Chapter One
This isn’t right at all.
Frustration caused Kat to toss her pen across the desk. After six different attempts at the same cartoon, she’d hit her limit.
She needed to get something new up on her store, since she’d kept up with a biweekly schedule for over two years without fail, but nothing had come to her. Somehow, all those cute little ideas she normally had, the quips, the humor, the adorable characters with large eyes and charm, sat just out of reach.
Kat folded her arms on her desk and dropped her head onto them. Her back ached from the hours she’d spent staring at her sketch pad, from all the attempts that had led to nothing. She kept thinking that if she started drawing, some idea would come to her.
It always had before.
The problem?
Each time she tried, her brain went AWOL, and she found herself back in that damned hotel room. A flash of pain, the memory of a smirking face—
“Knock it off!” She stood, shaking her hands as if that would dispel the memory she’d been running from for the past few weeks.
It didn’t work, but what other option did she have?
Kat paced, then reached to smooth her hands over her hair. She grimaced at how oily it was. How long had it been since she’d washed it?
Days. Maybe longer?
The sensation grossed her out, but the idea of stripping down, of taking a shower, that seemed far worse. She hadn’t been willing to attempt it, choosing instead to use clean wipes on the important areas.
Fox Asher, the doctor who had taken care of her at the hospital, had said no baths anyway.
Fine by me. What does it matter?
Kat sighed and shook her head. She’d never been a coward before, so what was wrong with her now?
The ringing of her phone made her jump, her fingers clutching the front of her button-up pajama top, as if holding it closed made it into some sort of armor. Once it filtered through her head that it was only her phone, Kat cursed herself and picked up her cell from the desk.
Sunny’s name flashed across the screen, and the desire to ignore it hit her.
Then again, if she didn’t answer, Sunny would show up with Garrison, Connor and Trent in tow. Kat had ignored calls for days, having no desire to talk to anyone, but that sort of understanding only went so far.
Not only was Sunny sweet, but the Doms of Sanctuary, the BDSM club that felt like the one place in the whole world where Kat belonged, were both protective and tenacious. The last thing she needed was for any of them to show up and disturb her hiding.
She sighed and answered the call. “Hey, Sunny.”
“Kat…” Sunny’s voice was exactly what Katdidn’twant to hear. It was pity and worry.
At least it was Sunny and not Ell, though. Sunny was sweet and worried, but Ell hadbeenthere. Kat couldn’t handle seeing that knowledge in Ell’s face.
Kat forced some levity into her voice, faking a smile she didn’t feel. “What’s with that voice? Did you make the mistake of taking my advice and hiding Trent’s paddle?” The last word caught in Kat’s throat.
Something that would have made her laugh before felt like swallowing rusty nails, and that same memory of pain hit her.
“I just miss you,” Sunny said, ignoring Kat’s statement. Damn, it would have been so much easier if Sunny was carefree. Instead, she had that‘I really care’tone of voice.
“I’ve been busy with work,” Kat lied.
“Uh-huh. Well, I thought maybe you could come over soon? We could have dinner. I’ll cook something you love.”
“I’m swamped right now. It’s not a good time.”
Sunny sighed. “You can’t just hide away from the world.”