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Warm hands slid down my chest as she pulled away. She was breathing heavy as she took the sight of me in. “I can’t believe you’re here, with me. And I’m kissing you, touching you. This is…perfect.”
I combed her hair back to fully see her face, and she closed her eyes as if drinking in the contact. For so long she’d been without, and I intended to worship her like she deserved. Kissing every surface on her face, her scent fused inside of me, tightening my body until I thought I’d snap in half.
Curling my fingers along the nape of her neck, I tunneled into her hair seeking out the piece that held her flowing locks hostage. I needed to feel it between my fingers, to grip it, to—
Nails dug into my skin, and I leaned back.
“Give me…a second,” she said, her eyes were closed tight.
“Lina?”
“I…can’t…” She groped her throat. “Hunter? Where…are…you?”
Tears welled in her now wide-open eyes, but I knew she couldn’t see me. Even though I was right there, she couldn’t see me. A flashback had taken over.
Shit.
“You’re okay. I’m right here. Shhh…” I wasn’t sure if I should touch her. “Just breathe, baby, breathe. In. Out. Do it with me. In. Out.”
“I…can’t…bag…I—”
“Okay. Okay.” I tore out of the bedroom and ran into the kitchen. I opened every drawer in the center island and found some brown paper bags. As I ran back to her, I blew into it, getting it ready.
“Here, baby, hold on.” I knelt before her heaving, shaking body, and held it to her mouth. She batted my hand away and put her hands up as if defending her face from something—no, someone. “It’s a bag, Lina. Breathe into it. You’re safe. They’re not here. Only me. You’re safe.”
She sagged forward, and I covered her mouth with the bag. “In. Out. Slowly. In. Out.”
The bag puffed out then collapsed, then puffed out again. Her frantic body calmed a little as her breathing regulated.
“That’s my girl. In. Out.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and tears spilled out the corners. Fear and embarrassment dimmed her eyes. Damn it, I’d pushed her too hard. Kissing and touching her, I’d lost control, taken things too far.
She gripped my shoulders as she took two more breaths, but these were shallow, weak.
Sagging onto the couch, her eyes rolled back, and her grip on me loosened. Her arms flopped down, the one hanging off the couch. “Lina?”
I pressed my finger to her neck to find her pulse hammering. As I held it there it started to even out with unconsciousness.
Damn those assholes who hurt her. I had to find out what happened. Keeping my hand on her shoulder to let her know, even in her unconsciousness, that I was still there, I grabbed my phone. Better get Mom over here to get Lina settled and stay with her. I refused to have her wake up alone but didn’t dare be here in case it scared her. After a flashback like that, she might wake up confused, and I’d already put her through enough tonight.
Plus, I had a little research to do.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Angelina
Distant humming lulled me out of the darkness, and I turned to my side, snuggling my soft blankets to me. Wait, was that the smell of cinnamon rolls?
I bolted up. Sun shone through my window, and I was tucked tight in bed, wearing my PJs. But how was that possible? I was with Hunter. Kissing him.
A flash of the vacant, brown eyes of the man raping me ran through my mind. The other guys. The knife. The blood. I coughed through the emotions ransacking my very being. I’d been kissing Hunter, wanting to touch him more, to get lost in him, but the images had taken over and I’d been instantly back in that stinky, smelly house.
I leapt off the bed and ran to the bathroom. I’d not eaten any food for so long there wasn’t anything to vomit, but my body didn’t care. It had to get the memories out somehow…
“Oh, honey.” Lisa’s voice came in from behind me. “It’s okay, honey, you’re safe. Shhh.”
Gentle hands tugged my hair back as my body tried to expel my spleen.
