“Must have been pretty bad,” he said quietly.
“It was ... awful.”
“Want to tell me about it?”
She shook her head, squeezing her eyes tight, but nothing could dispel the overwhelming sense of horror that had gripped her.
“Well, it’s all over now, sweetheart. I’ve got you, baby. Everything is going to be alright.”
The words, spoken quietly against her ear, were so familiar. As was the scent. The feel of those muscular arms. The solidity of the chest. No... No... No... It wasn’t possible... Those were just dreams, bad dreams brought on by fever and pain meds. They weren’t real. They couldn’t be. This was Craig. The man she’d known her entire life.
She stilled in his arms as the cold, hard truth tried to force its way into her conscious mind. Were the nightmares her subconscious trying to warn her? Or was it already too late?
“Baby, what is it?” he asked, a frown forming across his brow.
“Bathroom,” she rasped past the terror constricting her throat. “I still have to...”
“Ah, right,” he said, relaxing his grip.
Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. The words repeated themselves over and over again in her mind. Lacie tried to swallow down the worst of the fear. Panicking wouldn’t do anyone any good, and it sure as hell wasn’t going to get her out of here. She tried to take a few deep breaths, wincing when her ribs protested the expansion.
“Easy, baby,” he crooned again. “Slow breaths now, easy. That’s my girl.” Craig’s arms were like steel bands around her, but his embrace was as gentle as she’d ever felt it. On some level, he really did care for her. He wouldn’t hurt her, not intentionally.
She gave herself a mental shake. He couldn’t have done any of those horrible things. They were just nightmares, that’s all. Hallucinations from her fever, the meds, and her overactive imagination.
Weren’t they?
Lacie looked into the eyes that had been watching out for her as long as she could remember. The boy who had teased her beyond mercy, but beat up every single boy that had ever made her cry, from the playground bully in first grade to the prom date that dumped her the day after he’d gotten her drunk and took her virginity. It was always there, but her mind would never allow her to see it.
She swallowed the scream that wanted to erupt from her throat and forced herself to speak. “Will you help me to the bathroom please?”
Craig’s face broke into a worried grin. “Of course, Lacie. Always. Anything.”
He carried her to the bathroom, getting her situated while catering to her modesty. He offered to stay, but she convinced him that she was awake and capable of managing on her own for this small but necessary task. With a doubtful look he agreed to remain outside the door, just in case.
At least he was affording her some privacy. Lacie said a silent prayer of thanks for that. It was impossible to look into his eyes and believe he was capable of any of those things.
But he’s not the Craig you know anymore, whispered a tiny voice in the back of her mind. The Craig she knew might openly (and loudly) disagree with her choices, but he wouldn’t whisk her away and keep her from her family and friends.
She only just managed to grab the trash can before the soup made a quick and sudden reappearance.
*
Craig waited outside the door. What the hell had happened? One minute Lacie appeared to be dozing peacefully after finally managing to eat a little something, the next she was biting and scratching at him like she was fighting for her very life. It was scary as hell.
Things were going to have to change. He was going to have to start weaning her off the pills, no doubt about it. She simply wasn’t strong enough to handle them. He was getting fluids into her, but without solid food, she had to have dropped at least five pounds in the past week, and he didn’t want her skinny. He loved her soft, feminine curves. He was looking forward to having her awake and actively participating in their lovemaking.
It wouldn’t be long now; she was definitely coming around, just as he knew she would. These last few days she had been noticeably more compliant. Today she had actually eaten something and had even asked him outright to help her! That was definite progress.
That latest episode was worrisome, however. The way she had looked at him! For several moments, it had been as though she was terrified of him. But she had no reason to feel that way. He loved her. He would do anything for her. Surely she had to realize that by now.