“I know you want me, and dammit to Dazimin, I want you too. But that doesn’t mean I can have you.” His eyes were sad. “There’s a lot of things going on right now, things you might not understand. And I’m afraid if we allow ourselves to indulge in pleasure again, the result will change everything. And you’re too fragile for that.”
No! I’m strong!She wanted to shout at him, to prove her worth, but she had to admit that she was already exhausted. Although her mind was clear now, she didn’t know how long it would last. She’d hoped that after their last dalliance, the effects would be permanent, but it was clear that they weren’t.
I need to go farther. I need to do the very thing he’s trying to convince me not to do right now.
“Gemmaline, I only want to keep you safe. And that includes keeping you safe from me.”
He smoothed the hair off her forehead and the contact was so soothing that she could feel her eyes slipping closed.
The fight at the console had exhausted her. Sleep was now sniffing around the edges of her consciousness.No. Not yet. Please.
“You should get some rest,” Cal said. “When you wake up tomorrow, they’ll examine you. That Dr. Grimm is an okay guy, if a little forceful. I don’t think you need to be worried about him.”
Grimm an okay guy?She’d heard Cal cursing him earlier, saying that he wasn’t even a real doctor. Had he forgotten that?
Or could he have been made to forget?
If only I could speak!
“Sleep well, dear one,” he said, bending to kiss her gently on the mouth. She couldn’t help the grin that shaped her lips. She reached out her hand to grab his, to keep him by her side, but he tenderly patted it and then placed it on the bed.
“I’ll visit you in the morning,” he promised, then walked to the door. Turning back, he spoke. “Gemmaline, I vow before all the gods that I won’t let anything happen to you. Even though we can’t take this relationship further, you’re in my heart now, and no matter what happens, I’ll do whatever I can to keep you safe.”
She could feel the tears start to fall from her closed eyelids.
“Goodnight, little one,” his voice whispered as she fell into sleep.
