“Dev,” Reid said, the lifedraining out of his eyes.
“No, Reid. We’re done,” shesaid. “I’m never letting you hurt me again. You’ve done enough damage.”
“The papers,” Brennan whispered.
Devon nodded. “I filed arestraining order. Someone will be serving you papers, and you’ll have toappear in court.”
“A restraining order?” Reid askedin a strangled voice. “But my med school applications.”
“You should have thought aboutthat,” Devon whispered harshly, barely able to keep the tremble out of hervoice, “before you ever laid your hands on me.” She paused to let that sinkin, and then she released a shuddering breath. “Low scores are the least ofyour problem. Good luck having your dad get you out of this one.”
Devon felt herself sinking. Hervision blurred, wavered, straightened, and then blurred again. “Brennan,” shesaid, her voice coming out slow, like her tongue was stuck to the roof of hermouth.
“Yeah, Belle?” he asked, pullingher in closer.
“You saved me.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
She smiled. Then, she felt herworld tilt, and she lost consciousness.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Devon’s chest slowly rose andfell with the strange beeping noise. It clouded her already fuzzy thoughts,and it seemed to take over her consciousness. She tried to concentrate, but shefound that tended to intensify the annoying sound. Instead, she thought aboutthe placement of her body. Five fingers on the right hand. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. And five on the left hand. She could feel all ten ofher toes, up to the balls of her feet, and across her arch to her heel.
Her face felt right but alsowrong. It didn’t hurt, but it didn’t feel normal either. Her tongue feltsolid, and her lips felt heavy. When she thought about her cheek, it onlyseemed to throb more, so she stopped. Her throat was dry, like she hadswallowed cotton balls, and she started coughing at the thought.
Someone was at her side, takingher hand and slowly lifting her head off the pillow. She began to breatheeasier. Devon remembered her eyes then, and they opened to the harsh lights. She blinked a few times, allowing her eyes to adjust, and then she squinted ather surroundings.
She was in a hospital. That muchwas obvious. White curtain, white bed, white floor. Sanitation heaven.
She saw that it was Brennanholding her hand. That made her smile despite her being in the hospital.
“Hey, Belle,” he said, bringingher hand to his lips. “Good to see you’re finally awake.”
“I said no hospitals,” she said immediately.
“I didn’t hear you when you wereunconscious,” he said with a sad smile.
Devon giggled. “Fair point.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked,taking a seat in the chair next to her.
“I’ve been better,” shewhispered.
“Are you in much pain? They gaveyou some painkillers, but I don’t know if they have worn off,” he asked,concerned.
“I’m doing okay.” She squeezedhis hand. “What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” he askedwith a frown.
“I remember, uh…Reid showed up. You guys got into a fight. I told him that we were over…and that’s about it,”she said, biting the side of her lip that wasn’t swollen.
“That’s about what happened. Youpassed out. When he pushed you into the wall, I guess it upset your alreadydelicate condition. I scooped you up and drove you straight here. I was,uh…going to call the cops, but I was worried you might kill me when you wokeup. I thought I’d leave that decision up to you…if that’s what you want.”
“No hospitals. No cops. Nocourt.”
“I know, but you’ve already brokentwo of those,” Brennan said.
Devon narrowed her eyes. “Nocops. Just because you keep breaking the rules doesn’t mean I want to involvethe police.”
“I’ll break every rule to keepyou safe. The doctor said it was really good I brought you in,” he said,pushing her hair back with one hand. “You’ve been out of it for a while.”
“So…Reid just left?” she askedcarefully. She was tired of being afraid of where he might turn up. She wasbeginning to see why the restraining order was a good idea.
Brennan shrugged and scratchedthe back of his head. He chuckled softly and looked away from her. “He washere earlier. They had to reset his nose. Seems he managed to break it in twoplaces.”
Devon giggled with him. “Iwonder how that happened.”
“I guess he was unlucky when heran into my fist,” he said. “Anyway, he tried to come see you. I hope youdon’t mind that I showed the restraining order to the nurses. He was escortedout of the building.”
“Oh! The nurses escorted himout?” Devon asked.
“Uh…the cops escorted him out.”
“Brennan! No cops!”
“I wasn’t letting him anywherenear you. It’s not like they arrested him…like they should have.” He bentdown and kissed her lips. “I’m just glad you’re safe now. I don’t care if youpress charges. I just care that you’re safe.”
“I’m glad I’m safe, too,” shesaid even though the injuries on her body told her that she didn’t feel thatsafe.
Brennan leaned his foreheadagainst her hand as he sighed softly. His lips found her hand, then her palm,and then the inside of her wrist. “You know what I’m going to do when you’refeeling all better?”
“What?” she asked.
His lips traveled up to herelbow. “I’m going to kiss away every bruise and every scar and everyheadache. I’m going to kiss away every thought of heartache,” he whispered. His kisses were now reaching her shoulder.
“You…you are?” she asked throughgulps. When the beeps on the machine picked up speed, she tried not to blush.
“Yep. I’m going to kiss everyinch of your beautiful skin, so when you look at it, all you see is me.” Hestopped his kisses and stared down into her eyes.
“All I see is you already,” sheresponded huskily, trying not to let her mind stray to all the things shewanted to do to his body.
“I’ll be a happy man every daythat is true.”
He bent forward and kissed her lips. Devon reached her arms up and wrapped them around his neck, anchoring
