I hear his voice a split second before I see him. His face blocks out the blonde woman’s. And suddenly, he’s the only one I can see.
Anton’s woodsy scent teases my nostrils as he leans in a little closer. I realize a moment later that I’ve stopped fighting. And when I look down, I understand why. Anton has both my hands locked down against my sides. His grip is firm but not angry.
“Jessa, stop,” he says softly. “There’s no need to fight anymore. You’re safe.”
I shake my head and try to get out from under him. But he tightens his grip on me. His eyes bore into mine. He doesn’t shift his gaze when he barks out an order to the staff. “Out. All of you.”
“I need to check—”
“Out.”
Without another word of protest, everyone files out of the room. Only when the door clicks shut do I feel like I can breathe again.
Still, Anton doesn’t release me. He keeps his hands over mine, though his touch grows gentler.
“Take a deep breath,” he instructs me.
I do.
“Another one.”
“Anton—”
“Just do it.”
I do.
He nods. “Do you want some water?”
“No.”
“Drink some anyway,” he says firmly, taking the glass of water that the nurse abandoned earlier. He brings it to my lips.
Leave it to Anton Stepanov to succeed where everyone else failed. I take a few tentative sips, keeping my eyes on him the whole time.
There’s a faint shadow of stubble along his jawline. I want to nuzzle against it. His gray eyes are dark and tired. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days. And yet despite that, he’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
“Your t-shirt is wet,” he says with a frown. “Lift your arms.”
“I can do it myself.”
“Okay then. Go ahead.”
“Now?” I ask, balking at him. “In front of you?”
I can tell he’s trying really hard not to roll his eyes. “I’ve seen you naked before, Jessa. In case you forgot.”
I sigh. I’m too weary for his usual games right now. “Fine. Help me.”
I expect a smug smile or a sly comment. But he gives me neither. Instead, he gently peels my shirt off. Only once it’s off am I aware of the fact that I’m not wearing a bra. My breasts hang free, and Anton’s eyes find them instantly.
I feel the urge to cross my arms over my chest, but I can’t deny that a part of me likes the fact that he’s watching me. That he’s seeing me in a way no one else ever has.
He scoops the fresh shirt up from where the nurse dropped it and returns to my bedside. As he moves closer to me, my skin heats up. He takes his time dressing me. His fingers graze my side and electricity jolts through me.
The same electricity that got me into this mess in the first place.
When I’m dressed, I shrink back in bed and pull the covers tight around me, hoping that it’ll act as a barrier between us, even while knowing that nothing has that kind of power.