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A million questions burst to life. How does he know I’m not already on something? Is this what he really wants from me? Sex? The idea seems laughable considering he’s attractive and wealthy enough to not have toimport a woman from out of stateto warm his bed.
And why a complete health workup?
Because he found you with a razor to your wrist, heard about your issues, and questioned the wisdom of his decision to keep you.
“I’ll be right across the hall if you need anything,” he says, then shoots a withering glare at the doctor. “You came highly recommended, Dr. Bellamy. It’d be a shame to cut such an illustrious career short if you harm Miss Fields.”
That growled warning should not be hot.
He just threatened the poor woman—a health professional who took an oath to literally do no harm. He’s psycho, even while draped in cool lethality.
The door clicks shut, and Dr. Bellamy and I share a wary look of commiseration.
“Shall we begin?” She forces a timorous smile and unzips her bag, grabbing a stethoscope before motioning for me to sit on the end of the bed.
I obey her soft requests.
I don’t make small talk.
And when it comes time for the birth control discussion, I opt for the shot. There’s no way I’m adding another freaking pill to my regimen.
“You’re all set.” She snaps a pocket on her bag closed—my vials of blood safely stored within for lab testing. “I’ll be back in twelve weeks for your next shot, but here’s my card if you need to reach me beforehand.”
A white rectangle with a local hospital address is placed in my hand, and I thank her. She’s gone above and beyond. Big city doctors don’t make house calls these days, and I know it’s because Mathias intimidated her. Probably threatened to ruin her career again… or worse.
Once she’s gone, Mathias reenters the room.
“How’d it go?” he asks, sitting so close beside me on the bed that his firm thigh warms my much softer one.
“Fine. She’s nice. No need to ruin her life.”
“Good to hear. My schedule’s already pretty booked.”
For a moment, I freeze, then an unexpected giggle surges from my throat. “Did you just make a joke?”
His hand lightly cups my neck over the vibrating sounds, and they immediately evaporate. “Don’t stop,” he murmurs. “I like your laugh, and that’s the first time you’ve smiled since yesterday.”
“Can you blame me?” My voice is low to match his. Like we’re whispering secrets. Like I’m not vulnerable beneath his callused fingers. “My life isn’t my own anymore.”
“That was true long before you met me,ma cherie.”
My shoulders slump at the matter-of-fact statement, and I unconsciously lean forward to feel the pressure of his large palm with every swallow.
My lashes flutter shut as a strange calm streams over doubts and fears like the ocean’s tide coasting along dips of ever shifting sand.
“You’re safe now. Free to smile and laugh as often as you want. If anyone tries to steal that away from you again, I’ll break their fucking neck.”
His hand reflexively tightens, but I’m not scared. Mathias won’t hurt me. For better or worse, I trust him.
I'm safe.
I'm not alone.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ALLISON
“How long are we saying this is okay?” Rafe asks from his side of the couch in the game room.