Page 71 of Dark Obsession
Chapter Thirty-Five
Keira awoke to silverythreads of afternoon sunlight coming through the blinds.At first, she was a little disoriented until she realized she was being held against Daniel’s chest.She relaxed back against him, lifted her head, let her gaze drink in his features, and listened to his deep breathing.She could tell he had slept very little.It showed in the color of his complexion and the dark circles under his eyes.He looked more tired than she felt.
Keira felt sick.She didn’t know what she was going to do.So many thoughts and feelings were racing through her that she couldn’t concentrate on just one.She had started to remember, and her stomach tightened painfully.She remembered being attacked in her home and didn’t know if she could ever set foot in the house again.Where would she live?Not with her sister.She was a newlywed and didn’t need another person in the house.
She hadn’t remembered all of it, but she’d caught bits and pieces of the fear she’d gone through the last several weeks as the man tormented her.She felt abandoned.The very people she should have been able to depend on deserted her and left her on her own once again.
Daniel opened his eyes and knew Keira was awake within seconds.Her body was so stiff, he guessed she was starting to remember.“What do you remember, Honey?”
Would the sound of his voice always send delicious shivers down her spine?“Could you put me back on the bed, please?”
His arms flexed and then loosened before he stood, placed her gently on the bed, and pulled the blanket up around her.The whole time, she kept her eyes downcast.He sat on the mattress and tried to hold her hand, only to have her pull away.
“Keira, look at me.”
Keira raised her eyes.
Daniel flinched at the hurt, suspicious, and regretful look in her eyes.
“Can we talk about this?”he asked.
They both turned when the door opened and Dr.Paulson strolled in, turning on lights as he went.“Well, young lady, let’s get those stitches out.”
Daniel stood and took a few steps back.The nurse lowered the bed slightly and began to pull back the blanket.
Keira clutched at the blanket.“I don’t want anyone in the room.”
Everyone froze for a moment.
Dr.Paulson’s eyes went between the two.“Are you sure?”
Keira lowered her eyes as she nodded, biting her lip to keep from crying out.She was so conflicted.She never wanted him to let her go, but her anger placed an enormous distance between them, and she didn’t know if they could conquer it.“Yes.”
****
The doctor turned toDaniel.“Please step out for a few minutes.It won’t take long.”
Daniel took a slow step back before he turned, and without a word, walked out of the room.When the door closed behind him, the breath in his lungs whooshed out, and he struggled to get air back in.He leaned against the nearest wall, bending and supporting himself as he gripped his knees, trying hard not to pass out.It was painful to breathe.He knew this was going to happen, he just didn’t realize how excruciating it was going to be.The thought of losing her was unthinkable.
“Oh, my God.What’s wrong, Daniel?”Layla asked frantically.
He looked up into Logan’s and Layla’s worried faces.“She started to remem...”His voice broke.He took a deep breath, swallowed several times, and straightened.“She’s remembering and didn’t want me in the room with her while the doctor’s in there.”
Logan clasped Daniel’s shoulder.“Damn.I’m sorry, man.Give her time.She’s probably only getting parts of her memory back.She’ll remember that you were there for her.”
Layla gripped his arm.“Don’t give up, Daniel.”
“I’m not.I just hate that she’ll have to go through the fear, anger, and sadness of betrayal again.”
Layla laid her head against his shoulder.“The difference this time is that she has many people who will help her through this.”
Daniel just nodded and then fell silent.They stood outside Keira’s hospital door, each mired in their own thoughts.
****
Keira bit back a moanwhen the thread from the stitches tugged against one of the tender wounds on her stomach.
“I’m sorry, young lady.We’re just about done.”
