Page 24 of Collide

“I’m hurting, too. Internally bleeding, I suspect, from when you threw yourself into me.” He chuckles, a deep laugh.

His joke is unexpected. And now I’m intrigued.

“Oh, would you like the bed, you poor thing? How selfish of me,” I tease, lifting the covers slightly, the hospital gown shifting just enough to reveal the top of my thigh.

Alex’s eyes widen, and I see him avert his gaze quickly, his cheeks tinged with red. “I should be used to girls throwing themselves at me by now,” he scoffs in response, turning his head away.

Of course, he is. Look at him. He probably has a whole rotation of women at his beck and call. Women who don’t trip over their own feet or stutter around hot strangers. He’s not meant for someone like me. The thought comes forth, ugly and cruel.

I sigh, shaking my head, pulling the covers back over myself. I try to think of a clever comeback, but I’m interrupted by the opera that’s happening in my stomach.

“What’s good to eat around here?” I raise my hand, gesturing around the hospital room.

Alex turns back to me, his eyes mischievous. He looks like someone who could get away with murder and have his victim thank him for it.

“I could get the nurse to bring you some food,” he offers, leaning back slightly.

I gape at him and stick my finger toward my mouth, pretending to gag.

“Seriously? Hospital food is so—” I gag again for effect, and Alex’s eyes widen as he lets out a deep belly laugh.

“We can order in?” he grins, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“Yes, please.” I smile, a little too widely.

“I should check with the nurse first, see if you’re okay to eat,” he says, standing and adjusting himself. I can’t help but gape—he’s so tall.

Stop staring, Elena.

“Okay, well, here.” I gulp, trying to recover, handing him my identification and health insurance card. “Would you mind passing that along to the nurse?”

He grabs the cards from my hand, his warm fingers brushing mine, and I feel a little electric shock run up my arm.

I gasp, aware of the way my body is reacting.

“Sorry,” he murmurs. His jeans hug his body perfectly, and as he walks away, I catch a glimpse of how well they fit his ass. I lick my lips without meaning to.

God, I feel like a teenage girl with a crush. I’ll sear that face into memory and cue it up for a solo DJ session the next time I’m alone with batteries and no shame.

What is going on? I don’t even know this person.

Snap out of it.

Moments later, Alex returns. “All good,” he says, walking toward the bed with a plastic wristband in hand. “Here.”

He grabs my hand like he owns it and fastens the band around my wrist. I should pull away—the audacity of this man—but I don’t, and time stands still. Goose bumps rise as his fingers graze my skin, and then his thumb drags slowly across the new band. My breath catches.

From this close, I can see his forearms—thick, veined, strong…and hot. My mouth goes dry.

New kink? Unlocked.

He takes a small step back, and I feel the air returning to my lungs.

“Thanks,” I whisper, my voice hoarse and breathy. I manage a shaky laugh. “Are you…normally this handsy with strangers?”

“I carried you from the store, into a car, and the emergency room,” he confesses with a smile. “You didn’t complain then.”

My eyes widen in shock.