Page 74 of Alpha Bond

The doctor is quiet for a second. “He thinks he forced you?”

“Yes,” I whisper, dipping my head to our linked hands and kissing his knuckles.

Please wake up.

“Do you feel that way?”

“No. I wanted him more than anything I’ve wanted in my whole life.” It’s true. Even now, seeing his bare chest against the bedsheets, I can remember running my lips over his skin. It makes me tingle.

“Then tell him that. Explain it to him.”

“I tried. He wouldn’t believe me.”

“What won’t I believe?” Jagger’s eyes have flickered open. He’s staring at me, slightly dazed.

“Oh, my God!” I shoot to my feet, leaning over him to press my lips to his forehead, his eyelids, his cheeks.

He stops me with one hand, pushing me away. I die a little inside. “What are you two talking about? Seems every time you’re alone together, you’re sharing secrets I should know about.”

“Jagger, I…” I stop and look over my shoulder at Doctor Bea.

“Sierra says you wouldn’t believe her when she told you she wanted to have sex with you,” she says bluntly. I guess it’s a doctor thing.

“She didn’t.” His jaw clenches.

“I did! Jagger, you have to believe me.”

“I heard what you said when I walked in on you that day. It was that shit they put inside you. You couldn’t have said no if you wanted to.”

“Actually, I said no to them plenty of times.” This is something that has dawned on me. “I may have felt an unnatural desire, but I never acted on it.”

“Until me.” He shifts up against the pillows. Color is returning to his cheeks.

“It was perfectly natural with you.” Frustration begins to grow.

“How can you know that?”

“Because I justdo, dammit! Why are you being so damn stubborn about this?” I stomp my foot. He’s driving me nuts.

“Because the memory of my mother rests on me keeping my word, Sierra. I thought what we did was good. I would never have gone back on my promise if I’d thought it was anything else.”

“Itwasgood, it felt so right. You have to believe me.” I’m trying not to plead, but it’s starting to feel that way.

He sucks in a deep breath, looking deflated for just a moment. I remind myself that he just escaped death after saving my life yet again. I reach for his hand, and he doesn’t withdraw it. A glimmer of hope glows. I may never win him back, but if I can just get this off his conscience, it will mean so much to me.

“I think I might have something to add here.” Doctor Bea’s voice gives me a start. I’d almost forgotten she was still standing behind me.

I twist to look at her. “Please tell him he’s wrong.”

“Jagger, I don’t know how much you heard that day, but this issue runs deeper than what you’re thinking.”

He cocks his head. “Explain.”

“Sierra’s system was damaged when she went through what she did, Jagger.”

“I know that. And I took advantage of it. She was driven by a need that wasn’t her own.” He looks downtrodden.

“If anything, it would be the opposite.” The doctor looks at me. “How much does he know about all of this?”

---