blond hair is pulled back in a ponytail which sort of swishes as she walks. She’s helped me, at the clinic and with coming back here. She’s been nothing but kind. But do I trust her? Absolutely not. I trust no one. Especially medical staff.
Especially doctors.
It was a doctor who took me, abducted me from my home, and brought me to one of the labs. Sold me.
If I could only remember where that was…where home is… It’s at the very edges of my mind.
“I’m fine,” I tell her, forcing a smile. “Thank you again for the clothes.”
“It’s my pleasure. And incredibly easy as we’re the same size.” She smiles brightly, and I get the distinct impression she wants to chat, make friends. But I’m not interested. Everyone who’s come into my life since the abduction, even those who’ve acted kind and concerned, have hurt me or betrayed me. There’s only one who’s ever truly made me feel safe.
The screen door bursts open and a male wearing blue jeans and a faded gray T-shirt walks in. He’s pissed, ferocious, and when he spots me on the couch, his eyes run over my body. A slow tingle makes its way up my spine. My body remembers him, even though my mind does not. This tall, heavily muscled Pantera, with short hair the color of night and eyes so dark green—and so fierce, I imagine everyone who stands before him trembles.
Everyone beneath him, too.
“Okay,” he says, stalking over to me, completely ignoring Dr. Julia. “We need to talk.”
My heart stirs with pleasure at his voice, and I instantly feel a calming sensation move over me. Yes , my body says, this is the one . Unfortunately the doctor’s body is on high alert. She immediately gets in between us and puts her finger in the male’s broad chest.
“Striker,” she begins, her tone a blatant warning. “You need to go back outside and come in again with a new attitude.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I say quickly, before he can respond.
Striker turns to me, Julia too, and I give the woman a nod. It’s good. It’s fine. Surprised, she shakes her head, but gets out of the way. Green eyes blaze down on me. Curious. Irritated. It’s strange, but I don’t remember what this male and I did in this house over the past three days. I mean, I know because I was told, and because I have my sanity again. But I don’t remember it. All I have is a feeling. A deep connection. A sensation of well-being.
With this male, I am whole and protected.
I glance at Julia. It’s time for her to go. “Thank you, doctor,” I say pointedly.
She takes the hint, but is clearly concerned and hovers for a moment. “I can stay for awhile.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her.
“Parish is working, and I don’t have to rush back to the clinic.”
This time, Striker shoots her a severe glare. “She wants to be alone with me, Doc. Take a hint, and a hike.”
“With how you’re behaving,” she says, “do you think that’s a good idea?”
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks,” I say, rising from the couch. I have endless amounts of weakness inside me. My brain is sharp only when I get sufficient sex, my heart is mutilated, my nerves are shot…but I’m out of that hellhole. I’m alive, and I’m going to take what I want. What I deserve.
And what I deserve is to put the pieces of my life back together.
“I’ll call if I need anything, Dr. Julia.” I walk to the door and hold it open for her.
She looks from Striker to me, then back at Striker. She releases a breath. “You’d better behave yourself,” she warns before grabbing her bag.
He sniffs. “Sure thing.”
“You have my cell number,” she tells me as she heads out into the late afternoon sunshine.
“I do. Thanks, Julia.”
I close the door and return to the couch. As soon as I sit, I pat the leather cushion beside me. “I’m glad you came, Striker.”
He remains standing. “It wasn’t my choice, Female.”
I pretend not to feel a slight jab of pain. He doesn’t want to be here.
Especially doctors.
It was a doctor who took me, abducted me from my home, and brought me to one of the labs. Sold me.
If I could only remember where that was…where home is… It’s at the very edges of my mind.
“I’m fine,” I tell her, forcing a smile. “Thank you again for the clothes.”
“It’s my pleasure. And incredibly easy as we’re the same size.” She smiles brightly, and I get the distinct impression she wants to chat, make friends. But I’m not interested. Everyone who’s come into my life since the abduction, even those who’ve acted kind and concerned, have hurt me or betrayed me. There’s only one who’s ever truly made me feel safe.
The screen door bursts open and a male wearing blue jeans and a faded gray T-shirt walks in. He’s pissed, ferocious, and when he spots me on the couch, his eyes run over my body. A slow tingle makes its way up my spine. My body remembers him, even though my mind does not. This tall, heavily muscled Pantera, with short hair the color of night and eyes so dark green—and so fierce, I imagine everyone who stands before him trembles.
Everyone beneath him, too.
“Okay,” he says, stalking over to me, completely ignoring Dr. Julia. “We need to talk.”
My heart stirs with pleasure at his voice, and I instantly feel a calming sensation move over me. Yes , my body says, this is the one . Unfortunately the doctor’s body is on high alert. She immediately gets in between us and puts her finger in the male’s broad chest.
“Striker,” she begins, her tone a blatant warning. “You need to go back outside and come in again with a new attitude.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I say quickly, before he can respond.
Striker turns to me, Julia too, and I give the woman a nod. It’s good. It’s fine. Surprised, she shakes her head, but gets out of the way. Green eyes blaze down on me. Curious. Irritated. It’s strange, but I don’t remember what this male and I did in this house over the past three days. I mean, I know because I was told, and because I have my sanity again. But I don’t remember it. All I have is a feeling. A deep connection. A sensation of well-being.
With this male, I am whole and protected.
I glance at Julia. It’s time for her to go. “Thank you, doctor,” I say pointedly.
She takes the hint, but is clearly concerned and hovers for a moment. “I can stay for awhile.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her.
“Parish is working, and I don’t have to rush back to the clinic.”
This time, Striker shoots her a severe glare. “She wants to be alone with me, Doc. Take a hint, and a hike.”
“With how you’re behaving,” she says, “do you think that’s a good idea?”
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks,” I say, rising from the couch. I have endless amounts of weakness inside me. My brain is sharp only when I get sufficient sex, my heart is mutilated, my nerves are shot…but I’m out of that hellhole. I’m alive, and I’m going to take what I want. What I deserve.
And what I deserve is to put the pieces of my life back together.
“I’ll call if I need anything, Dr. Julia.” I walk to the door and hold it open for her.
She looks from Striker to me, then back at Striker. She releases a breath. “You’d better behave yourself,” she warns before grabbing her bag.
He sniffs. “Sure thing.”
“You have my cell number,” she tells me as she heads out into the late afternoon sunshine.
“I do. Thanks, Julia.”
I close the door and return to the couch. As soon as I sit, I pat the leather cushion beside me. “I’m glad you came, Striker.”
He remains standing. “It wasn’t my choice, Female.”
I pretend not to feel a slight jab of pain. He doesn’t want to be here.
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