Rebecca’s story
Coming so close wasn’t exactly a good idea, which is why he could definitely hear my heart beating like crazy. I couldn’t see him because of the bandages, but I was greedily inhaling his delicious aroma.
“Dominic Stone...” I repeated his name, and he immediately turned away from me. I couldn’t describe the feeling of abandonment I immediately felt.
“Therefore, you know me,” he reinforced the idea by hearing his name from my mouth. It wasn’t intentional, just an involuntary reaction, though. But my reaction was totally unexpected, even for me. I could say I was rude about it.
“Show me someone who doesn’t know you, Mr. Stone! And you’re here because...”
“It’s Dominic actually and I’m taking you home with me so I would answer your question without too many detours,” he concluded, and I even felt a victory glow on his face.
I shifted on the bed, barely restraining myself from laughing. At the same time, I was also nervous. I didn’t want to seem rude, but who would have thought that not only had the great actor saved me from the big bad wolves, but that he had invited me to stay in his house as well?
“I’m sorry I reacted this way, but you know I am, at this point, a person with special needs. Just look at me. I can’t walk, I can’t see... to hell with it, if I could just see you, so I know you’re telling me the truth...”
- And I’m sorry too that you don’t believe me, but I trust that in time you will. The simple truth is that you’re coming home with me because you need my help. "
What he just told me not only made me think seriously, but it made me even more intrigued. It wasn’t like I didn’t have someone to take care of me. I could afford to pay for the most expensive treatments and nurses to help me.
“I don’t need anyone’s help, least of all yours. I can take care of myself,” I explained at length, trying hard to keep myself from bursting. Who did he take me for?
“I’m aware of that, Miss Holland, but it is possible that the attack I saved you from cannot be accidental, so I will not risk your life. Therefore, you are coming with me!”
“Then why can’t I remember the attack? How do I know it’s not made up by you?”
When I asked this, the room filled with a heavy silence. Frankly, I didn’t like it one bit. But just then Declan explained.
“Miss Holland, the reason you don’t remember the attack is due to post-traumatic shock, which seems to have caused more damage to your body than I expected. You are currently suffering from what I call selective amnesia.” This news fell like a bombshell and although I couldn’t see the faces of the two men, I could feel their eyes on me.
“Selective amnesia? Can you be more specific?”
“It means that there are specific parts of your life, most of them distressing, that you may not remember. Your mind is selecting memories in order to protect you. Therefore, your brain has blocked out the moment of attack”
“Protect me from what, doctor?” I already didn’t like the way Declan was expressing himself and I felt like my problem was going to cause me a lot of trouble in the future. And it was something I couldn’t allow.
“If you remember all the bad things that happened to you all at once, your mind might not be able to cope and it can collapse. The brain thus developed a protective barrier. In other words...”
“I’ll go crazy...” I added it in shock over the verdict.
“In a way, Miss Holland. I’m so sorry to bring you such terrible news”
Was he really? It didn’t really matter now that I still had a bandage over my eyes that he hadn’t removed yet. God knew what was waiting for me.
“Enough chatter, it’s time to tell you Miss Holland that I won’t leave you alone!” that male voice intervened and every time I heard it sent shivers through my body.
“I see, Mr Stone…” I approved by looking at him, but the bandages still bothered me.
“So you do know me...” His voice got a tone lower.
“Who doesn’t? Are you here because...” I had to acknowledge the actor’s notoriety but there was no guarantee that the man in front of me, whom I couldn’t see, was actually Dominic Stone.
“I have only one reason for being here. I’m taking you home with me!”
That news fell like a bomb to my ears. I shifted on the bed, struggling to keep myself from laughing. I was not trying to sound rude, but who would have thought that not only did he not save me, but Dominic Stone, the man an army of women sigh for, came to take me home? To what purpose? And then I burst.
“I’m deeply sorry, but you are aware that I am a person with special requirements at the moment, right? What I mean is I can’t walk, apparently I can’t see either... damn, if I could only see you so I would know you are telling me the absolute truth”
“I am sorry too that you don’t believe me, but God knows, in time, you will. Still, the truth is you’re going home with me because you need help and I can provide you with that help.”
He spoke with such certainty and determination that for a moment I felt that this was what I was supposed to do, go to this stranger’s house. But my mind was still in a fog. I still didn’t fully know what had happened to me. I just didn’t trust a stranger. Even if he was the one who saved me, because it was pretty obvious that he did.
“What will happen to my family?” I had a sister that could be worried sick.
