“My head hurts,” she admitted, trying to keep her neck as still as possible. The doctor nodded in acknowledgement.
“While you were out, we did a full scan of your head and checked for any damage, but there was nothing significant, just bruising and laceration at the back of your skull,” the doctor explained. “I imagine you will be concussed for a little while. Now that you’re awake, you must do your best not to fall asleep for at least twenty-four hours.”
Callie hated that thought even more than dreaming. She was exhausted. Her head hurt, and she wanted to get away from the hospital so badly that sleep was looking better every minute.
The doctor checked Callie’s eyes with the torch for several minutes before she finally nodded and turned it off. “You are showing all the signs of concussion, but there doesn’t seem to be any lasting damage. You are one lucky girl.” Callie didn’t feel so lucky. She felt as though she had been dashed against a brick wall, and nausea was beginning to creep up on her.
“I am going to have a nurse come and sit with you to make sure that you don’t fall asleep,” the doctor explained as she wrote something in Callie’s files and then placed them back in the holder at the end of the bed.
“When will I be able to go home?” Callie asked. She was desperate to see what had happened back at her house. Suddenly, she thought of Sammy and how he had been hissing when she had blacked out. Her heart beat fast with fear for the little creature as she wondered if the attacker had gone for him as well. She shook herself mentally telling herself, Nobody would be so cruel. Yet, she knew that was a lie. People harmed animals all the time for no good reason, which meant that, for all she knew, Sammy could be lying dead in her kitchen. The thought turned her stomach. She longed to get up out of bed and head home to check that he was all right. She prayed that he had run for the cat flap and was now safe at home, curled up on his owner’s lap beside the roaring fire.
“In the morning, I think,” the doctor said, “I will sort out the discharge papers for the morning doctor to go through with you.”
“Thank you,” Callie replied. She was relieved that she wouldn’t have to stay too much longer. She imagined that the night was already wearing it. It had already been late when she arrived home before the attack.
Chapter Four
The nurse sat with her until the morning doctor came. He was as tall as the female had been though his shoulders were broad and his hair was jet black. He had a hard jawline, and he was definitely muscular under his scrubs. He went through Callie’s discharge forms with her before signing them and leaving her to get changed into the clothes the police officer had taken from her house. She was relieved to switch the paper-thin hospital gown for underwear and sweats.
Just as she was slipping her feet into her pumps, she felt as though someone was watching her again. A shadow fell across the floor beside her, and her heart stopped beating. She held her breath, not wanting to turn around for fear that she might see his face.
She felt his hands grab her shoulders, and he pushed her down onto the bed. She was about to scream when his hand came up over her mouth. Her heart pounded so fast that she felt like it was going to explode from her chest. She kicked and pushed at him with her arms, but he was too strong. Thinking quickly, she bit his hand, and he shrank back with a yell of pain.
“Help! Help me!” she screamed as loudly as she could before he was on top of her again. She was sure that he growled in her ear as he pinned her back down to the bed and pressed his whole weight into her.
Suddenly, the door to the room swung open, and the man released her. He ran for the door, barging past Darren as he entered the room. Startled, the officer was slammed back against the door, and the man was gone before he even had a chance to react.
“After him!” he yelled to the other officer, who looked just as startled as he had been. The officer ran as Darren turned to Callie and helped her up from the bed. His hand was gentle as he pulled her to her feet and held her close to him as she began to weep against his shoulder.
“It’s all right,” he whispered softly. “You’re safe now.”
“That’s what you said last night.” She wept. “But he got in here.” She felt his heart beating fast against her cheek as though he was as distressed as she was by the fact.
“I’m here now,” he told her. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” He spoke as though he was speaking to a frightened child though Callie didn’t mind it. She liked the fact that she was no longer alone.
She pulled away from him, realizing what was happening. She had been discharged, and she was going to have to go home to an empty house and wait for him to attack again. Her heart skipped a beat at the realization, and the tears came even harder.
“What’s wrong?” Darren asked as though he could read her thoughts.
“I’ve been discharged. I can go home.” She was shaking now. Obviously she didn’t need to say anything else because an expression of understanding fell across his face.
“I’m going to take you home, and I’ll stay with you until all this is over,” he told her. Callie raised an eyebrow at him. She had not expected him to be so caring. After all, he was only a police officer. He didn’t know her personally, yet he seemed to be taking this to heart.
***
Chapter Five
The smell of him was all over her. It filled Darren’s nostrils as he sat in the car beside her on their way back to her house. His hands clutched the steering wheel tightly as he tried to control himself. He wanted nothing more than to rip the bastard apart for the fear and pain he had caused her. What made him even angrier was the fact he had let things get personal. Something about Callie made him want to protect her. He had no idea what it was, but he needed to find out.
Darren pulled his car up onto the empty driveway and climbed out of the car. He rushed around the vehicle before Callie could open her door and opened it for her. Then he held his hand out to her to help her out. When she placed her hand in his, he took a sharp intake of breath. Skin to skin there was electricity between them like nothing he had ever felt before. He suddenly remembered how he had found her, helpless and bleeding on her kitchen floor. The image made him grit his teeth in anger, and again, he wanted to tear at something.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he closed the car door behind her and helped her toward the front door of the house. He couldn’t help but notice how pale she had become. She looked completely washed out with hair so dark it was almost ebony.
