Page 59 of Fixation

She flushes, and I turn around to be there for her. Without a word from either of us, I help her stand up.

“There you go.” I lead her to the sink, slow and careful. The IV pole drags on the floor alongside us.

She scoffs. I don’t tell her that I think that this, like everything about her, is adorable.

No. I keep her standing upright. My hands grab onto her hips while she washes her hands.

Our reflections stare back at us from the mirror. We’re perfect together.

Meant to fucking be.

The air in the room is thick.

Holding on to this moment, I watch her brush her teeth.

She’s small in my grip, swallowed up by my clothes that she’s wearing.

Gorgeous red waves frame her delicate face.

Emerald-green eyes glare at me through the mirror. There’s a fire in them. Passion.

A flash of fear.

My most expressive patient. I engrave the look on her face into memory.

Whatshesees is a cold and calculated bastard.

It’s a façade. I have feelings for her. Every sweet and sickening emotion possible. Feelings I don’t let on.

It would be unprofessional of me.

Without a word, I guide her back to her bed.

“You said you wouldn’t kill me but, if you keep me locked up in here, as a prisoner…” My attention is on her while I snap the Velcro around her ankle. Her lips purse. The corners of her eyes shine with unshed tears. “I might as well be considered dead intheireyes.”

“You’re my patient.” Her other ankle is bound to the bed now. Her feet look so small in my socks. I love that. “Not my prisoner.”

“Oh my God.” A fresh dose of frustration pours into her voice. Still, she lets me bind her wrists. When my thumb brushes over the tape and the IV cannula, Harper watches me. “Can you at least tell me,why me?”

Because there’s no one else in my world. From the moment I saw you, you’ve become my entire universe. I can’t wrap my head around it, and trust me, Harper, it infuriates and confuses me just the same.

“Why wouldn’t it be you?” is the answer I give. “You needed help. I’m helping.”

She groans. This isn’t the answer she wanted from me.

Too bad.

I tuck her under the covers.

Time to make good on my promise.

“There you go.” I put my hospital tag close to her face.

In her beautiful, hoarse voice, she reads my name out loud. Mine. I’m about to order her to say it a million times more when she continues.

“MD. ER surgeon.” Her mouth rounds in the shape of anO. “Holy shit, youaregoing to kill me for this. You won’t risk letting me go. Won’t risk having me ruin your career.”

“You won’t ruin anything.” I lean over to the side, opening the second drawer of the cart. Pull out two alcohol swabs, a new syringe, and a vial. “By the time I let you go, you’ll be thanking me.”