Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
He leans in and kisses my forehead. I jerk back because it feels too good. I need to hang on to my anger. It doesn’t do any good. Caleb ignores me while unwrapping my BLT. It’s then I noticed he also carried in a drink, too. I see the blue C written on the white container and know it’s a Cherry Coke. God, he even knows what I drink.
He puts the sandwich to my lips. I should probably refuse to eat, but I’m hungry. I take that first bite and it’s all I can do to stop from moaning. I don’t want to embarrass myself. Sadly, my stomach does it for me by picking that moment to growl. He laughs, and I shoot him a look that could kill—but doesn’t. I eat the rest of the sandwich but make myself feel better by plotting Caleb’s murder.
After I eat, he lets his fingers move through my hair and cups the side of my face. I should tell him to stop, but I can’t make myself. “Fuck, I’ve missed you, Isolde. I’ve missed you so much. I’ve only been half alive without you.”
His words make me feel weak and special all at the same time. I try to hold on to my resolve to push him away because he’s turned into a stalker-slash-kidnapper, but I know I’m weakening. I know why. I love him. And as weird as it sounds, I know Caleb loves me, and that’s why we’re here.
“Caleb,” I murmur, not sure of what I want to say.
“Baby, there are things we need to discuss.”
“No, there’s not.”
“There is, but maybe you’ll feel more agreeable after I remind you how good the two of us are together.”
“Things are confusing enough. I’m not having sex with you,” I deny at once.
“Yes, you are.”
“If you force me, that’s rape. That’s another felony, Caleb, and something I will never forgive you for.”
I know instantly that I’ve said the wrong thing. There’s a flash of hurt that moves over his face, but it is quickly replaced with fury. Shit.
“If you think I’d ever force myself on you, Isolde, then you are the one who never knew me at all,” he snarls.
Guilt hits me. Shit, everything is way too confusing. “Okay, honey. I know you wouldn’t.”
“I like when you call me honey,” he murmurs, the anger slowly leaking away from his face. Sadly, that just makes the hurt on his features easier to see.
“Caleb, you can’t deny that stalking and kidnapping are not exactly sane behavior.”
“You know me, woman. I only did that because you wouldn’t even talk to me. I had to get you to spend time with me. I needed you to actually listen.”
“Fine,” I huff. “Unchain me, and we can talk.”
He laughs, grinning at me like a lunatic—which he might actually be. Then, the bastard reaches over and bops me on the nose. “You’re so damn cute. You think you can fool me so easily. I’m not letting you out of here until I’m positive that you’re not going to run away from me again.”
“I need you to listen to me. I cannot miss my shift at the hospital. You’ll cost me my career.”
“No, I won’t. I had my doctor friend call in and explain that you were in an accident in Tennessee and would be in the hospital for a few days. He explained to them that it wasn’t serious, but it would probably be a week before you could return to work. He told them that even though you had a mild vocal cord injury, you demanded he call so you wouldn’t lose your position.”
“Caleb—”
“I love you, baby. I’m not trying to ruin your future. I just want to be part of it. I had him speak directly to Blake Sampson. That’s your supervisor, correct?”
I huff, but don’t argue. “Let me guess. The doctor who is helping you is a girl.”
He shakes his head. “Are you jealous, gorgeous?”
“More like disgusted.”
That makes him laugh harder. “To clear that up immediately. The doctor in question is a seventy-year-old retired Army doc. He has a devoted wife, two kids and 8 grandchildren. He still keeps his license active and works part-time at St. Lutheran.
“Asshole,” I mutter under my breath.
In response, he kisses my forehead. “You still look tired. Finish drinking your pop. It will help get the medicine out of your system.”
“It’s not medicine, Caleb. It’s drugs—because you drugged me.”
“Semantics,” he dismisses instantly. I push out a loud breath but finish my drink while he happily watches.
I fall back against my pillow. I hate to admit it, but my eyelids are getting heavy. Caleb immediately moves and gets in bed behind me to spoon my body with his. I instantly tense.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?
“I’m going to be the big spoon. We’ll nap together. I haven’t been able to sleep without you. I just want to lay here with you in my arms. That’s it. At least until you’ve had a few hours to get everything out of your system. Then, if you want more … all bets are off.”