“I’m ok,” she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “Just tired.” Darren nodded in understanding. She had been awake now for nearly eighteen hours, and she had another six before she could safely go to sleep without any risk from her concussion. Darren was determined to keep her awake until then.
“Why don’t you take a shower, and I’ll fix us some tea and clean up a little?” Darren suggested as he placed her key in the lock and opened the door, gesturing her inside.
“You don’t have to do that.” She shook her head, and Darren saw her suddenly shrink in pain, gritting her teeth and squinting her eyes as though her head was hurting.
“I know I don’t but I want to,” he smiled back at her, “I want to do as much as possible to make you feel safe and comfortable again.”
“The truth is I just don’t want to be alone right now,” she admitted. Darren had to understand that. She must have been scared out of her wits knowing that even in a guarded room in a hospital her attacker had still gotten to her.
“Why don’t we sit in the front room then and watch some TV?” he suggested. Callie nodded as he closed the door. He noticed her watching as he locked it behind them as though she wanted to be sure that it really was locked.
“Here,” he told her as he held out the keys, “you take these so that you know nobody has unlocked the door.” She smiled at him then, a smile that warmed his heart, and he longed to touch her cheeks and bring some color back to them.
“I trust you
,” she told him as she pushed the keys back toward him and then headed into the front room. When he followed her inside, she had already dropped down onto the sofa. Darren grabbed the blanket that was folded over the back of the sofa and spread it over her. She smiled at him with gratitude as she pulled it up to her chin and snuggled into the cushions. Darren sat down close by in one of the large plush arm chairs to the right of the sofa.
He felt just as tired as she looked. He hadn’t been able to sleep at all that night. He’d lain awake in bed thinking about Callie in her hospital room and wondering exactly who it was who had attacked her. He had a good idea he knew what group the attacker came from and the fact scared him half to death. If he was right, then Callie really was in terrible danger.
Chapter Six
Darren finally let her go upstairs once the twenty-four hours were up. She climbed into her bed and pulled the covers up around her. No matter what she did, she could not rid herself of the bone-biting chill that seemed to fill her up inside. Her fear at falling asleep was replaced by her exhaustion, and within minutes of her head hitting the pillow, she was asleep.
She felt the eyes on her as soon as her own closed. Her heart pounded with fear as the shadow fell across her, and she felt his body pressed against hers. The heat that radiated off his body was like nothing she had felt off any other human before. She almost welcomed it into her chilled body before she was consumed by utter terror.
Then his eyes were there, looking down into her face, and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was not her attacker. It was Darren. He held her close to him, his heart beating in time with hers as she pressed her ear against his chest. He was warm and inviting, his breath as sweet against her hairline as he kissed her on the forehead.
“You are safe now,” he whispered, and she knew he was telling the truth. She knew that she would always be safe as long as he was close to her. His hand stroked the back of her head, and she half expected to feel pain. All she felt was the electricity that vibrated from his hand to her. He wrapped his fingers in her hair and gently pulled to force her face up toward his. He leaned down and possessed her lips with his own. He tasted like honey, and his kiss was so tender that she melted inside. Her body pressed against his, and she felt his erection against her stomach. He growled deep in his throat as though he was hungry for her. She knew exactly how he felt.
Her own hands came up to brush through his sandy hair, and he pulled her closer than ever. Their bodies melded to each other as Darren placed his hands on her hips and gyrated against her. Desire burned in her stomach and she bit his lip hard enough to make his breath catch in his throat. His eyes flashed with desire as she released him, and his hands came up to cup her bare breasts.
For the first time, she realized that they were both naked. His skin brushed hers, and she felt every hair on her body stand on end. She could feel the pulse of his desire in every inch of her body, and she wanted him to touch her everywhere. She wanted to feel his hands on every inch of her body, feel him tickle down her spine and cup her buttocks. She wanted him to kiss her skin so softly that she screamed with desire.
Her hand came down between his legs, and she cupped him gently. His eyes flashed, and he growled with pleasure as she gently squeezed and released to squeeze again. His eyes remained on hers as he brought his own hand up her thigh, tickling her so deliciously that she bit her own lip as he cupped her sex and began to rub her gently with his fingers.
He was gentle and teasing as he dipped his finger inside her to the first knuckle before pulling it away again. She bit her lip harder. He did the same three times before slipping his finger all the way inside. Her head tilted back, and she let out a long gasp of pleasure as he pulled his finger from her and slipped it in again. He touched every nerve of her sex as he moved slowly and gently, causing a knot of pleasure to tighten in her stomach. Before long, she began to feel as though she might explode.
Just as her climax came. she jumped into a sitting position in bed. Sweat dripped down her forehead and heat pulsed between her thighs as she realized she had been dreaming. She panted as though she had really been at it and her cheeks grew hot with embarrassment. She looked around the room and was glad to see that she was alone. There was no way she would have survived being caught in such a state without dying of embarrassment.
