but I’m still not done with you yet," he says in a low voice, adjusting himself so I sit comfortably on him.

"Hmmm, still thinking about taking me to the doctor aren’t you?"

Tipping his head down, Lucas places a kiss on my head for the I-don’t-know-what-ith time, wrapping his arms around me and squeezing for a second makes me tip my chin to look at him.

"Can’t blame me after what just happened. I don’t want you getting an infection, and you’re not going to say no. She’s our family doctor so you don’t have to worry about the expenses either," he adds the last part with emphasis, placing a finger on my lips after I open my mouth to object.

Deciding to let him give me this princess treatment, I nuzzle into his chest. "How could such a sweet, caring, and handsome guy like you be girlfriend-less all his life? You’re a ten in everything when you think about it. The perfect boyfriend material."

"Could say the same about you. You’re everything guys out there are looking for. Hot, independent, and sassy."

I open one eye and look up as a blush threatens to paint my cheeks. "I don’t trust men, or anyone at that. What’s your excuse?"

"Work? I don’t know, I’ve never put much thought into it before."

"And now?"

Scratching his stubble, Lucas perks his mouth up. He glances down at me for a moment before turning away and staring out his window once again. "Guess I’m still busy," he finally says, pulling my head to him.

"Good for you. I’m pretty sure no one would want to date a perfectionist either way," I add with a laugh.

His gaze falters when he turns to look at me, face dropping as though I just cursed at him. "Lynn does."

"Hey, I was joking," I say in a low voice, raising myself so I’m face to-face with him. "There are people who would want to date you out there, and when the time comes that you find someone you want to date, I’ll be out of your way."

A crease shows on his forehead and he looks away from me, standing and placing me gently on the bed. Did I say something wrong again?

"Okay, I think you’ve stayed up past your bedtime already. Are you sleeping in here?"

"If you promise not to touch me."

"I’d never force myself on you, baby." Ah, he’s back.

"Even if you’re horny as fuck and I’m the only girl present in the world?"

"Yes, Iris, even if you were the only girl in the world. I like having control but not when the other party gets hurt by my actions."

Awww. "What if I’m the one who makes the move and asks you to do what you want with me? What will you do then?"

For the first time since my bitter story, he chuckles, the sound coming out hoarse and saucy in a way that makes me shudder for no reason. "First, I’ll ask you if you like it cute like Damien did to Luisa in Fated to the Prince, or a little bit kinky like in Fifty Shades of—"

The way I flip up fast from the bed would’ve been fatal had it not been for his strong hands grabbing me before I almost toppled over. "Have you been checking out my reading lists online?"

"On Goodreads, yes. And you were right, I couldn’t read the smut entirely, but I pushed through because I thought I’d understand you a little bit more if I read the books you recommended to the world."

That makes my belly jiggle for some reason. I sit up straight on the bed, covering myself with the duvet and chuckling at him. "Admit it, you loved the smut, you were just embarrassed reading it," I jab playfully at his chest.

Scrunching his nose with a crooked smirk, he kind of nods. "Maybe a little?"

"That’s how it starts," I quip smirking as he walks around the bed to the other side, "then you end up wanting to read another book, and another until you can’t stop yourself anymore."

"Hmm, I don’t think I’ll be turning into a bookworm anytime soon."

"Wanna bet on it?"

"What do I get?" He asks.

"Me," I confidently spout. "You can do anything you want to me then, but if you turn into a bookworm, I get to ask a wish from you."

Smirking devilishly at me, Lucas crawls into bed. "I like it, let’s make this challenge due until the event."

"Fine with me," I mumble, taking two of the four pillows and placing them between us. "Until then I’m still abstaining."

"Whatever you say, baby."

"Hmm, I’ll never get used to you calling me that," I mumble getting inside the duvet and placing my head on the pillow. Like most of the fabrics in this house, it smells like lavender. "Goodnight, Lucas."

"Goodnight, baby," he replies, crossing the barrier to place a kiss on my head for the last time and sending a warm rasp of butterflies tingling around my entire body.

I could get used to this feeling. It’s delicious.

★★★★★