Page 112 of Breaking Free

Tristan curved his hand around her thigh and glanced at her hands. “Maybe you should have gone to the ER to get checked out.”

“My wrist is okay. But I feel strange. Like I might collapse from exhaustion any second now, but like I’m coming out of my skin at the same time.”

“You’re crashing. Talk to me.”

“Crashing how?”

“When we came in, you were running for your life. You were experiencing a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, which is normal. Unfortunately, what goes up must come down. This is the letdown after the surge, the same way sub drop sometimes happens after subspace.”

With a sigh, she uncrossed her legs only to cross them again on the other side. “I’ve gotta admit, I prefer flying from the feel-good chemicals and the wonderful floaty feeling that follows.”

“If your wrist weren’t injured, I’d take care of that for you.”

She glanced over at him suddenly. “How?”

“How do you think?”

On board with his cure, especially since it would distract her from her thoughts, she insisted, “It’s okay. Really.” But she winced when she tried to move it, proving it wasn’t.

“An increased pain threshold is often part of the rush. Like Axyl wasn’t feeling the slices in his arms. Nothing we said could convince him not to go after Morgan with us.” His fingers flexed, giving her thigh a little squeeze. “Your wrist is throbbing now, isn’t it?”

“A little,” she admitted.

“After a hot bath, ice for that wrist, and a glass of wine, you’ll feel better. If not, you think I’m good with shoulders, wait until you experience a full-body massage.”

Forget about wine and ice. More than anything, she wanted his hands kneading away the jumpy, jittery feeling that lingered. She pressed her good hand to her chest, hoping to ease the ache there, too. It wasn’t from the fall or the intense drama but because she was head over heels for the man beside her. And he felt something, too. With everything going on, she didn’t miss how he’d called her sunshine, and he hadn’t objected when she planted herself in his lap and practically glued herself to his body.

It went above and beyond concern for a client, a neighbor with benefits, or a play partner. So, how did she get him to see it as love without risking pushing him away?

Chapter 27

SPRINTING WITH EVERYounce of his strength, he gasped for air, his lungs searing with each breath. But no matter how hard he pushed or how deep he dug, he wasn’t able to stop the wicked-looking blade from pressing against her delicate throat.

“Don’t,” he bellowed as he watched a droplet of her blood become a crimson trickle. Her quivering lips formed the shape of his name, a silent plea for him to save her.

He flung his body forward in a desperate attempt to wrench her away from the clutches of the deranged monster. But it was too late. The once-vibrant light in her eyes faded and went dark.

“No! Not again!” Tristan shouted as he shot up in bed, drenched in a cold sweat.

With the fear and panic of the nightmare still clinging to him, he reached for Piper but found only an empty space. She had gone to bed with him and instantly fell asleep in his arms. Even though the threat was over, Tristan couldn’t find the same peace. A madman had been living practically under their noses and had access to her every day at work. He couldn’t bear to think how badly it might have ended and couldn’t close his eyes. He’d seen three, four, and five a.m. during the interminable night.

When his gaze shifted to the window then the clock, it was 5:50 and still dark. Panic surged through him. Where was she?

“Piper!” he called as he surged from the bed. He lurched suddenly, stubbing his toe on a chair in a random place. “Fucking hell,” he cursed, limping toward the door.

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