Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Forget about the goddamn dinner,” he says harshly. When the doctor shoots him a warning look, he continues in a softer tone, “I’m taking care of everything.”
He holds my gaze as the medical staff rush me toward the swinging doors. As I look back at him, standing there by himself, I have this weird notion that he’s alone in the world. Suddenly, I long for him, inexplicably and completely. In this scary moment, it’s him I want by my side. I reach for him, recognizing the helpless expression on his face, and then the doors shut out his image. Coldness washes over my body and invades my soul as the doctor pushes a mask on my face and tells me to count to ten. I get to three before the memory of Gabriel’s face fades.
* * *
The doctor keeps me overnight and discharges me the following day at noon. He tells me the operation went well, and that he gave me a tetanus shot. A tense and tired-looking Gabriel enters my room with a huge bunch of white lilies when the doctor leaves after examining me.
“Hey, beautiful.” He kisses my lips. “How do you feel?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“Come on.” He helps me to get dressed, and even if I protest when a nurse pushes a wheelchair into the room, he lowers me into the chair. “It’s the chair or my arms.” He gives me a smile, but it’s weak. The expression in his eyes is shuttered, making it hard for me to read him.
“I have your prescription from the doctor,” he says. “We’ll stop at the pharmacy before we go.”
We leave armed with antibiotics and painkillers from the hospital pharmacy. On the way home, Gabriel clutches my fingers, and when he shifts gears, he places my bandaged hand on his thigh.
It’s only when we take the off-ramp to Parktown that he speaks. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
His anger sparks annoyance in me. It’s with difficulty that I keep my temper in check. “It was an accident.”
“You have no idea what you put me through.”
“I can guess. You were worried about your investment.”
He swerves and brings the car to such a quick stop on the shoulder of the road that my body is thrown forward, and the seatbelt cuts into my chest. I utter a shocked cry, but it’s lost in his mouth when he grabs my shoulders and presses our lips together. His kiss is frantic and brutal. His teeth cut my tongue, and the force of his caress bruises my lips. My jaw aches when he finally lets me go. We’re both breathing hard, our chests rising and falling rapidly. I can only stare at him, both turned on and frightened.
“Valentina…” A flash of something tightens his eyes and makes his nostrils flare. “You have no idea…” He drags a hand through his hair, messing it up more.
I swallow away the constriction in my throat that makes it hard to speak. “I said I was sorry.”
He cups my cheek and brushes a thumb under my eye. “Not as sorry as I am.”
In that moment, he lets me see his anguish. I remember what he said about having a heart the night I asked him about his scars. Compassion replaces my irritation.
I place my hand over his. “It’s going to be all right.”
A flicker of a smile plucks at his lips. “I’m supposed to say that, dammit.”
“Then say it.” I dare him with my eyes, urging him to let go of whatever darkness took hold of him.
“It’s going to be fine, Valentina.”
“That’s better.” I bring his palm to my mouth and plant a kiss on it.
“I’m supposed to do that, too,” he says with a hint of sadness.
I wordlessly offer him my palm, but he doesn’t kiss the inside. He draws my hand to his lips and sucks my forefinger into the warm depth of his mouth, biting down gently on the tip. Heat floods my underwear as he swirls his tongue around the digit. Then he pulls my wet finger from his mouth and dries it on his shirt. The kiss he leaves on the top of my hand is the opposite of what he did to my mouth. It’s sweet, tender, and careful. After holding my eyes for another second, he puts my hand in the same position as earlier on his thigh and steers the car back into the traffic. When he’s not shifting gears, he plays with my fingers, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.
At home, Rhett opens the door and helps me from the car. “If you need help with anything, you only have to say.”
“Thanks for driving me, yesterday.”
Gabriel’s dark expression stills Rhett. I’m not sure what Gabriel’s problem with Rhett is, but the guard immediately excuses himself and leaves.
Inside, Quincy and Carly rush to greet us.