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He eyed the door. She wouldn’t appreciate him breaking it down. He grabbed the handle, turning it. As the door opened, fury once again flooded through him. What the hell? Worried now that something really had happened to her, he rushed inside.

“Abby! Abby, where are you?” He ran through the house searching for her. Not in the living room, kitchen, bathroom. His gaze jumped to the shut bedroom door. He strode towards it and knocked.

No answer.

“Abby!”

There was a murmur of noise on the other side. He opened the door and walked in. The room had twin single beds and a dresser against the wall between them. It was painted a pale green that had probably once been pretty but had faded to a murky yellow-green that made him feel nauseous. One bed had a lump under the covers and he could spot some chestnut-colored hair poking out of the top of the covers.

“Abby?” Her face was covered and he became worried about her breathing. At least that’s what he told himself as he pulled the covers down. She was wearing the same pajamas as last night. Her skin was still too pale. And she was clutching something in her arms.

Something that looked like a stuffed rabbit.

“Abby!”

5

Abby thrashed around. “No! No!”

Shoot. Was she having a nightmare? He reached for her just as she opened her eyes and screamed. Her fist shot out and caught him right in the nose. He fell back on his ass with a groan as pain engulfed his face.

Shit.

“Oh God. What’s happening? Kent! Did I hurt you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Her voice was frantic, nearing hysterical. “Why did I do that? Oh God, I didn’t know it was you. Crap.”

“Stop swearing,” he said firmly then he gentled his voice, “I’m fine, baby.” Well his nose was throbbing and he had to take a moment to breathe through the pain but he was fine. He’d live. He’d had a lot worse.

“I broke your nose, didn’t I?” she wailed. “I’m such a stupid klutz.”

He frowned, not liking that.

“Abby,” he said in a low warning voice. He glanced up to find her climbing from the bed, her hair a tousled mess. And the throbbing in his nose took a back seat to the rush of arousal that filled him.

“Do you need some frozen peas? I’ll get some peas.”

“I don’t need any damned peas, Abby. Sit,” he growled when she went to move. “My nose is fine. I’ve had far worse.”

“I’m so sorry. I was having a bad dream and then I woke up and saw someone looming over me...” Her eyes widened. “You’re in my bedroom.” She looked like she couldn’t quite believe her own words. Then she did something rather odd.

She started laughing.

What was going on with her?

“Oh, I get it now. This is a dream. Well, thank God for that.” She sounded so relieved he felt a bit insulted.

She frowned at him. “I’m not usually clumsy in my dreams about you, though.” She stared at herself. “And I never wear these pajamas. Or have Bun-bun with me.”

“You don’t?” She dreamed about him? Bun-bun?

“No, that’s not exactly normal, is it? Or sexy. A twenty-six-year-old sleeping with a stuffed toy is weird.”

Not as weird or unusual as she might have thought. At least not on Sanctuary. But he wasn’t going into that right now.

“Baby, listen to me. You’re not dreaming.” He knelt, ignoring his aching nose and placed his hands on her legs just above her knees as he braced himself.