a flickering yellow glow over the cramped space. He went through his routine-checking her splints, app

her situation was impossible to ignore. She scanned the tiny room. The four walls were close enough that she could alm

e only bed

She had been unconscious for five

the back of the stool. He stood there in a thin, sleeveless undershirt that did nothing

ath caugh

of mattress beside her legs. The wooden frame groaned under his weight. He swung

felt herself slide slightly in his dir

pped, pushing herself up on her elbows

ds over his chest and closed his eyes, his brea

Now!" Her voice rose, trembling with ang

flinch. He might as well

e was trapped in a bed with a man she didn't know, a man who had barely spoken ten words to her. She fe

g out before she could stop them. It was a ridiculous

. The lamplight caught his irises, making them glow with an intense, quiet focus. There was no lust in his ga

kly as it had flared. He was right, and she knew it. This was his shack.

presenting him with her back, and stared at the rough wooden wall. She wouldn

steady sound of his breathing was annoyingly soothing. Hours passed. He did

volved from screaming, to angry muttering, to sullen silence. She lay there, stiff as a

er eyes and let the silence of the shack wash over her,