She could hear Darren moving around downstairs and guessed that he was keeping his promise to tidy up while she rested. She no longer felt chilled to the bone. In fact, she felt quite the opposite. Her entire body was boiling hot, and she had to strip off her sweats before she overheated completely. She could still feel his hands running over her body as she turned over and slammed her face into the pillow, screaming until she could handle her frustration, hoping that with the pillow over her face he wouldn’t be able to hear her from the kitchen.
Chapter Seven
Darren stood at the kitchen sink, staring out of the window at the creature that stared back at him. The huge black bear’s eyes gleamed amber in the darkness. Darren gritted his teeth against the werebear’s confidence.
He wiped his wet hands on the kitchen towel before heading toward the back door. His heart pounded as he thought of what he was about to do. He was careful not to let the door make any noise as he opened it and slipped out, closing it safely behind him.
“You need to leave now,” he hissed under his breath at the creature. Its massive black head turned toward him, and there was a grin on its face. It shook from head to toe, and suddenly, a man stood before him. The bear was gone. His thick black hair hung over his face making it hard for Darren to tell what he looked like.
“She has been chosen.” The bear laughed, but the words sent a shiver down Darren’s spine.
“She is a human.” He shook his head. “She cannot be chosen.” The man’s mouth turned up in a vicious smile.
“She has been chosen,” he repeated. Darren’s hands turned into fists, and he gritted his teeth against the urge to throw himself at the man.
“You will not have here,” he vowed. “She is not to be taken.”
“You are a gold wolf, are you not?” the man took a step toward him. Darren was not comfortable with his closeness, yet he refused to step back and show any weakness. Instead, he nodded.
“You should know your place,” the black bear growled. “This is not for you to get involved in.”
“I am not just a bear,” Darren hissed back at him. “I am a police officer too, and while I am around, nobody is being taken.”
“Then you may not be around much longer.” The man laughed again. Darren was about to argue when the man turned and suddenly raced away, pouncing over the fence as though it was little more than a few inches.
He stood there for a few minutes, staring at the place where the man had disappeared before he heard Callie call his name from inside. He turned quickly and rushed inside before she could come out.
As soon as he closed the door behind him, he told her, “We need to get you out of here now.” Her eyes widened with fear.
“What’s going on?” she demanded. “What’s happened?”
“He was here,” Darren explained. “It’s not safe for you here.” He stepped forward as she looked like she was about to break down. When he touched her arm, he could feel that she was shaking like a leaf.
“Callie, this is more serious than I thought,” he explained to her. “There are things at work here that no human should have to go through.”
“What do you mean by human?” she demanded as she pulled her arm away from him, suddenly looking like she was frightened of him. He sighed and ran his fingers through his blond hair.
“Callie, there is something I need to tell you,” he admitted. His heart pounded as he thought of what he was about to do, and he had no idea if she was even going to believe him. Please believe me! He prayed as he closed his eyes for a few seconds.
When he opened them again, she was staring at him with a raised eyebrow. She crossed her arms and looked at him li
ke she was getting frustrated.
“Callie, I’m not what you think I am,” he sighed, “I am a werebear.” She looked confused then. Her chest inflated, and suddenly, she was laughing. Darren had not expected that reaction. In fact, he felt a little taken aback by it.
“Is this some kind of joke to try and get my mind off everything?” she asked, still giggling, her green eyes dancing with amusement. Darren felt his heart sink. She doesn’t believe me, he thought. I’ve never told anyone before, and she doesn’t believe me.
He grabbed hold of her arms and shook her a little, in an attempt to get her to realize how serious he was. “Callie, I am deadly serious. I am a werebear, and the man who has been after you is one too.”
She stopped laughing then, and her face turned to a deep frown. She pushed him away from her and took a step back.
“You are seriously crazy.” She shook her head and pulled away as he tried to reach for her again. She turned her face away from him as though she could no longer look him in the eye. Darren felt sick with that comment. He had never imagined she would talk to him in such a way.
“Callie, it isn’t safe for you here,” Darren insisted. “If he comes back, he is going to trap you and turn you. That’s what he’s wanted all along.”
“Get out!” she yelled suddenly. Darren’s heart dropped further until he felt as though it was going to drop out of his stomach.
“Callie, please!” he begged. “You have to believe me.”
“Well, I don’t, and I’ve heard just about all I can take.” She shook her head as she held on to the counter top as though she was suddenly weak. “I want you to leave.”
“Callie, I can’t.” He shook his head. “It’s not safe for you here. You’re no match for someone like him.”
“I said go!” she yelled. When she turned to him, there was fire in her eyes, and he knew he was beaten. He sighed with defeat and headed for the kitchen door. He had no idea what he was going to do, but there was no way he was going to leave her alone.
MILITARY ROMANCE: The War Within Himself (Alpha Bad Boy Marine Army Seal) (Contemporary Military Suspense & Thriller Romance) Page 24
