arrangements—?”
“Can wait.
“I—”
“Give yourself tonight, okay? You’ve been through a lot.”
“I can’t. I can’t slow down, or it’ll be real.” Her heart ached along with her body. She felt beaten with a bat and left to bake out in the sun for a few days. Her throat was scratchy, her lips were chapped from chewing and her spirits were lower than they’d ever been.
“Stop thinking.”
“How?” She gave a half laugh, half sob. Her eyes watered. She blinked furiously. I will not break down here.
“Let me be in control.”
She glanced up at the man who’d stuck beside her when he had no reason to. “Why?”
Pan sighed. “You made me remember the man I once was. The man I want to be again.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s a long, drawn out story we won’t get into right now.” He grabbed her hand. “Come.”
Emotionally spent, she allowed him to lead.
Pan pulled her close to his body and led her out of the hospital into the night. “No cage tonight. My little bird needs to fly free.”
His little bird. In a world where she felt adrift, his ownership was a welcome thing. It shamed her how quickly she’d succumb to him—her vice. Like an ostrich burying its face in the sand, she placed her head on his shoulder and inhaled the crisp air. They walked up to the bike that could so quickly become her home. He climbed on and she followed behind him, like they’d been doing it for years. The feel of his hard form beneath her hands grounded her. He started the bike and squealed out of the lot. The wind in her hair, the scenery rushing by and the feel of wheels on the pavement lulled her into a cocoon of comfort.
They pulled in front of a modest one-story home. The light yellow painted siding was
welcoming and the lawn well cared for. He parked in the driveway and they moved up the walk to the porch.
“This is nice.”
“It’s a recent purchase. I had to move out of my…old place.” The hesitation in his voice revealed only part of a story.
He unlocked the door and she stepped inside. The beige carpet, leather couches and sparse decoration screamed bachelor . They stepped inside. The smell of fresh linens greeted her.
“What? I’m not a slob,” Pan said.
She arched an eyebrow.
“Maybe I have a cleaning lady too.”
She smirked. I’m smiling, but my sister will never do this again. The joy bled from her body.
Guilt crashed over her like a wave. She swayed.
Pan grabbed her elbow, keeping her upright. “What do you need most right now?”
“To forget. God, please make me forget.”
Their gazes locked. He studied her as the seconds rolled by. “Go down the hall, to the last door on your right, take a shower and wash the day’s events off you. Once you’re ready, come and sit on my bed.”
“Naked?” she whispered.
“Yes. You won’t need clothing for any of the things I plan on doing to you.” He grinned wickedly.
“Oh…” Her stomach fluttered.
His wicked smile grew. “I like it when you look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
He tilted her chin up. “Like I’m about to give you a present you’ve been wanting for a long time.”
Maybe I have been waiting for you all this time.
He pinched her chin. “Go do what I told you to while I get things set up.”
Later strode away in a daze. Who was this man swathed in mystery, oozing sexuality and
completely at odds with his rough exterior. In a handful of days, he’d shown her more concern and care than most people she’d known for years.
Pushing open the door, she gasped as she saw the four poster bed covered in black satin sheets and a red comforter. It was masculine and decadent at the same time. Like the man himself. A dark dresser sat against the wall on the opposite side of the room, along with an oddly shaped black chair. She wanted to investigate further, but the bath was calling her. She longed to feel the hot water on her skin and throw her jeans and t-shirt into the garbage. She
“Can wait.
“I—”
“Give yourself tonight, okay? You’ve been through a lot.”
“I can’t. I can’t slow down, or it’ll be real.” Her heart ached along with her body. She felt beaten with a bat and left to bake out in the sun for a few days. Her throat was scratchy, her lips were chapped from chewing and her spirits were lower than they’d ever been.
“Stop thinking.”
“How?” She gave a half laugh, half sob. Her eyes watered. She blinked furiously. I will not break down here.
“Let me be in control.”
She glanced up at the man who’d stuck beside her when he had no reason to. “Why?”
Pan sighed. “You made me remember the man I once was. The man I want to be again.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s a long, drawn out story we won’t get into right now.” He grabbed her hand. “Come.”
Emotionally spent, she allowed him to lead.
Pan pulled her close to his body and led her out of the hospital into the night. “No cage tonight. My little bird needs to fly free.”
His little bird. In a world where she felt adrift, his ownership was a welcome thing. It shamed her how quickly she’d succumb to him—her vice. Like an ostrich burying its face in the sand, she placed her head on his shoulder and inhaled the crisp air. They walked up to the bike that could so quickly become her home. He climbed on and she followed behind him, like they’d been doing it for years. The feel of his hard form beneath her hands grounded her. He started the bike and squealed out of the lot. The wind in her hair, the scenery rushing by and the feel of wheels on the pavement lulled her into a cocoon of comfort.
They pulled in front of a modest one-story home. The light yellow painted siding was
welcoming and the lawn well cared for. He parked in the driveway and they moved up the walk to the porch.
“This is nice.”
“It’s a recent purchase. I had to move out of my…old place.” The hesitation in his voice revealed only part of a story.
He unlocked the door and she stepped inside. The beige carpet, leather couches and sparse decoration screamed bachelor . They stepped inside. The smell of fresh linens greeted her.
“What? I’m not a slob,” Pan said.
She arched an eyebrow.
“Maybe I have a cleaning lady too.”
She smirked. I’m smiling, but my sister will never do this again. The joy bled from her body.
Guilt crashed over her like a wave. She swayed.
Pan grabbed her elbow, keeping her upright. “What do you need most right now?”
“To forget. God, please make me forget.”
Their gazes locked. He studied her as the seconds rolled by. “Go down the hall, to the last door on your right, take a shower and wash the day’s events off you. Once you’re ready, come and sit on my bed.”
“Naked?” she whispered.
“Yes. You won’t need clothing for any of the things I plan on doing to you.” He grinned wickedly.
“Oh…” Her stomach fluttered.
His wicked smile grew. “I like it when you look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
He tilted her chin up. “Like I’m about to give you a present you’ve been wanting for a long time.”
Maybe I have been waiting for you all this time.
He pinched her chin. “Go do what I told you to while I get things set up.”
Later strode away in a daze. Who was this man swathed in mystery, oozing sexuality and
completely at odds with his rough exterior. In a handful of days, he’d shown her more concern and care than most people she’d known for years.
Pushing open the door, she gasped as she saw the four poster bed covered in black satin sheets and a red comforter. It was masculine and decadent at the same time. Like the man himself. A dark dresser sat against the wall on the opposite side of the room, along with an oddly shaped black chair. She wanted to investigate further, but the bath was calling her. She longed to feel the hot water on her skin and throw her jeans and t-shirt into the garbage. She
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