Page 53 of Silver Edge
His eyelashes fluttered against my cheeks. “I’m trying to understand myself.”
“So, I’m not the only one lost here? At times, I feel trapped and want to run from all this. Other times, I want to stay and feel the way I do right now. This safe warmth with a hint of excitement. It sounds stupid, but I’ve never felt this before and I like it.”
“Me, too.” He rubbed his thumb up and down my arm, leaving a trail of tingles behind. “Is this okay?”
“Yes,” I whispered, then closed my eyes. The warmth on my back and around my body lulled me to sleep, but this time I didn’t make it all night in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-Two
My head thundered with a deep pulse. My body shook wilder than a bass speaker at full volume. I swung, kicking and screaming, but I couldn’t move.
“Scarlet!” A deep voice broke through, but I couldn’t see where it came from in the darkness.
“Wake up. I’m here. Open your eyes.”
I forced my eyes open and light flooded into my vision. Drake straddled my waist, holding my arms down by my sides. It took a moment for my brain to register it was him, but my body kept thrashing against the current of energy and pain shooting through my body. “Get off,” I ordered. “Let go.”
I couldn’t breathe. I gulped and sputtered and, finally, he released me. Piercing light shot to the back of my eyes through my skull into my brain. I closed my eyes and rolled onto my side.
A hand touched my shoulder and I flung myself off the bed onto the floor. Tucking my knees into my chest, I rocked through the terror attacking every nerve in my body. Panting, I glanced up and saw Drake dabbing at his bloodied lip.
Oh, God. What had I done? “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Drake slid from the bed and stepped softly around the footboard, his eyes wide and his hands up as if in surrender. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I’m fine.” Drake dropped to his knees and I retreated back into the corner, unable to accept a connection with anything in the world right then. He scooted away and leaned his back against the wall.
“Go. Don’t look at me.” I buried my face into my knees.
“I’m not leaving you.”
I continued rocking, fighting to regain control, but the more I tried the more my ribs tightened like a vice around my middle, squeezing every last drop of air from my lungs.
“Breathe. Don’t think about anything but breathing. Listen to me.” He inhaled long and deep then exhaled in the same slow pattern.
I followed his lead, but all I could think about was the fact I’d hit him. “Go. Just go.”
“No.” His voice sounded stern. “Now, shut up and listen to my breathing.”
I did as he said and the bone-crunching pain subsided to a dull ache after about twenty breaths. The room spun, and I lifted my head up.
“That’s it. You’re doing it.” Drake scooted a little closer. This time I didn’t shrink away, but my breathing quickened again.
He stopped and leaned against the bed. “It’s okay. I won’t touch you.”
I nodded and kept rocking until my heart stopped giving my insides a beat down. Each breath came a little easier until I managed to sink back against the wall, exhausted. My hands trembled and my arms and legs felt like Gumby.
Drake rubbed his hands over his bare knees. “What happened? Bad dream?”
I managed a mini shrug. “Think so, but I don’t remember. I never remember.”
“I’m going to get up. Stay here.”
“I should go,” I said through trembling lips.
He glowered down at me but then swaggered away. The faucet turning on in the bathroom sounded over the thudding in my ears, then Drake shut the curtains before returning. “Let’s get you in a warm tub and you can relax for a bit.”
