Page 32 of Deceptive Lies

Trapped in a nightmare but one that had nothing to do with sleeping.

Her nightmare was all too real.

“Come on, honey, snap out of it.”

If only she could.

If only escaping from her tormentor was as easy as opening her eyes.

“Wake up for me, Willow. Now.”

A sharp sting on her cheek ripped her from sleep.

Panting, shaking, confused, Willow’s gaze roamed the area trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

“It’s okay, honey, you're all right. You're safe. You're in my hotel room.”

The voice was soothing, washing over her overheated skin like a cooling balm. It calmed her racing heart even before she could properly process and figure out who it came from.

“There you go, that’s good, honey, calm your breathing for me.”

A face leaned in close, and slowly her vision cleared enough for the features to come into focus.

Storm-gray eyes.

Framed by long, dark lashes.

Thick dark hair framing a strong face.

He was shirtless and in the bed beside her.

Heat emanated off him, but not the kind of stifling heat that had surrounded her in the underground cell. This was pleasant and cozy and made her want to snuggle into it, bury her head in the sand, and pretend this whole mess was over and she’d never have to worry about the evil professor again.

But she couldn’t do that.

Even hurting as she was, even exhausted as she was, even with the lingering fear of the nightmare fresh in her veins, Willow knew she had a long road ahead of her. A long fight to make sure Professor Mahmoud was broughtto justice.

“Your skin feels like ice,” Cooper murmured, running a hand up and down her arm, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

It was only then that she realized she was no longer wearing the black dress the professor had put her in the day he abducted her. Now she was wearing a black T-shirt that was more like a dress on her, and a pair of sweatpants covered her legs, which were twisted in the covers. Her feet were bare, the sweatpants rolled up several times around her ankles. The clothes had to be Cooper’s. He must have undressed her while she was unconscious.

“I just cleaned you up and put my clothes on you,” Cooper told her, reading her mind. As though expecting his proximity might push her over the edge, he shifted away from her, moving to get off the bed.

The second she lost the contact of his hand on her forearm, Willow reacted purely on instinct. Reaching out to curl her fingers around his, clinging to him in a way that certainly didn't prove she was the strong woman she believed herself to be.

Right now she needed Cooper.

Not just to rescue her, he’d already done that, it wasn't even need in a way she could explain, even to herself. All she knew was that she wanted him close. His touch didn't scare her, and while she might have preferred him not to see her naked while she was vulnerable, she already knew he wasn't the kind of man to take advantage. He’d been taking care of her, and after spending two weeks in hell, she was so very grateful for his tenderness.

“Thank you,” she whispered, meeting his gaze so he would know she was telling the truth.

For a moment, Cooper studied her gaze. She could feel the tension emanating from him in the tense way he held himself, then it faded, and he relaxed. “You're welcome. Although I think given half a chance you would have found a way to escape on your own.” He winked, and the smile he gave her transformed his entire face into something that was beyond words, sexy and gorgeous.

His words pulled a small giggle out of her, but then she winced as the pain throbbing through her body came roaring back with a vengeance. For the last two weeks, she’d had to ignore how bad herinjuries were because she didn't have the luxury of spending time catering to them.

But now she was safe, at least for the moment, although given Professor Mahmoud’s reach, she couldn’t guarantee she’d stay safe, and she could no longer ignore the pain.

Again, Cooper seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. Giving her fingers a squeeze, he released them and then climbed from the bed. “You need some painkillers. Water and food, too. I’m going to order some room service. Do you need help going to the bathroom? I thought once you were up to it you could shower. We’re going to have to check out soon, though. I’m here under my real name and don’t want Mahmoud to track us down. You need some time to rest and recuperate.”

---