“Will you stay until I fall asleep?” My voice sounded small, and Vlad’s stern expression melted into one of concern.
“Of course, I will.”
“But no more arguing with the nurses. If they tell you to go home, you go. Promise me.”
His brows furrowed and he growled. “Fine. Now stop worrying about me and sleep.”
I drifted off to the sounds of Vlad talking on the phone.
“Liam?”
I rubbed my eyes, wondering if they’d given me the good drugs. Because Liam stood next to my bed, his hair sticking up, his suit unbuttoned, his tie askew. I couldn’t stop my gaze from taking all of him in, starting from the tips of his thick hair that I wanted to sink my hands in down to his shirt that was slightly untucked and farther to the dirty smudges on his pants.
I’d never seen him look anything less than perfect. But right now, he looked like he’d gone a few rounds with an angry bear.
“You’re coming with me.”
I blinked at him, thinking I should call Vlad so he could tell the hospital I needed different drugs. As much as I loved that my brain had procured the one thing I wanted most, hallucinations couldn’t be healthy.
Nevertheless, I was curious where this particular hallucination wanted to take me. Maybe we’d go to a deserted island, clothes optional. “Where are we going?”
“Chicago.”
He stepped closer, then stopped. It seemed it was his turn to take in my body. I felt naked with only a hospital gown and blanket covering me, but I met his heated eyes when they stopped at my face. A comforting warmth wrapped around my body at his attention.
I could work with that. “Not an island getaway, but I’ve always wanted to go. There’s this restaurant called Adore that’s on my bucket list, but it takes almost a year to get in.”
It was his turn to blink at me.
Someone else entered, and Liam strode to what I recognized as my bag sitting in the corner, opening it. He pulled out a few items, then handed it to the guy that had been quietly waiting by the door. “Take her stuff and wait outside.”
I watched a man who should consider adding leg day to his workouts randomly pull jeans and a sweater out of my bag and drop them on the bed, then leave, taking said bag with him.
Suddenly feeling more alert, I sat up and straightened the blankets covering me. “He took my bag.”
Even if this wasn’t real, I still wanted to get dressed in something I chose. This was Liam, after all. He had gorgeous women on his arm all the time. I looked frumpy in comparison. Especially dressed in a thin gown that didn’t even close all the way.
But maybe this was where the optional clothes part came in.
Decision made, I pushed the blanket back before I changed my mind. If this was my fantasy, I’d do what I’d wanted to do for a long time.
My hospital gown came off easily, leaving me bare and slightly chilled. My hallucination could have at least given me a slimmer waist and a warm room.
A look at my chest confirmed I still had the same generous curves and sizeable bust as always.
A strangled cough sounded in front of me, and I watched Liam’s face take on a red hue. “What are you… what… I don’t….”
His eyes were jumping around the room, looking at anything but me. And he stuttered. Liam would never stutter.
I put my hands up over my head, leaning back on the bed. “I’m ready for you to do whatever you came here for.”
My announcement was met with silence, and then clothes appeared in front of me. “Put this on. We’re leaving in two minutes.”
Then he was gone, leaving behind my jeans and a sweater.
Okay, that didn’t go how I imagined at all.
Confused, I pulled on the clothes he’d thrown my way, feeling funny for not wearing underwear or a bra. My boobs weren’t meant to swing free. My shoes were next to the bed, and I slipped them on.
