Page 66 of Fractured

Such an odd combination.

“And what do you want to do today?” I sighed as he massaged my hips and dug his fingers into the soft flesh of my back. If I pushed hard enough, I could blank my mind of everything except the feel of Saint wrapped around me and his masculine scent filling my nose.

Couldn’t I?

Damn, I wanted to, but even now, flashes of the bight fluorescent lights of the hospital took over my vision every few seconds.

“I have an idea. It’s something I used to do with my sisters. I think you’ll enjoy it.” The morning rasp was shaking loose from his voice, but he still had a timbre that sent tingles down my spine.

What would it sound like when he came apart in my arms? Now that was an idea I’d much rather focus on.

“Done.” I buried my nose in his throat as the stubble prickled against my cheek.

“Don’t you want to know what it is?” His fingers flexed as humor warmed his words.

“Yes, I need to know actually, but you can tell me about it on the way. What do I need to wear?” I stepped back and cleaned up the table where I had drunk my coffee. Some routines died hard, and this one probably never would. I needed my space to be clutter free, or else the mess would stress me out. And right now, I needed to remove any stressors as much as I could.

I blew out a hard breath.

As soon as I stepped away from Saint, some of those unwanted emotions crowded in again. What was wrong with me?

Well, I mean I knew I was fucked up already, but what was it about him or them that calmed me so much?

That was a thought for another day.

“What should I wear?” I asked as I headed for my bedroom. When I paused and looked over my shoulder, Saint was staring out of the window.

“Something warm, it looks like it’s going to be a chilly day.”

Ambrose and Kenzo were lightly snoring and didn’t so much as twitch as I swiftly got dressed and quietly brushed my teeth in the bathroom. For a second, I thought Atticus would wake up from his spot on the floor, so I stopped in my tracks, a sweatshirt dangling from one hand and a pair of old sneakers in the other.

He groaned and hugged the pillow tighter to his chest, then relaxed as he pressed his face into the pillow. Sighing, I continued out to find Saint dressed in the same jeans from yesterday but sporting a clean polo shirt. It was like his work attire was just part of who he was.

“I’ll drive.” He picked up my keys from the dish on the counter and opened the glass door for me to go through. “I left a note by the fridge, so they won’t be worried.”

Wow. I hadn’t even thought of that. All of my focus had been running away, not on ensuring the people close to me knew where I was. Especially when they expected me to be here when they woke up.

“Don’t look so upset. I took care of it. Come on.” He held out his hand, and as soon as my fingers slipped into his, calm settled over me like a warm blanket. I could breathe again.

Once we were in my car driving away, I fiddled with the radio until I found a soothing classical station. Most people wanted to listen to music they could sing along with, something familiar and comforting.

I was the same, only I didn’t want the words to encroach on the beauty of the music. No, I wanted to follow the journey of the notes and experience it as the musicians did. Or in this case, play it softly in the background because it was familiar and comforting in a way so much had not been in my life.

“Where are we going?” I watched the old houses pass as we left my neighborhood. Chain link fences disappeared as we traveled through more populated areas with concrete buildings and palm trees in the distance, close to the shore.

“A place called Atalaya’s Castle. Heard of it?” He glanced my way as he shifted in the driver’s seat.

“Actually yes. But it’s a drive from here. What, an hour and a half?” Folding my sweatshirt, I tucked it between me and the console so if didn’t get dirty on the floorboard.

“Something like that. It’s nearly a straight shot on the highway, so it shouldn’t be a bad drive. God, it’s been years since I’ve been though.” He scratched the top of his head as he appeared deep in thought.

And I jumped on it. Since Saint was the most distant, I knew the least about him. Somehow, I’d convinced myself if I could get to know him better, he’d stay with me longer.

“Why? Or why did you go before?”

“It’s somewhere my mom used to take us as kids and my sisters always loved it. It made them feel like princesses.” He snickered as if his sisters were anything but. I didn’t know them, but from what he said, they seemed kind of amazing. Although, that could just be me envious of a seemingly functional and loving family. One with their own issues but nothing so dangerous or upsetting as Lauren.

“I bet you made them feel like princesses.” The remark passed through my lips before I realized what I was saying, but reflecting on it, it was true. Saint was that knight in shining armor who protected and cared for those he loved, and even those he didn’t. He might not realize it, but I had a feeling that was why he picked the job he did in the first place.

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