I can’t make my lips move to say anything. But I feel the sting of tears in my eyes.
“Don’t cry,” he whispers, reaching out and running his knuckles down the side of my face. “You’re okay. You’re safe now. It’s over.”
I try to open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Panic grips my chest that there’s still tape on my face. My chest gets heavy, and I feel like I can’t breathe.
“Raylee,” Colt warns. “Raylee, stop.” He’s bent over me, holding both of my wrists in his hands.
I blink, confused. Stop what? I can’t breathe. The tape. Get it off.
He yanks me to sit up, and the room sways while he pulls my legs to hang off the side of a table.
“Don’t.” He looks over my shoulder and snaps, “Don’t. I’ll calm her down.” His eyes come back to mine. “Look at me, princess.”
I blink again, clearing my vision, and he gives me a soft smile. “That’s it. Breathe for me.” He sucks in a deep breath, and I do the same. “The tape is gone.”
I shake my head.
He nods. “Yes, it is. Feel.” He lowers my heavy arms to my lap, and then I feel his warm hands on my neck. He runs them up my jawline and over my chin. Then cups my face. I lift my hands and place them over his. “See. It’s gone.”
I lick my lips and taste blood. Parting them again, I take in a deep breath.
“That’s it.” He smiles.
“Co … lt,” I choke out.
“Yeah, it’s me, princess.”
My eyes dart around the large room. I see Alex and Jenks leaning up against a wall. Alex’s arms are crossed over his chest while Jenks stares at me. I see the guy who held the light to my eyes dressed in a white lab coat. He’s standing beside a guy I don’t know who has his hands shoved into the pockets of his black dress slacks. My breathing picks up again, my pulse racing.
“Look at me.” Colt brings my eyes back to his. “You’re doing great, princess.”
My teeth start to chatter, that warm feeling leaving me shivering, and I whisper, “I’m cold.”
“Here.” He pulls the blanket up and around my back, tucking it right under my chin and crossing it, pinning my arms inside. I wrap them around my stomach. “Better?”
I nod. “Thank you.”
Leaning in, he kisses my forehead, and I sniff, trying to will my body to wake up. Where are we? How did I get here? The guy I’m assuming is a doctor said the pain medication was working. Is that why I feel numb and sluggish at the same time?
Someone clears their throat, and out of the corner of my eye, I see it’s the older guy with the white coat on. “I need everyone to clear the room.”
Colt stands to his full height, jaw sharp. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The doctor walks over to us. “I need to speak to her,” he argues.
“Then fucking speak,” Colt snaps.
The doctor looks over at the man dressed in a button-up and slacks. He nods to the doctor, who then averts his eyes down to mine. “Raylee, I know this is hard. But with your consent, I’d like to have a sexual assault nurse examiner come in and see you. I can have her here in thirty minutes.”
I feel Colt’s body stiffen against my legs since he stands so close to me.
“There’s no need,” I say, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Colt lets out a long breath as if he was holding it in.
“I know this is hard,” the doctor repeats. “But there could have been drugs involved,” he goes on. “You could have been unconscious—”
“I was awake when he started to rape me,” I interrupt the doctor, and the room falls silent. Blood starts rushing in my ears. I’m glad I’m wrapped in the blanket because it helps shield the fact that my body is now trembling at having to admit that out loud. But I don’t want a nurse to give me an exam. It won’t do me any good. Nate is dead. I’m not going to be pressing charges.
“Started?” the man in the slacks asks, breaking the silence.
I nod and whisper, “I killed him before he could finish.” At least I think I did. He was dead, right?
The doctor asks, “Did he use a condom?”
I lick my lips and taste the blood that still lingers. “I … I don’t know.” I guess he could have put one on. I almost blacked out from him choking me right before. We always used them when we were dating. But as much as I was fighting, I can’t see him taking the time to do that. The only person I’ve never used a condom with is Colt.
The older man looks from Colt to me. “There’s always a chance of pregnancy—”