The Virgin Duet

I see him think about something for a second and then he looks down at me and smiles. “I’ve just cleared my to-do list for today. The only thing on my agenda is making my Tinkerbell glow.”

“Marry me?”

“I’d do it right now if there was a priest in the room.”

Cupping his face I try to reassure him. I know Hank’s been with him forever. “Bray, you said he’s fine. There’s no need to worry.”

Pulling me into his lap he buries his face in my hair.

“It’s not just that. I don’t want to take you out of the here after what happened, and I also don’t want to leave you alone.”

“So we can eat our bath? I love you, Tink, but that seems a bit much.”

I realize I’m holding my entire world in my arms and it’s my job to protect them. I shut down my panic and do what needs to be done. When I make it through the doors, the nurses at the counter rush to help us.

He sits beside me, but then it’s as if that’s not close enough, and he moves behind me on the couch, engulfing me in his body.

“Listen to me, Sam. When I find her, if there is one hair on her head out of place, I’ll show you what it’s like to beg for death. Do you understand?”

“She left about an hour ago. The last call was to her brother. The phone is useless now, so don’t ask about it. She may have been taken, but it doesn’t look like there was a struggle. I don’t know but I want her home and I mean by tonight. You got that?”

Whenever I feel my anxiety peaking, I rub the bracelet on her arm and remind myself of who she truly is. She isn’t this made-up doll on my arm, she’s my Tinkerbell. My stolen fairy I’ve captured, and I won’t ever let her go.

“Oh, my sweet Tinkerbell, no. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m so sorry. I was just so possessive of you, and having those men see you dressed so sexy made me angry. I can’t stand the thought of someone seeing you like that.” I feel her soften a little at my statement, and I keep going. “You’re mine and what we do together is private. I’ve never had anything like this with anyone before, and I don’t want to share it. It’s my own selfishness that reacted today. It wasn’t anything you did.”