Page 26 of Act of Command

Confusion coated his expression as he looked up at her. “Mae?”

“Yes.” Her palms went to his steely chest. She didn’t push off him. Didn’t question how he knew who she was. She just touched him, the warmth continuing. “I dreamt of you.”

His lips twitched and he nodded. “Love, you reached out mentally to me. You let me know I was looking in the wrong location for you.”

“What?” she questioned. The feel of his chest was amazing. She couldn’t seem to stop touching him. As she continued to run her fingers over it, she smiled. “It’s exactly how I sculpted it.”

He quirked a brow. “Come again?”

“Wow.”

“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice deep.

She just stared at him, unable to think much beyond how close he was. As her fingers eased over his injured side, her breath caught. “You’re the one who is hurt.”

He caught her hand in his and the heat intensified. She locked gazes with him, totally freaked out and excited, all at once. Her statue guy was real and he’d come for her. He was even better in the flesh. She’d not done the man justice in the sculpture. He looked her over, his gaze searing through her.

“I am slightly battered, but fine, Mae. I need to know if you are injured in any fashion.”

She shook her head. “Scared, but not hurt. I don’t feel great. They gave me something that I’m allergic to.”

His hand moved to the cheek where Denis had struck her. The man’s jaw hardened. “Who hit you?”

She dipped her head somewhat. “I’m okay. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

He ran his thumb over her cheek and stopped at her lip which was nearly all healed over. “I’m sorry.”

She just watched him. What did he have to be sorry for?

The edges of his entirely too kissable looking lips eased upwards. “I should have gone to you the minute I smelled you.”

Had he hit his head or something? Was he crazy? “Excuse me, but what?”

“On campus,” he said.

She blushed. “You remember seeing me on campus?”

“I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind,” he returned, making no move to push her from his body. “I was drawn to you then. I shouldn’t have ignored the pull. I should have gone to you. I could have prevented this.”

She grunted. “No. The jerk who stood me up could have prevented it. Not you. Whoever you are.”

The blond cringed and cast a soft look in her direction. “Mae, it’s me, Corbin.”

Corbin?

Her mind raced and she panted. “The guy who stood me up?”

He winced. “Yes.”

Mae pushed up and off him much faster than her body, still fighting off the effects of all the drugs, could handle. She swayed and the room spun wildly. Suddenly, Corbin was standing as well, yanking her against his powerful frame, steadying her. “Easy, love.”

She felt as if she’d just gotten off a carnival ride. For a moment, she dreaded she’d be sick. The closer Corbin held her to him, the more her stomach eased. She rested her forehead against his shoulder and let him hold her. “You never showed. I waited over an hour.”

He tensed, still holding her. “I’m so unbelievably sorry, Mae.”

She felt it deep down that he meant every word he said. Another thought occurred to her. “I sculpted the same guy my mother insisted I go on a date with?”

He touched her chin, lifting her face so that their gazes met. Confusion knit his brow.

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