Page 57 of Fixation

I’m curious about her.

Silence ensues. My brain roams.

Maybe…

She may be on the run. Someone back in California could’ve harassed her and made her run off and hide out here.

Blood roars in my ears.

My heart pumps so much of it into my body. So fast.

For a second there, my world goes black.

I swallow the mounting rage.

I’m back.

It could be nothing. It could be that she needs complete independence.

Could be that this is fate, sending her my way.

By the time I shake it off, I notice her eyes have widened even more. Her cheeks have paled.

I’ve lost my composure.

Harper is rattled. Any added stress on my part will derail her healing, and I won’t push her.

My questions will have to wait, but I’ll ask them, no doubt about that.

She’s not leaving this place without giving me an explanation.

Or a name.

“Please.” At my lengthened silence, she starts begging. Shifting on the bed, like she needs something from me, and it isn’t sex. “Don’t—oh. Oh. Oh, no.”

Ah, I see what this is. The shifting. Her visible distress.

She needs to go to the bathroom.

I’d curse myself for neglecting her, but also…what a turn on.

I shove my hospital tag back into my pocket. I’ll show it to her later. “Come on.”

“No. No, no, no. I’m sorry. Stop. I’m sorry.” Her pleas are frantic when I reach for the restraint on one of her wrists. “I’ll be good. I promise. I didn’t mean to upset you, I swear. Please, don’t hurt me.”

“You didn’t upset me.” One restraint after the other, I release her wrists. Rub them to encourage the blood to flow more smoothly through her veins. “We were having a conversation, and that’s fine. My problem is—No. Stay,” I scold her for pushing herself up on her hands.

I flatten a hand on her stomach and shove her back down to the bed.

My blood runs hot and cold at this intimate touch. Fuck. “I’m releasing you so I can take you to the bathroom.”

Harper can’t help her relieved sigh any more than she can hide the flush on her cheeks. She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her.

She hates how grateful she is. Hates that I’m the one who put that feeling in her. Her captor.

Almost as much as I struggle with my heart, how it trips over itself around her.

We have all the time in the world to get used to each other.