Bound by Rapture by Megan D. Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

telling me how hideous I look, are you sure this is real?” I didn’t have to look in a mirror to know I probably looked less than ordinary. 
    He grinned, revealing straight white teeth. “I’ve only been here a few minutes. Don’t worry. I still have time!” He pulled me into a hug, his musky cologne teasing my nostrils. But once I was in his embrace I could see the woman on the other side of him, the redhead. She stared at the two of us with a light, innocent smile on her lips. And I was reminded of what awoke me to begin with. Her voice. Cole’s voice. 
    “Who is she?” I pulled back and glanced around the room to find Cole standing at the end of the bed. He towered over everything, his presence nothing short of overwhelming. Something dark and sinister was painted on his face, reminding me of the last time he had towered over me while I lay in bed. 
    “Who is she?” I repeated, directing my question at Cole this time. 
    “Her name is Sarah Arnold. She came here to see if she could help you get out of your funk, but clearly all you needed was Vic.” His words were bitter. 
    I glanced back at Vic and then at the woman. “Why would I need someone to help me?” 
    Sarah cleared her throat and stood. “Mr. Maddon called me because I’m a psychologist. He’s been worried about you.” She glanced at Cole. He gave a little nod and she continued. “He thinks you went into shock two days ago when several traumatic events occurred. You’ve been very listless and unresponsive for the most part. You’ve allowed him to lead you around, bathe you, feed you, but you have been staring off blankly. Which in most cases indicates shock.”
    Vic squeezed my hand. 
    “I’ve been out of it for two days?” I rubbed my forehead with my free hand.
    “Yes.” Cole growled, crossing his arms over his chest. 
    I tried to remember the past couple of days, but it was all a blur running through my head, vague and distant like I hadn’t really been there, just a far-off observer. 
    “Jay,” I whispered the name and closed my eyes. The bloody lifeless body flashed in my head only feet away from me. I sucked in a deep breath. 
    “Shhh.” Vic comforted me, his hand brushing against my cheek. “You’re okay now. Cole told me what happened and you’re going to be all right. He can’t hurt you anymore, Jewel. You’re safe and I’m here.” 
    I let out the breath and opened my eyes. “I missed you,” I whispered to him. He was the only person left from my old life and him being here meant a lot to me. It meant I could move on from this. I could move forward; life could return to some semblance of normalcy. 
    “I would be happy to stay and chat with you, Miss Collette.” Sarah stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. 
    I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk to a stranger. “I think I’ll be okay.”
    She looked at Cole, who said, “Randy, the guy just outside the door, will pay you.” She nodded and left the room. 
    As soon as she left, it was as if she took all the air with her. The room suddenly seemed very small with both Vic and Cole inside. But I couldn’t deny how happy it made me to have both of them there. 
    “Is Chris with you?” I directed my attention to Vic.
    He nodded his head. “Yes. But he’s visiting his mom at the hospital today.”
    “I’m glad. Is she doing okay?” I remembered she had been sick several weeks ago when I was hospitalized after the attack.
    “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen her, but Chris seems optimistic about her recovery.” There was a sense of sadness in his voice, reminding me he’d never met any of Chris’s family on account of them not accepting his homosexual lifestyle. 
    “Good.” I smiled. “Where are y’all staying?”
    “We’ve got a hotel.”
    “A hotel? No. You can both stay here.”
    “What?” Cole hissed. 
    I glanced up at him, annoyed. “Why should they stay in a hotel when they still have a furnished room here. I won’t be