“Go home to your wife Luke,” she sighed at him. “She’s the one you want…whatever the fight was about just apologize.”
“I’m not apologizing to her,” he stated grabbing her, but it soon became evident that his arousal wasn’t sticking.
“Jesus Luke, just admit it…you’re in love with your wife.”
“Of course, I love Dani…I just can’t stand her.”
She flung her head back and laughed finally stating, “You are an idiot, Luke. She’s the only one you want…so go home and enjoy it. You can’t tell me the sex with her is that bad…good lord Luke…” she added seeing the flash of instant desire that had passed over him, “if it’s that good I don’t see how you managed to even make it over here. A word of advice…next time you’re arguing do it in the bedroom because then when you feel like having sex, all you have to do is reach out and pull her into your arms.”
Luke hated that she was right but the instant he’d gotten back to the hotel he’d taken one look at the still seething Dani and had almost ripped her clothes off her. It seemed she was in a like state of mind and had returned the favor. They’d never made it to the bedroom that night or too many other times to count the last almost three years. That was the Dani he wanted back, not this shell that had been in his bed for the past few months.
Dani began to twist trying to get out of his arms and his eyes flew back to her, but she was still firmly asleep.
“Dani…come on Dani, shh…it’s okay,” he soothed as a scared cry caught in her throat. He tightened his hold on her and tried again, “Dani…come on baby it’s just a bad dream.”
“No…no…I can’t,” she whimpered against him and buried her face in his chest.
“Dani, shh…it’s just me, you’re safe,” he promised remembering the last time she’d acted like this—the week after she’d been put into the trunk of a car and left for dead.
Dani felt like she was suffocating. The men in her dream pushed her further and further into the corner and she couldn’t move. A set of arms snaked around her, and she felt the scream well up in her throat…
“Dani!” Luke half-shouted trying to get through to her and her eyes flew open, the panic still showing clearly, even as they focused on him. He held her a bit tighter hoping it would help drive the nightmare away, but it only increased her agitation.
“Luke…let me go…” she forced out as a roaring came over her. His arms dropped and she sprinted from the bed, barely making it to the bathroom before being sick.
Dani dragged a towel from the rack and wrapped it around her. She hated being naked and on display, and she needed fresh air to send the last of the effects away. She pushed open the balcony doors letting the cool breeze drive away the panic that threatened her rapidly beating heart.
Luke found her sitting on the floor her back against the doorjamb of the flung open balcony doors. He’d heard her being sick and was thankful that he’d grabbed his pants as he crossed over to her.
“What the hell was that?” he asked crouching down leaving little room between them.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she felt the air thinning despite the open doors. “Luke, please…”
“What’s wrong Dani? Don’t bother denying it…you’ve been thrashing in your dreams for the last twenty minutes and now you’re sick, what gives?”
“Please…just back up,” she begged hating that she was displaying the slightest bit of pain to him.
“Back up? Jesus Christ Dani…are you pregnant?” he asked as a tiny piece of hope fluttered through him.
“No…just please…back up…” she said, and he moved slightly away as he reached for her arm. Her pulse was racing, and he could tell that she was pale beneath her tan.
“I’m calling a doctor.” Her hand wrapped around his wrist refusing to let go as she shook her head. “Damn it Dani…you’re sick.”
“No…” She managed the word as the world slowly fell back into place. “I’m not sick…just…no don’t,” she said when he tried to pull her into his arms.
“What the hell is going on?” he demanded as her pulse spiked again as he tried to hold her.
“Please…just sit with me?” she asked letting her head fall onto his shoulder.
Luke’s mind was racing. This was not Dani…nothing about this was her. He held her wrist keeping track of her pulse as it finally began to fall back to normal. When it held constant for a few minutes, he looked down at her and saw her eyes closed as she rested her head against his shoulder.
He worried she’d passed out, that something was terribly wrong with her. “Dani…”
“I’m okay…” she replied instantly allowing her eyes to open and she focused her gaze on the opposite wall.
“What was that…what’s going on?”
“Does it matter?” she countered getting up. She felt him do the same and she closed the balcony door before heading to the sink to wash her face.