Page 22 of Waiting for a Prince (Island Tales #1)

Chapter Nineteen

Mark opened the front door to his flat and let them in.

Sam had been very subdued all the way home.

Mark supposed some of that might be due in part to the late hour, not to mention the headache.

When the doctor had examined Sam’s head and found a lump the size of a golf ball at the back of his head, it had suddenly become clear to Mark why his friend had been so out of it.

“The doctor said you can take two painkillers before you go to bed,” he reminded Sam as they walked into the living room. “Do you want them now?”

Sam stared at him uncomprehending. “I… I don’t understand.”

Mark became still. “You’ve had a couple of stitches in your head, and you’ve been disoriented since you turned up on my doorstep. You’re staying here tonight. No argument.”

Sam regarded him in silence for a moment and then nodded, once.

Mark switched the lamp on beside the sofa before going to the kitchen cabinet where he kept his first aid box and various medical supplies.

He pressed out two paracetamols into his palm and then filled a glass with water.

Sam was perched awkwardly on the edge of the seat cushion.

Mark put down the glass and tablets, grabbed a cushion, and placed it at one end of the sofa.

“Okay, take these.” He handed the tablets to Sam who swallowed them dry with a grimace, before taking two large gulps of water.

“Now lie down, please.” Sam looked up at him questioningly, but Mark fixed him with a firm stare.

Sighing, Sam stretched out on the sofa on his side, and Mark pulled off his trainers.

Then he sat on the floor beside Sam, hugging his knees.

I need to know what the hell is going on .

But Sam was in no state to answer questions. He could barely string two sentences together.

There was nothing for it but to wait.

“I’ll be in the armchair over there, okay?” When Sam’s breathing hitched, Mark took his hand in his. “I’m not going to leave you.”

Sam swallowed. “But… I promised I’d tell you?—”

“And you will,” Mark assured him. “But not right now. The best thing you can do is sleep.” He stared at Sam. “The doctor told you the same thing. And I’ll be here if there’s any change.” He gave Sam another hard stare. “Eyes, Sam. Close them.”

Sam managed a brief chuckle. “Bossy.”

A moment later, his breathing changed, becoming more even, and Mark knew he was asleep.

He got up off the floor and sat in the armchair, raising the footrest.

What on earth did he do to warrant such violence?

Sam’s black eye flashed in his mind.

Was that Rebecca too?

He couldn’t stifle his yawn, and then he remembered the time.

I need to sleep too.

Sam was safe. And Mark was going to make sure he stayed that way.

Sam struggled to escape from a dream of pain and panic, and when he opened his eyes, he realized the pain was real.

God, my head.

He sat upright, moving gingerly as he swung his legs around and leaned against the seat cushions.

Where am I?

Then he remembered. Mark.

He also remembered what had caused the pain in the first place, and the memory made him wince.

What must he think of me?

He was half-inclined to get out of there before Mark woke up and Sam had an answer to that question.

“Hey.” Mark’s soft voice crept across the living room. “Would you like some tea?”

Too late.

“Please.” At least speaking didn’t make his aching head worse.

“Does it still hurt?” Before Sam could reply, Mark peered at his phone. “You took painkillers about five hours ago, so you can have a couple more now.”

“What time is it?”

“Almost seven.” Mark got out of the armchair and went into the kitchen, taking Sam’s glass with him. He returned with it refilled and handed Sam more paracetamols. “They’ll take the edge off it.”

Sam swallowed them, then rested his head once more. “Did you say something about tea?”

Mark smiled. “Coming right up.” Sam caught his breath when Mark leaned over and kissed his forehead, a fleeting, whisper-soft kiss, the gentle press of warm lips on his brow. He retreated to the kitchen area, and Sam shoved a cushion behind his head.

“You want answers, but I’m not sure where to start.”

“How about telling me what happened last night?” Mark suggested. “But only if you’re up to it. And if it makes it easier to talk without looking at me, I’ll keep out of sight over here.”

Sam managed a smile. “Don’t be silly. I want to be able to see you.”

And if this conversation goes the way I want it to, I’ll need to see your face.

Sam had something very important to tell him.

Mark came back to the couch, carrying a tray laden with a teapot, two cups, and a milk jug. He poured for them, then went to sit in the armchair.

“No,” Sam protested. “Next to me, please.”

Mark joined him, and Sam held out his hand. Mark’s expression of delight told Sam his instincts were sound. They sat beside one another, their fingers laced, the air filled with the fragrant scent of the tea.

