Page 5 of Forbidden Passion

Tessa grabbed onto his hands when they started to pull the shredded shirt off her.

“I can get it, Dominik.”

He studied her. “Are you sure?”

She nodded.

“Okay, I’ll wait in the bedroom. Call out if you need me.”

She nodded again.

Dominik closed the door behind him, and it took a lot for him not to go back in and help her. He told himself she’d beenthrough enough already, he didn’t want to compound it.

He leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb and listened to her, hoping she didn’t hurt herself.

He heard the shower turn on and exhaled. He wiped his hand down his face. Fuck. There were so many emotions going through him. His fondness for her rose along with his desire. When he first got a glimpse of her, he was able to see most of one breast because the bastard had ripped her shirt. Next came the fury that someone had attacked his angel. The guilt built in him when he realized if he had kept her with him, this would never have happened to her.

Jesus, he was so confused. He wanted her with every cell in his body, but his fear of being hurt was stronger. Fuck, what a pussy. If anyone knew what was going through his mind, they would razz him. He knew without a doubt that if he had her and lost her, he’d never be the same.

Chapter Three

Tessa stood under the water and washed her hair and body twice. She wanted to erase the man’s touch. She glanced down at herself and caught sight of the bruises forming and the small cuts she had received from the monster.

She hadn’t realized she was crying and pressed a hand to her mouth to prevent a sob from bursting out. She didn’t want Dominik to see her like this.

Tessa kept telling herself she’d been through so much in the past and had come out stronger. She knew she’d do the same with her situation, but it would take time.

After she got some control of herself, she squeezed as much water as she could from her hair before twisting it in a towel, grabbing another one, and wrapping it around her torso.

She stood in front of the mirror but didn’t look at herself as she smoothed lotion all over her body. She pulled on her robe before pulling the towel from her head. A piercing pain came on the back of her head when she touched it. She raised her hand and felt around, then found a small knot forming. Tessa pushed the thought of how it happened from her brain for the moment. She needed to concentrate on drying her hair. There was plenty of time later to deal with the trauma.

She was careful as she brushed and blow-dried her hair. When it was just wet, she put the dryer away. Her limbs were starting to shake, and she knew from experience that she was crashing from the adrenaline.

When she opened the door, she gasped to find Dominik very close. He moved back a bit and gently grabbed her arm.

“Let’s get you checked out.”

She shook her head and then cringed as a ragged edge of pain shot down her neck. “I’m fine. I’m a nurse, you know.”

“I know that, but you also know what happens to a patientwho isn’t watched after being hurt. I can tell you’re barely holding it together.”

“I don’t want you to worry…”

He snorted. “Right. Listen,” he said and pulled her over to her bed. He sat and pulled her between his legs. “I’m going to give you three choices. Either we go to the hospital, or I call your friends to come here, or I check you over and take care of you. What is your choice?”

She thought about it for a moment. “You.”

He nodded. “Where does it hurt?”

“My head.”

He raised his hands and felt around. She hissed when he touched the bump.

“We’ll need to get ice on this. Let’s get the rest done first.”

She held still as he pushed the arm of the robe up to inspect her and then went onto the other one. Her hands clutched at the front of her robe when he went to untie it.

“No.”

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