Page 25 of Deadly Desires

Jaxon must sense my inner turmoil because he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, placing a gentle kiss on the top of my head. I wish I could stay here forever.

Once the water starts getting cold, we both turn off the nozzles and get toweled off. Jaxon lends me a pair of his boxer briefs and a T-shirt. Both freshly dressed, Jaxon leads me back to his bedroom. I still can’t get over the view. It’s amazing. I never thought I would be a big inner city girl, but it’s beautiful. I can imagine watching the sun setting here every single night.

WHOA girl. Ok, slow down. I am getting too attached to this man too fast. What is it about him that has me so entranced?

Shaking myself out of my reverie, I see that Jaxon is waiting expectantly at the edge of the bed. When he sees that he has my attention, he holds out a hand and pulls me to him.

“Little sparrow, what are you thinking in that pretty head of yours?”

“Just that you’re wickedly handsome and attempting to steal my heart.”

“I don’t make attempts, Melody. I meant it when I told you I get what I want.”

I let out a little huff. He can be so infuriating. But isn’t that part of what I like about him, his possessiveness? He said it at the club, I belong to him. I think most girls would be pissed at that statement, maybe even call it a red flag; for me, it’s a fucking turn on.

Jaxon smirks at me. It’s like he can read my mind and knows I’m falling fast for him.

“Let’s lay down, little sparrow. It’s getting late and I know you’re exhausted.”

Climbing over him, I get comfortable in the bed and settle in. Before I can even get a “goodnight” out, I’m being pulled across the bed. Jaxon envelopes me in his arms, and I’ve never felt safer.

Seventeen

Melody

One year ago

All I hear is beeping and people talking, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. The air has a clean, sterile smell to it. I try to open my eyes but they feel so heavy, everything feels so heavy. It hurts to take too deep of breaths so I try to focus on evening out my breathing. I keep fighting to get my eyes opened, and finally I manage a small peak. The tiny action hurts and it doesn’t seem like my other eye is opening. I take a look at my surroundings but everything is so blurry.

“Hi there, hunny, how ya feeling,” asks someone behind me somewhere. I try to get words out but my throat is so dry. “Oh dear, here let me get you a water.”

I prop myself up a little bit while she’s gone, careful not to pull out my IV. She comes back shortly after with a cup of water with a straw and holds it up to my mouth so I can take a sip. I’ve concluded at this point that I’m in a hospital, but I don’t remember why. Everything is so foggy. The only thing I remember is being out with the girls bar hopping.

“Sweetie, the doctor will be in shortly. Try to get some rest until he’s here, OK?”

“Where are my parents? Has Brian visited?”

“Oh that must have been that handsome fellow that came by earlier this morning. He left that beautiful white rose on your table. Your parents just left a bit ago to get some rest. It’s five in the morning after all, dear.”

“How long have I been here?”

“Well, you’ve been here two days already. Your parents have been taking turns coming to see you.”

Her words shock me. Two days? What in the hell happened to me…

The nurse leaves and I lay down on the bed. I must doze off, because I’m startled awake by a knocking on the door. “Come in,” I say hoarsely. I reach over for the water and take a few more sips.

“Good morning, Miss Harper. I’m very impressed that you are awake so soon.”

“Am I not supposed to be?”

“Well with the… injuries… you sustained, I would have expected the swelling in your brain to take a few more days to subside. Now, that doesn’t mean we aren’t happy you’re awake. Everyone heals differently, and in your case, you’re a fighter.”

“What injuries did I sustain?”

“Well, you had a broken nose and a zygomatic fracture, which is just a fancy term for a broken cheekbone; that is stable and non-displaced. There was also blunt force trauma to the back of your head resulting in a skull fracture. Now the skull fracture wasn’t so serious that we needed to do any surgical repairs, thank goodness, but it’ll heal on its own after a while. It did cause some brain swelling, which is why you have been out for the last two days. You have numerous cuts and bruises all over your body, and significant bruising on your neck and ribs, which is why your throat probably feels very raspy right now and your sides ache…”

He starts to trail off, and I ask the next, more daunting question.

---