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I sniff his bare chest, a bit tentative knowing it’s a strange thing to do. Yet, I want to sniff Donnelly all over like a bloodhound.
He watches with a rising smile. “Smell away, space babe.”
My heart pitter-patters. He calls mespace babe? “My nose is powerful,” I warn.
“Good. I’ll triple-down. I smell amazing.”
I smile. “Gutsy.”
“Been taking risks all my life. Think I can handle this one.” He raises his arm off my shoulders, opening himself up to me and letting me go free. I inhale around his collar, up towards his neck. It’s difficult to pry my gaze off his while I smell him. His eyes…they remind me of blue spinel gems. How many times have I drowned in those blue pools?
More questions infiltrate. How did we become friends? Are we technically dating even though he’s not my boyfriend? Are we just friends-with-benefits?
Why do you look like you want to kiss me?
I inhale deeply at the nape of his neck. “Mint,” I whisper against his skin. “And sweat.” I love his scent. His strong hand is suddenly on my other hip, and feeling the force of him pulses a need in me. Only, Donnelly is lifting meoffhis body. I had somewhat crawled up him and straddled his waist, and now he sets me delicately on the mattress.
“Shit,” he curses, tangled in some wires and tubes connected to my arms. He’s careful about unwinding them.
I notice the bulge in his sweatpants. Heat burns my cheeks. “Were you my first?”
He flinches. “Your first what?”
I’m more afraid of this answer, and I hesitate to ask again. “…did you take my virginity?”
It takes him a second before he says, “No.”
Then who did?My eyes grow. “Do you know who it was?”
“You really wanna know?” he questions, stifling a cringe. “You could just wait. These memories might come back tomorrow for all we know, and you’ll have the answers then.”
I nod, wanting to believe that.
After untangling the wires, I tell him, “I like your scent.”
Donnelly looks me over. “Doesn’t seem like you like it if it turns your smile upside-down.”
“I just wish it triggered a memory.” I glance nervously at the door, like an invisible hourglass has flipped. All the sand is nearly collected at the bottom. “If my family thinks I don’t remember the past three years, they’re going to be so concerned. I just don’t want that kind of worry or pressure. It’s already hard enough not remembering.”
He nods. “I get it.”
“You do?”
“Sure,” he breathes. “You and I are the same. We keep our issues to ourselves because letting other people see ‘em makes them bigger than they have to be. Gives power to them. Makes them feel more unbeatable than they are. It’s easier to just keep that stuffhere.” He touches his hand to his heart.
I nod strongly, and a knock sounds before the door opens.
“Miss Hale…” The brunette nurse skids to a halt. “You. Get off her bed, rightnow.” Her scathing glare at Donnelly sends a chill down my spine. “Now!”
“I’m going,” Donnelly says. He’s being careful not to yank any cords attached to me.
I grasp at the wrinkled sheet where he sat. Too slow to catch him. “Wait,” I say, panic reigniting. “Let him stay. He can stay.”
“No, he can’t,” the nurse forces out coldly. “Visitors aren’t allowed right now. Especially nothim. Get. Out.”
What? My perception of reality is fogged, but I hang on to one belief:I can trust Donnelly.He has my crystal.
I have his watch.
