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Malachi blinked his eyes as the sun peeked through the improperly closed blinds. Judging by the quality of light, it must still be early. He had plenty of time to finish packing and make it to the airport. If Kelly hadn't stopped by last night, he would have been ready to go this morning.
His eyes snapped open when he thought of Kelly. How had she gotten home? When had she left? He didn't remember much beyond the second bottle of wine.
As he moved into a sitting position, causing the crisp, white sheet to fall against his waist, he realized he wasn't alone in the bed. He looked beside him and saw Kelly sleeping peacefully. Her mocha skin was a beautiful contrast with the pure white linen of the pillowcase. Her ebony hair fanned out across the pillow, and her full lips were parted as she breathed deeply in sleep. The bruise under her eye, now a bright purple, was the only thing that marred the perfect vision she made.
Had he made love to Kelly last night? Malachi lifted the sheet and saw they were both nude. He felt sated and relaxed, while tense at the same time. Mostly, he just felt different in a way that wasn't easy to define. He didn't doubt he had made love to the women he'd been in love with for over a year.
He had made love with his best friend's wife.
"Shit," he cursed as he slid from the bed. His movements caused Kelly's eyes to open. He saw a soft smile form on her face, but it quickly changed to a look of panic as she realized where she was and what they had done.
She sat up quickly, pressing the sheet to her chest. "Oh, my God," she whispered. "We didn't..."
He nodded, unable to speak. Even the repercussions their actions were sure to have couldn't diminish his joy in looking at her, sitting on his bed, knowing he had held her last night. "We did. It must have been the wine." She had been so distraught when she arrived, and wine had been a good way to calm her down. Unfortunately, they had both over-indulged. It was more than the wine for him though. He had wanted her since the day he met her, just a scant week after she married his friend.
She looked at the clock on the nightstand that read 6:00 A.M. "Justin must be so worried about me."
Malachi couldn't hold back a snort.
Kelly's shoulders hunched defensively. "He is. I was gone all night."
He shook his head. "He probably isn't even home yet. You know how he likes to pull all-nighters after beating his wife." He knew he sounded bitter, but he was tired of trying to make Kelly see reason, and he was tired of pretending Justin wasn't hurting his wife.
She touched the bruise on her cheek, and her eyes slid from his. "It was my fault. I pushed him about having a baby."
"So he hit you?" He walked to the closet and pushed open the sliding door. "Yeah, that's all your fault." He heard the rustle of sheets behind him and knew she had slid from the bed. He waited to turn to allow her a moment to cover up.
"I knew he'd had a vasectomy when I married him. Justin says I was okay with it then..."
"'Justin says'," he bit out mockingly, as he whirled to face her. "Do you have any idea how sick I am of hearing you say that? For God's sake, Kelly, think for yourself. You don't need him to tell you what to think, how to dress, or who to be friends with."
Tears splashed down her cheeks. "Please, don't."
"Don't what? Don't tell the truth? Don't point out you've stayed with a loser for no damn good reason?" Malachi could see the hurt in her deep brown eyes, but he couldn't stop the tirade. The words had been lodged in his throat for over a year, and they demanded to be uttered. "Justin is my best friend, but I hate how he treats you. I hate how you let him treat you."
She wiped at her defined cheekbones with slim, tapered fingers. Soft pink polish covered her long nails. "What am I supposed to do? He doesn't mean to hurt me."
He didn't bother to address the excuse she always proffered for Justin's temper. Instead, he said, "Leave him."
She shook her head. "I love him."
He lifted a brow. "Then why do you come running to me every time you fight? Why did you sleep with me last night?"
"I..." She turned her head away, and a soft sob issued from her.
Malachi strode across the room and grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You know I love you, that's why. You know I'll be here whenever you need me. I'm safe, so you run to me whenever you feel like it."
"You shouldn't say these things," she whispered. "I'm married..."
He sighed in disgust and dropped his hand. "You know I love you. You have to know."
She nodded, and fresh tears flowed from her eyes. "I should have married you." Her voice was choked.
"Come with me," he said impulsively.
Kelly looked shocked. "You want me to go with you to Africa for a year? Just leave my whole life and run away?"
He nodded. "I know you love me." A brief memory whispered through his mind. Holding her in his arms, as they drifted off to sleep, the words "I love you" issuing from her with an exhaled breath. "You said you did, last night."
She bit her lip. "I do, but I love Justin too. I can't just pick up and leave." She touched his arm. "Stay with me. Cultures will find another photographer." She laid her head against his chest. "Please don't leave me. I can't make it without you."
He wanted to take her in his arms, but Malachi forced his spine to remain stiff. He pushed her away. "No." He couldn't stay. She hadn't said she would leave Justin. If he didn't leave, she would always run to him whenever they fought, trusting Malachi to pick up the pieces. She would never leave her husband or put an end to his abuse. "You can come with me, but I'm not staying."
She shook her head. "Why, Malachi? If you love me..."
"I'm not going to be your safety zone anymore." His eyes burned with unshed tears, but he refused to allow a flicker of tenderness to cross his face. "You can't have us both. Until you decide I'm who you want, I don't want to see you again."
A sob escaped her. "Please, please don't leave me. I need you."
He kept his expression firm. "My flight leaves at ten. If you aren't at the airport, I'll know your decision."
She recoiled from him. "How can you be so cruel?"
"Don't you think it's cruel to use me whenever it's convenient?" He turned away from her and walked back to the closet. As he lifted a pale blue shirt that brought out a hint of gray in his brown eyes, he said, "This is your last chance, Kelly. If you don't show, you've made your choice."
Her bare feet made a scuffing sound as she walked to the door of the bedroom. "I made a promise before God, for better or worse. I won't come to the airport."
He nodded, allowing the tears he'd been holding back to slide down his cheeks since he wasn't facing her. "Goodbye, Kelly."
The soft click of the bedroom door closing was her answer.
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