Something about her name is familiar, but I can’t recall where I’ve heard it before.
“You’re sweet. Like candy.”
She laughs. “I’ve heard it all before, big guy.”
My eyes are heavy and I fight it, staying awake so I can carry on gazing at her. I fucking hate hospitals and should be trying to walk out of here, but I need to be close to her. I reach my hand up and she takes it. There’s a jolt of something in her eyes as my fingers close around hers. So, it’s not just me feeling this surge of electricity between us.
The sweet-voiced nurse gazes back at me as the doctor checks me over and then gently lays my hand back on the bed. My eyes close despite my efforts and I’m dragged back down into the darkness again.
When I was a kid, running around the woods, I fell into a ravine. I waited all night for someone to come and rescue me. Before dawn, I realized nobody was coming and I managed to drag myself out and limp back home.
Sometimes, I’ll have a nightmare that will have me back in the ravine’s inky darkness again and I wake up sweating. Now, I’m back there again, but this time something’s different. Kaia’s beautiful face is burned behind my eyelids, like the sun coming up. I don’t have that familiar dread. She’s with me, telling me everything will be okay.
When I wake up again, I’m in a different, much smaller room. The white walls contract in my vision as I struggle to sit up. Across from me, on the opposite wall, is a brightly-colored picture of fuzzy peaches spilling out of a fruit bowl. My body is sore, but nothing’s broken.
I’m wearing one of those scratchy hospital gowns and I rip it off. With great effort, I swing my bruised legs over the edge of the bed and attempt to stand. My legs wobble beneath me, weakened from the crash and whatever drugs they pumped into my system. But I refuse to let that stop me. Clinging onto nearby furniture for support, I make my way towards the door.
A doctor comes in as I shuffle towards the door, cursing under my breath.
"Where is she? The blonde nurse? Kaia?" I demand, my voice still slurry from the meds.
He shakes his head, smiling. “You were out like a light there, my man.”
I grit my teeth. “I’m not your man, doc. And the sooner I’m out of this damn patch palace, the better. Where are my clothes?”
He huffs, crossing his arms. “If you get back in bed, maybe I’ll answer your questions.”
I curse him a couple of times under my breath and shuffle back to the bed, heaving myself up on it.
He raises an eyebrow. “I’m impressed. With the accident you had, plus your previous…extensive injuries, I’m flabbergasted you’re on your feet, let alone conscious. Ex-military?”
I grunt. I’m not giving him any more information than I need to.
“Figures. You’re going to hate what I’m going to say…”
“Don’t say it, then.”
He blinks a couple of times. “You need to stay here for at least 48 hours so we can observe you.”
“Like a bug under a glass? No chance. Nothing’s broken.”
“Yes, you’re lucky not to have any broken bones, but we need to check–”
“I’m fine, doc. I’ve had worse.”
“I’m sure you have.” The doctor opens his mouth to say something and instead shakes his head and leaves the room. I stare after him. He didn’t tell me where she was.
I start to pull back the covers as the door opens again.
It’s my angel. I lay back against the pillow and smile at her as she walks toward the bed. She has curves that don’t quit, even in those loose-fitting scrubs. A jolt of desire runs from my dick up my spine and my jaw tenses.
“How’re you feeling? Dr. Aziz said you’re cursing the place down. So you must be feeling better.” Kaia stops by the side of the bed and I have to push down the urge to reach for her. It’s not the drugs they gave me messing with my head, of that I’m sure. Instead, there’s a total, overwhelming clarity. I swallow, my chest tightening and my heart pumping faster.
She’s mine.
ChapterTwo
KAIA
