BELLE
I locked the car the second I was in it, but that wasn’t enough to make me feel safe. An unwanted hand on me triggered a shitload of dark memories to resurface. My breaths raced, my pulse drummed, and I thought I was about to have a panic attack.
I rummaged through the backseat, looking for anything to breathe in. Then a knock on the window almost stopped my heart. I whipped my head toward the sound to see it was only Joshua.
With my chest heaving and fingers shaking, I opened the window.
“Get in the passenger’s seat, I’m driving you home.” He took one look at me then his jaws hardened. “That’s not a request.”
I moved as he asked—ordered—without arguing. I didn’t want to. I loved that he was here, doing all this.
As I settled in the other seat, I unlocked the car. He got in quickly, something crumbling in his hand. Then I realized it was a to-go bag. “Your leftover,” he said.
He beat the crap out of a guy and then had them pack the rest of my meal? I would have laughed but I was having trouble breathing.
“You don’t look so well,” he said. “You look like you’re—”
I yanked the paper bag out of his hand, pulling the containers out frantically.
“—hungry.”
Glaring at him, I buried half of my face in the empty bag. I was hungry, though. I’d been all day— PMS? It was the least of my concerns at the moment. Breathing came on top of feeding.
His eyes widened. “Or you’re having a panic attack. Fuck. Okay, just keep breathing. Deep breaths. Do you have any panic disorders? Nod.”
I shook my head.
“Okay. Good.” His palm fell ice cold on my back as he rubbed it, yet I welcomed it. He breathed with me, deep breath in, deep breath out. His other hand found my arm, and he leaned closer to my body.
I wished I could have snuggled into his arms and buried my lips inside his mouth, not in this recycled bag.
“It’s not going away. Do you have any Xanax or Valium?”
I shook my head again, dizzy, quivering, my eyes tearing up.
“It’s okay, Isabella. You’re going to be just fine.” He enveloped me with his arms and pressed me close to his chest.
Wow. I’d never wished for something, and then it’d come true this fast. Or turned out to be this good. Closing my eyes, I found a better breathing speed, anxiety instantly slimming.
“I’m here,” he said. “I wish I could take it all away, the pain, the fears. I wish I could show you the world is not as terrible as you believe it to be now. There are dark, evil things out there. But they are such a small part of the world there is no reason to be in constant fear. Not anymore. I’m here.”
His words soothed me better than any drug. What was going on here? Where was all this coming from? He was just telling me what I needed to hear, but it felt so real, so intense. This couldn’t be an act. No one was that good.
My head lifted, and I looked into his eyes as they connected with mine. There was something out of this world about them. It was easy to lose myself there, never to be found.
As my breaths evened, I needed the bag no more. All I needed was the second half of my wish to come true.
He stared at my lips for a moment that seemed to never end, causing my heart to leap in anticipation, then at my neck, right where the love bite was.
Self-conscious, I swallowed, but I didn’t try to hide it the mark. I wanted this kiss too much to care.
His lips parted as he lifted his eyes to mine. “The panic attack is gone. I should get you home.”
Just like that, he pulled away and started the car.
CHAPTER 16
BELLE
