The panic faded when his face swam before her. Rugged. Gorgeous. Furious.
Safe.
She reached out her arms to him.
For the second time that evening, Draco’s driver delivered him to his front door. For the second time that evening, Draco’s butler opened the door to welcome him. This time, two female members of staff stood with him, ready to take care of the woman asleep in Draco’s arms.
He rubbed her shoulder and pitched his voice to wake her without frightening her. ‘Athena, we’re here. You need to wake up.’
‘I don’t feel very well,’ she whispered into his chest, her mouth the only part of her body that moved. At least she was talking now. She’d been mute for hours. He’d never have believed a mute Athena wouldn’t be a cause for celebration.
‘I know you don’t, but we need to get you inside so we can get you to bed. You’ll feel better after a good sleep. Come on, work with me. I’ll help you in.’
Her, ‘Okay,’ was a barely audible mumble.
Keeping his hold around her, Draco swung his legs out then gently coaxed Athena into following suit. When he finally had her standing on her bare feet, she slumped like a deadweight into him, would have fallen to the ground if he didn’t have such a firm hold of her.
‘Listen to me,’ he said quietly. ‘I’m going to carry you inside, okay?’
Her cheek moved against his chest in assent.
Using the car to prop himself steady, he slid a hand beneath her bottom and scooped her into his arms. She nestled into him, cheek to chest, like a trusting child.
He carried her carefully into his home and up the stairs, carefully because he was afraid too much clunky motion would agitate the sickness that had already led to her vomiting twice, and laid her gently on the turned-down bed of the guest room his staff had uncomplainingly got themselves out of their own beds to prepare for her.
The duvet covering her, she curled onto her side and reached a hand to him.
He took it between both of his and rubbed it soothingly. ‘Zoey and Rhea are going to take care of you now.’
She gave the tiniest shake of her head, the pads of her fingers making a weak compression of protest in his palm.
‘I gave my word you wouldn’t be left alone tonight.’ A promise he’d made to the medical team he’d called out to the club when he’d needed to satisfy himself that The Playroom’s medical staff and the police were right, that any danger had passed and that sleep was the best thing for her.
‘You stay,’ she mumbled.
‘They’ll take good care of you, I promise.’
Her eyes opened and searched for his. They filled with tears. ‘Don’t leave me.’
His heart thumped, whether at the sheen of tears or her plea he didn’t know, knew only that this was a request he could not deny. Gently squeezing her hand, he nodded.
There was the tiniest twitch of thanks at the corners of her mouth before her eyes closed again and her hand went limp.
Draco turned the bedside light out. He’d left the light in the en suite bathroom on so Athena would know where to go if she woke. The angle its golden light cast gave her blonde hair a halo effect.
Removing only his blazer, shoes and socks, he settled himself on top of the duvet at the edge of the bed and hooked his arms above his head.
Gaze fixed on the ceiling, he took deep breaths, not wishing to relive the experiences of the last few hours but unable to stop them replaying.
He’d never experienced a shot of adrenaline like the moment comprehension had hit him that Athena’s drink had been spiked. He’d raced down the curved stairs in seconds. As hard as he stretched his memory bank, he had no recollection of what he’d done with his beer, but his hands had been empty by the time he’d fought his way through the packed dancefloor to her. Which had been just as well as the punch he’d landed on the predator who’d dropped the pill into Athena’s drink might not have landed so well.
He would never forget her expression when she’d recognised him. The wild fear that had been etched on her face…it had vanished in a blink. She’d fallen into his arms and then refused to let go, clinging on even when he’d got her to the medical room and the police had arrived.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. He must not let his imagination take him to what would have happened to her if he hadn’t acted so quickly. If he hadn’t been there. If he hadn’t learned it was her birthday.
‘Draco?’ His whispered name cut through the night’s silence.
He swallowed. ‘I’m right here.’
