ery inch of her felt sensitive, as if the warm water had brought every nerve ending to the surface. The coldness of the room, the chilling emptiness, contrasted sharply

mi

etween them. She couldn't focus on anything else but him-his presence seemed to permeate ever

s on her, and even though he wasn't physically touching her, his gaze felt like it w

weak, the words sounding foreign even to her. The question

aw clenched as if he were restraining something, but his gaze didn't waver. She could see it now-the power he exuded, like a storm just waiting to br

oice low, colder than the air around them. "Yo

him, drawn to him despite herself. She couldn't deny it-the attraction was undeniable. She had never been this clos

re the one who commanded the space. He didn't approach her, didn't offer her comfort. He was

dy hadn't eased-if anything, it had intensified. The heat inside her, the sensation

e. She needed to speak. She

, the question escaping her

cond, something in his expression darkened. He didn't answer immediately, and

e who's going to help you," he replied, his voice still cold

a shi

ed to demand more from him. But the way he said it-like he already had cont

tepped into the room, the doctor, Ariana assumed. She was a middle-aged woman with glasses

o her, and Ariana couldn't help but notice the way he seemed to retreat into himself when the doctor entered. He w

ure, asked a few routine questions-though Ariana barely registered the answers. The

at Damien. "She's in a state of shock. The dehydration, combine

ed over at Ariana. "Do what you need to do," he said

why she was here, why she was being treated like some fragile doll. But her bod

to her veins, slowly easing the heat inside her. As the drip took effect, Ariana began to feel a sli

time, watching from the corner of

to be left alone for the moment. She turned toward Damien. "She'll need rest. Keep her hydrated

is gaze lingered on the door for a moment, but

er," he said, his voice steady, yet t

new she didn't have the strength to do either. She

anding at the edge of the bed. He didn't touch her. He didn't nee

ng on her lips before lifting his eyes to meet hers.

end what was happening, what he was doing, or why. But for some reason, the tension be

door closing softly behind him. Ariana lay back against

the one thing she did know was that Damien

he middle of a game-one s