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“Well, you’ve sustained a decent concussion, so the doctor wants you here a little longer so he can keep an eye on you. Are you experiencing any double vision or a headache?” she asked.
“It’s fine,” I said as I pushed myself farther up Grant’s body. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Grant said. “Yes, she’s in pain. Is there something you can give her?”
“There is. Let me go put in a request for it. I’ll be back in a few minutes. You might as well get comfortable because you’re not going anywhere anytime soon,” she said with a pointed look.
“Great,” I murmured.
Grant’s fingers caressed my hair, lulling me back to sleep. But when darkness overtook me, all I saw was Ike. I saw the anger in his eyes, and I could hear the disgust in his voice. Whore. Slut. All the names he called me. I felt myself pinned back against the wall, and I could hear his buckle jingling behind me. I could feel his hand clamping down on my throat and cutting off my air supply.
I jerked awake and felt a pair of strong arms around me. I tried to push them away as I sat up on the bed. My head wasn’t pounding anymore, but I still felt sick to my stomach. Bile was creeping up the back of my throat as someone slid from my hospital bed.
“Theresa. Open your eyes. It’s me.”
Grant.
I could hear his voice.
I felt his hands on top of mine, trying to soothe me. I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, and the bright light made me close them tightly again, but there he was. Grant. The big, bad-boy who was so tender with me.
“Look at me,” he said. “You’re safe.”
I opened my eyes again and I reached out for his shirt and pulled him back to me. My back fell onto the hospital bed, and I urged Grant’s body to cover me. I didn’t want to see Ike anymore. I didn’t want to dwell on him any longer. All I wanted was Grant. His voice. His touch. His smile. His protection. I wanted his muscles draped over me and his voice in my ear and his presence surrounding me for as long as I could have it.
For as long as he could promise.
“It’s okay. Come here. I’m here, Theresa. I’m not going anywhere.”
His voice was low, and it sent shivers up my spine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he snaked his behind my back. I could feel his muscles twitching, blanketing me as he sat on the side of my bed again. I buried my face into the crook of his neck and sniffled, trying to keep my tear
s at bay.
“Please stay with me,” I said breathlessly.
“They’d have to drag me out of here in chains,” Grant said.
I laid my cheek on his shoulder as he cradled my body. The rhythmic sounds of monitors beeping were the only sounds filling the room. I hugged Grant as tightly as I could and committed to memory the feel of him. This was how a man should treat a woman.
I never wanted to let go of him.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps were echoing in the hallway. I panned my gaze over to the door and saw a tall figure appear in the doorway. I felt Grant tense next to me as I lifted my head up and blinked to try and rid my eyes of their blurriness.
But when I heard his voice, anger welled within me.
I was going to kill Hollis.
“Didn’t I tell you once to stay away from my daughter?”
“Dad? What the hell are you doing?” I asked.
My throat burned with every word I spoke. The swelling around my neck and throat was causing pain every time I swallowed. My voice felt like nothing but a whisper and sounded like sandpaper.
“You stay out of this. You clearly aren’t capable of making decent decisions on men,” my father said.
“Says the guy who approved of Ike for years,” I said.
“I knew the past couple of years with him were rough, and I made that known. And now you’re in the hospital clinging to yet another man not worthy of your time!”
