Devon broke away long enough toshut and lock the door. She wasn’t going to take any chances.
Brennan had his hands back on herimmediately, pulling her in and holding her close. “You came back,” he said. “You left, and you came back.”
He walked backward with her downthe short hallway and turned into his bedroom. The whole place smelled so muchlike him that it made her dizzy. Or was she already dizzy? She didn’tknow. All she knew was that Brennan felt right.
“I came back,” she repeated.
He bent down and brought theirlips together again. She felt like everything that had happened since Reid hadreturned to her was just a fleeting moment in time. Each kiss from Brennan washealing the wounds, pushing all the hate out of her life. Being there with himwas like starting fresh all over again.
“You can’t leave again,” he saidwhen they finally broke apart.
“I’m not going to,” she told him.
“I’m serious, Belle,” he said,brushing his lips against hers again. “Watching you walk out the door was likehearing that my dad had died all over again. I don’t want to let you go.”
“I never wanted to let you go,”she said, swallowing back the tears. “But…I had to for your own safety.”
The tears flowed freely then, andthe pounding in her head intensified.
God, it hurts so bad, shethought.
“Shhh,” he said, pulling her intohim. “It’s okay. You don’t have to worry about my safety. I can take care ofmyself. I only worry about you.”
“I didn’t want him to hurt you,”she blubbered through her tears.
“That guy? Your ex?” He reallylooked at her and examined her swollen eye. “Did he do this to you?” Hesounded equal parts shocked and angry.
Well, maybe he was a bit morepissed.
Devon nodded, but that was a badidea. “I don’t…feel too well,” she said, resting her hand on his shoulder.
“Hey, look at me.” He softlycradled her head in his hands. “What did he do to you? Do you remember?”
“Yeah,” she said, trying to focuson the task at hand.
“Hey, hey, now. Just look at me. Look at me.” He stared into her eyes, looking at them under the light. “Justtell me one thing that happened.”
“He tried to rape me,” shewhispered, saying it because it was the one thing that stood out.
Brennan hissed between his teethas his eyes hardened. He looked murderous. She had never seen him so angrybefore.
“Anything else?” he said throughgritted teeth. “Did he shake you really hard? Or did you hit your head whenthis happened?” He pointed at her eye.
Did she hit her head? Shewas having a hard time remembering what happened. She had a foggy thoughtabout a side table. Wait…yes, she had hit a side table. Stars. Shehad seen a lot of stars.
“I hit the corner of a sidetable,” she said, her voice slurring.
“Okay.” He scooped her up in hisarms before she could collapse. “I think you have a concussion. We should getyou to a hospital.”
“I can’t go to a hospital!” shecried hysterically. “He’ll find me!”
“Devon, please let me take careof you.”
“No hospitals!” she repeated.
“You’re not exactly in acondition to argue with me.”
Carrying her over to his bed,with one hand, he pulled the comforter back on his bed and gently placed herdown. He grabbed an extra pillow and stuffed it behind her head, so she wouldbe more comfortable for the time being.
“Please,” she said, drawing herknees up to her chest, “I’ll let you take care of me. Just no hospitals.”
Brennan sighed in a way thatshowed he was going to give in. How could he deny her anything when she wasin such a state?
“Alright. I know a thing or twoabout concussions, but if it gets worse, I’m taking you to the hospital. Youmight need an MRI to check for brain damage. I’m not going to fuck around withhead injuries just because your ex might find you. Deal?” he asked.
“Deal.” She was able to relaxnow that she knew she wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’ll be right back. I’m goingto get you some ibuprofen and an ice pack.”
He returned with the medicine anda large glass of water, which she took without complaint. She placed the glasson the nightstand and then leaned back into the bed. He adjusted the ice packto the back of her head and Devon winced slightly at the tender spot. Shealready felt much calmer and so comfortable. She just wanted to sleep. Hereyes fluttered closed. It felt nice.
“Hey,” he said, sinking into thebed next to her. “No sleeping just yet. I want to make sure you’re alright.”
“No sleeping. Got it.”
Brennan found her hand andcircled his thumb against her palm. “Can you tell me what happened? It mighthelp you stay awake.”
She nodded slowly. She had beenplanning to tell him that night anyway. Now, she was here, like fate hadreasoned that this was their night together. Too bad fate had taken a prettydisastrous turn.
“Yeah. Where should I start?”
“The beginning, I suppose. Wherever is good for you.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “I’m here for you.”
Devon smiled and started from thebeginning, the very beginning. “When I was in high school, I was dating thisguy, Mason,” she began. “I’d known him all of my life. His mom was my mom’sbest friend. I think they had arranged for us to be married while we werestill in the womb. I think it’s how I got my nickname, Dixie.”
“Dixie?” he asked, unable to holdback his chuckle.
Devon nodded. “Mason and Dixie. Mason Dixon. I’m sure you get it.”
“How Southern, Belle,” he said,squeezing her hand lightly.
“Exactly. My mom still calls meDixie even though I’ve told her a million times that I hate it. Anyway, longstory short, Mason and I dated through almost all of high school. I was acheerleader, and he was the quarterback. I know, big surprise. It’s reallycheesy and embarrassing.”
“That sounds like everything inhigh school.”
Devon smiled faintly. “Yeah. Well, as we grew up, we grew apart. It was only natural. We weren’t the samepeople anymore.
