3
AURORA
I can hear people randomly talk but can never make out much of what they are saying to one another. As soon as I start to wake, sleep pulls me back under. I’m not scared there. I should be. A man I don’t know took me to his home and promised me that no one would hurt me. He’d also promised me he wouldn't call the police or alert anyone about me.
It was kind of him considering I barely told him anything about myself. For all he knows, I could be a criminal. His voice is the one I hear the most. It’s brought me a form of comfort that I can’t even begin to explain. He’s bossy but in a sweet way. I didn’t know that was a thing, but his orders were also for me to rest. He is constantly reassuring me that I’m okay and that I’m safe.
This time when my eyes start to flutter open, I manage to finally keep them that way. Once my eyes adjust, they focus on a window with the drapes pulled closed. The sun peeks in from the bottom. I glance around the large room, taking in my surroundings. A chair sits right up against the bed near me, and there is a book on the nightstand next to it.
I continue to scan the room, spotting a fireplace and sitting area before my attention is drawn to two open doors that lead into what I’m guessing is a bathroom. I have become very aware of the fact that I need to use it. I turn my head more, my breath catching when I see Mikael on the other side of the bed. He’s fully dressed, lying on top of the comforter. His eyes are closed. Yes, he’s as handsome as I remember.
Now, however, I get to take my time studying his face. From his full lips to his hard jawline and the scar that runs through his eyebrow. A small imperfection that isn’t an imperfection at all. It only adds to the whole appeal. My fingers itch to reach out and run them through his thick dark hair. He saved me. How will I ever repay him?
“Do you like what you see, sweetheart?” His eyes open before he rolls onto his side to face me.
I open my mouth to speak, but my throat is too dry to get anything out. Mikael is up and around the bed too quickly for a man his size. He brings a glass of water to my lips with a straw. I take a few large gulps.
“How is your pain?”
“I think okay,” I croak out. “But”—I lick my lips—“I need the…” My eyes flick to the bathroom, my throat still dry.
“All right.” He pulls the blanket back and lifts me from the bed. I wrap my arms around him and fight the small groan of pain I want to let out. I’m not sure if it’s from where I’d been hit or if my body is just stiff from lying still for so long. “I’ll get you some pain meds.”
“I don’t want to go back to sleep.” I think the medications have been making me even more sleepy.
“They shouldn’t knock you out. My brother Ezra came by this morning and took your IV out. It was hitting you with more power.” He slowly lowers me to my feet in front of the toilet. I glance down to see I’m out of the dress I was put into. Now I’m wearing a giant buttoned-up shirt.
“My clothes?” I ask.
“I had to get you out of the wet dress. You were shivering.” I nod in understanding.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” He gives me a half smile, stepping back, but he doesn’t leave. “I’ll turn around, but I’m not leaving. I’ll be pissed if the progress we’ve made in getting you better is wiped out because you fall.” He turns his back.
Slowly I work my panties down my thighs and sit down on the toilet. My bladder is too full for me to be shy. When I’m done, which seems like an eternity later, I actually feel even better. Mikael turns back around when I’m on my feet and eyes me as I slowly but surely make my way to the sink to wash my hands.
“You’re walking better than I thought you’d be.” He hands me a towel.
“The car didn’t really hit me that hard.” It had almost come to a full stop. It only tapped me, causing me to lose my balance. It basically knocked me over more than anything. The pain hadn’t come from the car hitting me, it was when I hit the ground that it shot through my body.
“You were still hit by a car after God knows what was done to you by Edward Blackstone.” I drop the hand towel to slowly turn to face him. How the heck does he know about Edward?