Page 119 of The Commons

I hold his hands tightly as he fights the pain, trying to be still. Then suddenly, he exhales a huge sigh of relief. After a few seconds, Doctor Val lets go of him.

I turn to him and notice a smile in his eyes. “You came back!” I say as tears stream down my eyes.

“I’d never leave you. I only went to protect you. I didn’t realize you’d come for me,” he says.

“Why would I not do that? I love you. If you go, I’m going. If you stay, I’m staying. I’d never leave you. Because I plan on knowing you for a very long time.”

His eyes light up. I embrace him instantly. I tighten my grip, holding him tighter and tighter. I let go of him with a smile. He looks at me and gently puts his hand on my hair, in sweet, silent adoration.

He begins to stand, but Doctor Val prevents him. “Stop. You can’t stand yet. I recommend bed rest for at least a week. Any strenuous movements could be fatal.”

He ignores her, signaling for her to move back, and she does, keeping her head down. I watch as he removes the equipment Doctor Val had previously placed on his body.

He strikes his finger against his golden ring, and it lights up. In the same instant, a box appears on the floor. Wow. Doctor Val’s eyes widen, seemingly intrigued, but she stays silent, moving farther back to the distant corner.

Pesh tilts his chin up. I suddenly realize he is signaling to me and snap out of staring at him. I grab the box and move it next to him. It opens automatically, and he grabs a blue liquid bottle. He drinks the whole thing in one gulp, and I just stare in silence. For some reason, this is sort of hot. He grabs a packet of white sand-like powder and rips it open with his mouth, while staring into my eyes with a steady glare. His lantern jaw adjusts so smoothly as he spits out the torn top to the bed. Even while he is healing himself, he is still so sensual and alluring. His muscles contract.

“Tavia.”

Oh, that’s me. I look at him and realize what he wants. “Oh.” I help him lift his shirt up, and my eyes are drawn to his chest as his body glides like a metal medallion in the sky.

“Tavia.”

“Sorry.” I snap out of it, my eyes colliding with his as he hands me a needle and syringe. What is this for? Before I can think… he hands me something else—a bottle of silver, foamy liquid. Before I can blink, he’s already mixing a different substance in the syringe. After a brief mix, he begins to inject it into his arm aggressively. Ouch! But he is untouched, his eyes merge with mine, a smile curling his lips.

I realize my hands are overfull and this bottle is about to slip out, but I still have to hold his shirt up and the injection stuff, and the bottle, and I think he is about to hand me another thing. So, I grab a hold of his shirt with my mouth—in order to free up my other hand, keep the items separated, and avoid mistakenly jabbing him with the needle. He looks at me, his eyes narrowed, watching me. I gulp, looking into his eyes as his lips size mine up like its next meal. I exhale as he takes the needle and syringe away from my hands. I sit up and go back to holding his shirt up with my hands, since they are now free.

I inhale a deep breath as he completes healing himself with his ultra advanced equipment. It all happens so fast. I can hardly keep up. I look to the side to see that his equipment has disappeared back into the ground. I’m not even going to ask. My eyes glide back to him, eying the glory of his sculpted chest.

“You can let go now.” He smirks.

I look at him with a smile.

“What if I don’t want to?” I flirt softly—I think I’m getting good at this.

His eyes twinkle with desire, suddenly sending shivers through my body. Instantly, I let go, keeping my head down. I forget that Doctor Val is still here.

“What’s happened to everyone?” Pesh asks, standing up.

We walk toward Pesh’s office and open his computer screen, trying to talk to the rest of the team through our wireless, invisible ear pods.

“Hey, Levon! Swin, are you there?” Pesh calls out.

Nothing.

“Levon! Swin!”

Nothing.

“Can you guys hear us?”

This time, I hear sprinting noises.

“Levon, you there?”

We hear what sounds like rustling before Levon’s voice finally comes through. “Yeah, we are close!”

“Oh no!” we hear Swin exclaim.