Page 176 of Fixation
It couldn’t have been that long, given the fact that he wasn’t even supposed to be here.
He got called in for an emergency surgery in the middle of the night, and I watched him leave, his scrubs stretched over taut muscles.
I thought he would stay there, that he wouldn’t be back until after his morning shift.
That’s what anyone else would’ve done.
Anyone who isn’t my Anderson.
He has come home. He’s here, taking up all the air in the room. Filling it with his woodsy scent and dominant energy.
And he’s quiet. Hasn’t called my name. Hasn’t made a sound.
He’s waiting for me to make the first move. His prey.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as the temperature in the room drops. My breath catches in my throat.
His large T-shirt—the only clothing item I have on me except for my panties—isn’t keeping me warm.
Nothing can save me from him.
Who says I want to be saved?
I don’t.
Since the bicycle crashed into me, since we played our depraved doctor-patient game, I’ve been in heaven.
We haven’t had any mafia bosses hanging around our neighborhood that Anderson could tell. No detectives with their endless questions.
We’ve had love. And each other.
The man wouldn’t leave my side.
Whenever he’s home from work, Anderson hovers. Fusses. Makes sure I’m well fed, checks on my ankle, and carries me from room to room like I’m precious and breakable.
He takes an interest in my work. He rails me on every available surface. Calls me from the hospital for quick phone sex.
He’s insatiable, and so am I. I love being his good girl. His good patient.
Now I’m his prey.
Carefully, as if a predator is about to pounce, I put down my work tools. The solder wire and the flush cutter rest on my workbench.
Silence stretches, suffocating me while I wait.
Wait.
Wait.
He won’t say the wordRed. I don’t get any relief from it. I’m nowhere near out of the woods.
And I live for it.
“Harper.” His voice is rugged. Soaked in lust. In danger.
My body is frozen in place.
His steps are silent as he crosses my studio. I feel him first, not hearing him approach until he’s already standing behind me.
