“I needed time.” His eyes squeeze shut, and he grips my fists. “I was there almost immediately.”
Releasing him, I drop to my knees at her bedside. Her face is placid, and I run my eyes over her body wrapped in that red robe. I don’t see any signs of injury, but I can’t see her skin. Roland braces a hand on her dressing table as he catches his breath.
Anguish squeezes my chest, breaking my voice. “Did he hurt her?”
He stands over me a moment, then assesses my hand on Lara’s head. “I didn’t see any signs of that. They were both out cold in ten minutes.”
He leaves the room, and I continue smoothing her hair away from her face. “You’ll be okay,” I whisper. “I won’t let them hurt you.”
Roland returns and places a bowl and ace bandages on the bed beside me. I keep one hand on her head as he doctors my wounds. “What made them pass out?”
“Rohypnol.” He places a gauze pad over the worst of my cuts. “Hold this.”
My hand leaves Lara’s head long enough for him to wrap it. “The date rape drug,” I muse.
“Works fast, and they’re out for six hours.” His lips are pressed into a thin line as he washes the blood off my knuckles. It stings, but I don’t care.
“Where did you get it?”
“Not important. I slipped it into the Sazerac and hoped Lara would understand to drink it.”
He finishes wrapping me up. “Thanks,” I say, standing. “I’m taking her to my place. It’s only a few blocks away. I’m not leaving her here.”
I lift her into my arms, and he digs a set of keys out of his pants pocket.
“I’ll drive.”
Lara
Comfort, clean fresh air, bright whiteness. Strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist, and a deep sense of safety. Surfacing through the mist, I’m greeted by so many pleasant sensations, I think I must’ve died and am waking up in heaven.
But as I continue to regain consciousness, I realize actual arms are around me.
I open my eyes, and I’m in a bright room with large windows. I’m lying in a bed with another person behind me, holding me close against him. One breath and I know who it is. If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up. Still, I know I must.
I pull forward and into a sitting position as his blue eyes blink open. He smiles and warmth tightens my stomach.
“What happened?” I look around the huge space. “How did I get here?”
He sits up beside me and kisses the top of my shoulder. “Roland helped me bring you here. To keep you safe.”
I struggle to remember last night, but nothing comes. It’s like a blank space in my timeline. No fear, no pain. Nothing.
I’m not sure if I should be afraid or relieved.
I look down at Mark’s bandaged hands. “You’re injured again?” I take one in mine.
He shrugs. “It’s nothing. Just some broken glass.”
Shaking my head, I look at him for a second and then slide out of the bed, walking toward the large windows opposite us. I’m wearing a thin white tee I assume is his. It’s thin enough that my dark nipples are visible through the fabric, and while it’s ridiculous, considering how many times he’s seen me naked, I want to be covered.
One of Mark’s dress shirts hangs on a chair nearby. I grab it and slip it over me.
“I don’t remember anything.” My head is groggy, and I’m tired. Then a chill grips me.
“Did he… did I—”
“Roland said it didn’t look like anything had happened.”
I hug my body in relief. “I think he’s right.” I don’t feel like I was assaulted.
When I turn, Mark is lying on his side, gazing at me. He smiles, and I feel self-conscious. I push my hair behind my ear and look down.
“How long have I been here?”
“Eight hours.”
I glance around the sparsely furnished apartment. “Where are my clothes?”
“You only had the robe. It’s there.”
I follow his point and see my velvet dressing gown draped over another wooden chair.
“Is there a bathroom?” We’re in one large room with a nice wall of windows overlooking the river, but there’s nothing else. No closet, no kitchen. Just the single space.
“It’s downstairs. When Terrence left, I brought a bed up here and started sleeping in the loft. It’s got a better view.” He slides to the edge of the double bed and swings his legs off to stand. “I’ll escort you down.”
He’s only wearing boxer briefs, and my stomach tightens. I’m certain I shouldn’t respond to him the way I do. Not after last night. But it’s hard not to remember the feel of his muscular body against mine.
“I can wait. I need to check on Molly anyway.”
I step toward my robe, but Mark catches me and pulls me to him. “Roland said to tell you she’s safe, not to worry. And he said for you to stay here with me until he comes to get you.”
I watch his lips, thinking how nice it is not to remember anything. How nice it would be to pretend the danger is behind us. I breathe deeply, fighting the urges humming under my skin. The desire to give in and embrace him back, to stay here and act like the only thing in the world is us in this room.
“It’s probably not the best idea,” I say.
“You were just fine with it a few minutes ago.”
“I was unconscious.”
“I won’t tell anyone you woke up.”
His hands gently slide to my waist, and I rest my palms against his warm skin.
“Has it started for you? Are they trying to… make you do things for money?”
“No. Last night was something different.”
“Why are you so afraid, then? Why did Roland want me to tell you nothing had happened if he wasn’t trying to—”
“I can’t explain it all now. It’s something I said I would do. But no one’s forcing me.”
“What did you say you’d do?” His face is so full of concern, so ready to understand, but I don’t want to talk about it.
“It seems I didn’t do anything.” I step out of his embrace, toward the chair that holds my dressing gown, but he catches me by the waist.
“Don’t keep me out, Lara. Let me help you.”
I can’t answer, and after a moment of silence, he exhales and gives my hand a little pull.
“As long as you’re here, you should come back to bed. Roland could be a while, and it’s chilly this morning.”
I allow the dress shirt to slip off my shoulders, leaving me in only his white tee. “I suppose we ought to keep warm.”
We crawl into the blankets, and I snuggle close to him. His arms go around me, and I rest my head on his bare chest, listening to his heartbeat, his breath swirling in and out. It’s the most soothing thing I’ve ever felt, pulses of comfort with every soft beat.
He rolls me onto my back and studies my face. “You had a bad night. I’d like to comfort you, but if you’d rather sleep, I’ll understand.”
I watch his full lips as he speaks. “My head is fuzzy, but I’m not afraid… or hurt.”
“May I kiss you?”