7. Contract

                                    

                                          
"Nicole, wake up." A deep masculine voice broke through the veil of my dreams. The sound was warm and enveloping, a stark contrast to Tim's cold, cruel voice that had been haunting my dreams. His voice wrapped around me like a soft, cozy blanket, sending gentle vibrations through my body. Slowly, my mind moved toward the voice, and I became aware of the sensation of strong arms wrapped around me and a firm yet comfortable chest supporting my head. The warmth of the embrace seeped into my bones, easing the tension that had built up in my body. I reached out, exploring the unfamiliar pillow, and was met with a gentle chuckle and a hand that stopped mine. "Nicole, I'm not a saint. Wake up before you do anything more to provoke me."
I opened my eyes to an indulgent smile on a handsome face, and I realized with a start that I was nestled in Robert Lamb's arms. For a second, my body continued to revel in the warmth and safety of his embrace, feeling protected and cherished. But the realization of our intimacy hit me like a slap, and I scrambled away from him, hastily wrapping the soft blankets around my body. My face flushed with embarrassment as I looked down and noticed that I only wore a long white T-shirt. The heat of embarrassment crept up my neck as I struggled to make sense of what had just happened.
"What happened?" Suspicion chilled the comfortable warmth I had felt upon waking.
"You passed out after the Auction. Beth told me you had been drugged, and I brought you both to my Condo because it is only a few blocks from the pier. Beth changed you and stayed with you most of the night to ensure you continued to breathe and didn't have a seizure but had to leave this morning, so I took over," Robert calmly explained as he stood up and straightened his t-shirt that covered the top of the loose lounge pants. Robert was the most relaxed I had seen; something about it felt familiar. 
"Oh, so we..."
"Nothing happened," he replied to my unasked question but then set his hands on the bed in front of me and leaned in close. "Yet."
He smiled at my lack of response and lifted himself. "There is a change of clothes in the bag beside the bed and a bathroom behind that door. I ordered some brunch for us. Once you are ready, come out so we can talk about what did happen last night." 
I nodded, my voice still not working, and he left the room. A feeling of emptiness followed his exit, and it took me a minute to gather myself enough to pick up the designer bag beside the bed and enter the bathroom. 
After a quick shower, I was pleased to see some hair products had been left on the counter. Beth must have ordered them for me. She knew that my hair was my only vanity. I didn't mind going without makeup, though there was some of that on the counter, too, so I did take advantage, but I hated having messy hair. 
I entered the room I had woken up in and took a moment to survey my surroundings. The room was spacious and well-furnished, with enough space for a bed and seating. I concluded it must be a guest room. The windows were covered with blackout curtains, but I raised them using the switch next to the bed. The bright mid-morning sun blinded me momentarily, and I immediately knew where Beth was. Her family had a monthly Sunday lunch over video, which they had been doing for years. I sometimes joined her, but I usually gave her that time to connect with her family scattered throughout the country. The meal and conversation could go on for hours, which was usually the highlight of her week. She would always feel refreshed afterward as if she drew energy from her family. It was one of the few things Beth never missed, and we had discussed it when we planned where I would go after the Auction. We had initially planned for me to stay with my parents, but that plan had been changed after someone drugged me.
I took stock of how I felt and was satisfied that the drugs hadn't left too much of a residual effect. The dosing must have been pretty precise, so I imagine it had come from Tim and not Lisa. But she had to have put it in my glass at some point. I couldn't believe I had missed it. The dastardly couple had once again lost the gambit, and that perked me up enough to buoy my confidence. I straightened my shoulders and entered the hallway outside the room.