Sam took a deep breath. “You know I said Rebecca was out with her girlfriends last night?” Mark nodded.

“Well, she was across the road from the East beach, at the Ryde Castle hotel, with four or five friends, and…” He swallowed hard.

“She saw us kissing. Not that I saw her. I only discovered that when I got back to my flat and found her there—waiting for me.” Sam winced.

“She kept saying how humiliated she felt, because her friends recognized me. I think that was worse than seeing us kiss. At least she already knew I was gay.”

Mark blinked. “Whoa. Back up there. Did you just turn five pages all at once? Because I seem to be missing bits of this conversation. And are you saying that’s her reason for attacking you?

Because she felt humiliated ?” Mark’s face fell.

“Oh God, I’ve just realized. This is all my fault, isn’t it? Sam, I’m so, so sorry.”

Sam’s heart sank. “No, it isn’t. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” He inhaled deeply. “I’ll get to that in a minute. She told me I wasn’t to see you again. And that if I ignored her, there would be… consequences.”

Mark’s mouth fell open. “What did you say to her?”

Sam gave him a weak smile. “I told her that she and I were through. I… I stood up to her.” He shivered as he gestured toward his face.

“You can see how well that went down.” Sam swallowed.

“She… she hit me with a wine bottle first. Then she really lost it and threw a wineglass at my head. But when I wouldn’t back down, she went at me with her nails—fuck, they’re more like talons—and scratched me all to hell. ”

Mark stared at him incredulously. “And you just let her?” Sam’s cheeks burned.

Mark narrowed his gaze. “This wasn’t the first time she’d done this, was it?

” Sam shook his head slowly. “The black eye?” Another nod.

“And before that?” Sam closed his eyes and Mark groaned.

“Oh, please tell me why you’d stay with someone who did that to you. ”

“That’s a long story.” Sam whispered.

Mark squeezed Sam’s hand. “We have as long as it takes. I’m not going anywhere.” Then he leaned forward and kissed the tip of Sam’s nose.

That simple gesture was enough to bring tears to the corners of Sam’s eyes: His emotions were already way too close to the surface.

“Thank you.” He stroked Mark’s cheek softly before lacing his fingers once more through Mark’s.

He took another breath. “You already know Rebecca’s dad, Jack, is well off.

Well, he and my dad were at school together.

They were inseparable, apparently. Both are now very successful businessmen.

” Mark nodded. “About six months ago, Dad came over to the island for a week or so and the two of them got together. Dad and I were invited to a big party at Jack’s place in Seaview.

It was there that they introduced me to Rebecca.

” He shivered and Mark tightened his grip.

“Dad made some joke about how it would be nice if she and I went out together, sort of keeping it in the family.” He laughed bitterly.

“There was nothing I could say. He’d already mentioned quite a few times to me on the phone that it was strange I hadn’t had a girlfriend yet.

The last thing I wanted was Dad becoming suspicious. ”

“You’re sure he’d react badly if you came out. Maybe it would be okay. Maybe?—”

Sam shook his head. “Trust me, Mark. I know exactly how he’d react.

He’s not reticent on the subject, believe me.

” Tremors rippled through him, and Mark knelt up beside the sofa and stroked his back gently until little by little, Sam’s shivers died away.

“I had no choice but to say yes. And it was okay, for the first few weeks at least. I didn’t do anything more than kiss her a couple of times, and I could tell she was surprised I didn’t make an attempt to get her into bed.

” Sam frowned. “It didn’t seem to bother her, and I thought nothing of it.

If anything, I was relieved. I didn’t intend keeping up the facade for long.

All I was trying to do was throw my dad off the scent.

” He shivered again. “It wasn’t long after that, though, that I started to hear the stories. ”

“What stories?”

Sam let out a wry chuckle. “You know how things work on the island, Mark. It’s a very small place. Everyone knows everyone else. And secrets don’t stay secret for very long.” He winced.

“Is your head okay?” Mark regarded him with concern.

Sam smiled. “You are such a sweet man.” He lifted Mark’s hand and kissed it tenderly, loving the way Mark’s face glowed.

“I started to hear rumours that Rebecca had a temper, and the tales appeared to be emanating from some of her ex-boyfriends. Except that saying she had a temper was apparently putting it mildly. One ex complained she’d become violent. ”

“What did you do?”