Page 1 of Lust & Lies
CHAPTER ONE
NOELLE
FIRST, THERE WAS ONLYdarkness.
Then there was a blinding light that made me close my eyes again as I tried to process what was going on. An eerie silence greeted me. No. It wasn’t silence. I heard sounds, but they were muffled as if the world had been buried under layers of cotton.
I slowly reopened my eyes, allowing them to adjust to the brightness. I squinted up at the light overhead. It wasn’t as harsh as I first believed. I blinked, my eyes further adjusting as the world around me became clearer.
A low beep echoed somewhere nearby. I inhaled, a faint scent wafting over me. A scent that seemed out of place yet was somewhat familiar. My gaze drifted left, landing on a man seated beside me.
His head was bowed slightly, his chin resting against a closed fist, and his elbow braced on the edge of the bed. His eyes were shut, and he looked like he hadn’t moved in hours. I studied him, taking in his appearance.
He was handsome, I’d give him that. His tan skin and almond-shaped eyes let me know he was Asian, but I wasn’t sure what part of Asia he came from. South Korea, maybe? He had long eyelashes, and his hair was dark and short.
He had a chiseled jawline and shoulders that filled out the tailored lines of his shirt. His black suit jacket had been foldedand placed across his lap. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, the sleeves pushed to his elbows, revealing strong forearms.
Yeah, he was handsome, but who was he and why was he here? More importantly, where was here? I tried to move, but it hurt to do so. Wincing, I held myself still, waiting for the pain to fade. My slight movement awakened the stranger next to me.
His eyes fluttered open and widened after he blinked a few times. A look of relief passed over his face, then something else, something I couldn’t decipher. His lips parted, and his words came out in a deeper tone than I’d expected.
“Baby, you’re awake. Good. God, I’ve been so worried. For a while there, I thought I’d lost you.”
Baby?
Was he talking to me? My confusion must’ve been written all over my face, because he looked at me more closely now, dark gaze peering into mine.
“You know who I am, don’t you?” he asked, voice still groggy from sleep.
I wanted to say yes. That would be the natural response, right? However, the truth washed over me like ice water, chilling me to the bone. I had no idea who he was, while he was staring at me like he’d known me forever.
Hands at my sides, I gripped the sheets, a strange unease crawling up my spine. Who was he? He’d called me baby. That meant I knew him, meant I was special to him. Yet, I’d never seen this man before in my life.
The harder I searched my mind for answers, the more questions I found. I didn’t know this man. I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know what day it was. Hell, I didn’t even know what year it was. What was wrong with me?
“I...” My voice came out hoarse. I swallowed and tried again. “Who... are you?”
Something passed over his face, something quick, subtle. If I’d blinked, I might have missed it. Disappointment? Hurt? Relief? Whatever it was, it was gone as quickly as it appeared. The stranger smiled at me. But I could tell it was forced because it didn’t reach his eyes.
“It’s okay. The doctor warned me that you may not remember me. I just want you to know you’re safe,” he murmured, reaching for my hand.
His skin was warm, his touch gentle. Yet, it felt foreign to me.
I licked my dry lips and asked again, “Who are you?”
His expression softened a bit when he said, “I’m your husband.”
Husband? I yanked my hand back before I could stop myself. Pain flared up my arm. And that’s when I noticed the IV in my hand.
“Careful,” he told me. “It took them a long time to find a vein. I don’t want them to have to stick you again. I can’t stand seeing you in pain.”
My gaze searched his. He appeared truly concerned for me, as a husband should. But if he were my husband, why didn’t I remember him? This felt wrong. It felt... uncomfortable. Unbelievable. Husband? Why did I have to take his word for it? Why was I alone with him?
I shook my head. “I don’t... I don’t know you.” I could feel a panic attack coming on. “I’ve never seen you before. I...”
“Calm down, love,” he muttered, reaching for me but stopping just short of touching me when I shrank away from him. “I know this is hard on you, baby,” he continued, hands hovering over mine. “The doctor said it might take time.”
Time for what? What doctor?
