Page 40 of Alpha's Embrace
I blinked up at Geo, willing him into focus. After a moment, there he was, magnificent, glowing, the visiting king who showed compassion, who took an interest in me until he was scared away by my strangeness, my alien culture.
But what had happened? Where were we? Certainly, we were still in the castle at the edge of the green sea where mad princes were held in chambers away from the world of Alpha and Omega men. At least, it was a comfort to think so.
Slowly, the memories began to seep in.
I remembered Tory coming into my room and shutting the door. He touched me and there was agony. And then nothing. I remembered thinking I was dying and in that moment the thumps and screams of my brothers went silent. Everything stopped. The world went away.
Geo stroked the top of my forearm.
My body heated up fast, the Burn overtaking me. I tried to lift my hands but straps held them down.
“Where am I?” I mouthed the words as they passed through my throat like air.
“You’re in the colony hospital. You’re fine. Don’t worry.”
I turned my head to glance at the straps holding me.
“For your own safety. We didn’t want you pulling out the I.V. or respirator.”
I wasn’t sure I believed him. After what happened, I was sure we would be taking backward steps. My room would be locked again. My freedoms curtailed.
Geo bent closer to me. I could feel his body heat and smell his cologne—or maybe it was just him. Coffee, which I’d only ever had once and liked, and hand sanitizer, but also deeper beneath all that a bouquet of salt and tart and flame, savory. I wanted him with my body. My mouth. My eyes. My mind.
“Do you remember what happened?
I gave a little shrug.
“Tory is injured.”
My eyes widened.
“You bit him.”
“I don’t remember.” My voice garbled the words but he understood me.
How could I have bitten him? I would never hurt anyone. I didn’t remember biting, but I did remember him hurting me. Had I lashed out at the last minute? If so, I did it on pure instinct, and with no intent to harm.
I frowned, trying to remember. Slowly, slices of memory, faint and disturbing, came back to me. His hand around my neck so tight I couldn’t breathe. My own hands trapped between us, trying to rise to his shoulders. Trying to push him back. Later, grabbing, pulling. My head moving into his deadly squeeze. My nose briefly touching his shirt. I’d opened my mouth. I’d caught my teeth against the cloth and closed down hard.
Tory had been about to kill me. I knew why. I remembered that part.
He was burning when he came into my room, but not from the Burn. His response was for me. Just for me.
Geo felt similar to me, but smelled sweeter. And his gestures were non-threatening. Controlled.
Tory had been out of control.
I wanted to tell Geo all of this. But I didn’t have the energy yet. Or the voice.
My body ached but something in my system dulled the discomfort. I was grateful for the drug, though it did nothing to calm my erection.
I squirmed to make myself more comfortable.
Geo adjusted my blanket, his eyes lingering at my midsection for a moment. His cheeks pinked a little. I loved his response.
At that moment, a doctor came into my room.
As my mind spun on the drug, the doctor and Geo spoke to each other.
