Page 87 of Mind Maze

“You okay in there, babe?”

I jolt awake and turn off the faucet. “Yep. Drying off now.”

I’m sluggish, definitely dragging. Maybe that hit to the head was worse than I thought. I should have gone to the hospital and had it checked out like Dad wanted me to do.

I don’t feel well.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I drag my eyes open and am confused to find myself lying on the bathroom floor. My ribs and side hurt. Did I pass out?

“Dammit, Romy, I’m coming in!”

The door splinters and then someone forces their way in. The chill that washes over me makes me shiver so hard my teeth chatter. He curses and kneels beside me.

“You’re hurt. I think something’s wrong with your head,” Theo says, panic in his voice. “Try not to move.”

I’m still soaking wet from my shower, but I never made it to my clothes. My bones hurt and my muscles feel useless.

He covers my nakedness with my towel I’d dropped. “Relax. I’m going to pick you up and put you in bed. I’ll call Caius to come back. We’ll get you some food, babe, and you’ll feel good as new.”

His caring nature makes tears burn my eyes. I want to thank him, but my mouth doesn’t work.

I black out again but wake when I’m laid out on the bed on my side. It’s cold and I shiver. My teeth start clattering again.

“I know,” Theo croons. “I’m going to make sure you’re warm.”

His hands brush over my ass, which must have been an accident as he pulls the covers over me. I relax now that I’m covered.

“How’s your head?” Theo asks, gently rolling me onto my back. “Tell me what’s going on.”

I try to focus on his face, but my eyes close. I’m jostled awake again, his hand on my chest as he shakes me. Concern flashes in his eyes. Does he know his hand is on my breast?

“Stay awake,” he murmurs, removing his hand from my breast to stroke my cheek. “Don’t die on me.”

This makes me smile. I want to tell him I’m not going to die. Words remain trapped in my mouth. I’ve almost closed my eyes when he dips his mouth near mine. This action makes my heart rate stutter.

He makes a sigh of happiness when his mouth presses to mine. With his fingers, he tugs on my chin to make my mouth part, then slides his tongue into my mouth.

A small moan escapes me.

No.

He moans too as though he thinks I’m turned on by this. I’m not. I want him to stop. “Fuck, I love you, babe. We’re going to figure this out.”

What is he talking about?

His kisses are desperate, frantic, starved. All I can do is breathe heavily as tears form. I focus on making my arm move. It tingles and feels so weak. He continues to eat me alive with his hungry kisses as I try to make my limbs work. My finger twitches. Then I’m able to curl my fingers. With all my might, I fling my arm up, relieved when it makes contact with his cheek.

It’s not a hard smack with my half-closed fist, but it causes him to stop. The heartbreak and realization in his eyes make me feel bad for him. He’s got it all wrong.

When he dips again to kiss me, I hit him again, this time with more force.

His eyebrows furl together and anger flashes across his face. “You strung me along in the beginning,” he says, tone bitter. “Now that you’re fucking Caius, I don’t matter. Don’t forget what he’s done to you, babe.”

He pulls away and I’m grateful. Now he needs to call an ambulance because something’s wrong with me. I need Caius.

“I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this,” Theo says, once again sitting down beside me. “You’re more resistant than the first time we met. Unfortunate.”

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