When I questioned this, the room filled with a harsh stillness. Frankly, I didn’t like it. But then doctor Dominic interfered again, explaining.
“Miss Holland, I am aware you have a next of kin, and I am aware she is not here, in New York. Rest assured that I will call her and explain about your situation. I have to, being your doctor. As for Dominic here, he saved you and to be honest you would need some help in the near future, so he is the only one now that can do it”
I’ve often heard men support each other’s opinions, but this was a unique situation. Or at least that’s what I was trying to convince myself. I said it with my own mouth. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t feel my legs, I wasn’t sure I could see either.
Although I hated to admit it, Dominic was right. And whether he was the actor was less important. This man had saved me from the clutches of death. It was impossible. He could hurt me.
I wanted so much to remember the attack, to know who did it and why? And more importantly, to know if I was with anyone else. But the memories were so distant.
“Doctor, if you want me to go to his house so badly, then you’d better take the bandages off as soon as possible,” I said, perhaps a little more determined than I would have expected. I could almost hear his smile.
“Ok, your wish is my command. In fact, that’s exactly what I intended to do, so I came prepared” Even the cheerfulness in his voice surprised me. Maybe I really got seriously injured and my recovery was this doctor’s victory.
As soon as I heard the clink of utensils, I knew it was the big moment. The moment of truth. If I said I wasn’t nervous, I’d be lying. I was. A lot depended on my vision.
Somehow behind the bandages, I closed my eyes as I felt the cold stainless steel on my cheek, cutting the piece of cloth covering my face.
I could feel my heart beating like crazy and even expect either joy or disappointment. From two precise cuts, the bandage fell gently caressing my cheeks. Now there were the patches remaining stuck to my eyes. My breathing quickened and as I felt Declan’s deft hands, I was one step closer to the truth. As soon as he peeled off my white patch, I expected everything to be dark until my eyes got used to the light. Declan himself was keen to assure me of that.
“Miss Holland, don’t be scared. You won’t see anything at the moment. It’ll take ten minutes, a quarter of an hour tops to figure out the result. In the meantime, allow me to use the medical flashlight...”
I had calmed down listening to the doctor, but I had to admit I was afraid. Time passed rather quickly, and the room had become quiet. I still couldn’t see anything, and I was panicking.
“Doctor, what’s going on? Why can’t I see yet?” I panicked, turning my head left and right as if searching for the perfect position for my eyes to receive vision.
“Let me look...” And Declan approached again with the flashlight. “Do you feel that? Does it bother you?” he asked curiously, but I didn’t even know what I was supposed to feel.
“I don’t... I can’t see... What is supposed to bother me?”
“The light! Something’s wrong, Miss Holland!”
Rebecca’s storyI was desperately trying to keep my composure, but I was not succeeding. I couldn’t see anything, and the doctor’s confirmation gave me the creeps.Despite the situation I was living at maximum intensity, I tried to follow Declan’s voice.“Miss Holland, we’re going to do a CT Scan again. Something’s wrong and I need to find out what.” He didn’t wait for me to answer and immediately supported me to sit down in what appeared to be a wheelchair. “Don’t be scared that it is a chair for disabled people. It’s the easiest way to carry you” It was damn scary being carried into the unknown, but I could feel both men next to me. Dominic still hadn’t freaked out and abandoned me. By the time I got to the room where I was going to have my CT scan, my nerves got stretched to the breaking point. “I’m going to lay you on a table, Miss Holland, and to help you not move, I’m going to strap you down. You’ll have to stay perfectly still!” repeated Declan, and it wasn’t long before I f
Dominic’s storyHaving this woman so close will definitely make it hard for me to cope. I’ve also somehow decided not to give up acting. If I did, I’d lose my mind around her. I was trying my hardest to be a proper gentleman around her. I felt a strong desire burning inside me. That she was blind I was not rejoicing, but if she could have seen me, she would have witnessed the desire in my eyes. I barely knew her, but I had the sensation I’d known her forever.Once we were installed in my house, I realized I couldn’t let her alone while I was on set, so I had to convince one of my best friends to move in with me. And that was how I called Megan. I was certain she could be of tremendous help.And because it was a bad idea that I should be the only one with her in the house, even if she was my Luna, I would not pressure her. And Megan’s arrival seemed timely. It was imperative that she felt not only welcome but also protected. “Please feel at home, Miss Rebecca. I’ll be right back,” I
Rebecca’s storyIt was the first time I had heard such a word. It sounded more like... a woman’s name. Still, I was curious. And I felt so helpless I couldn’t see them. “Well? What is a Luna?” I insisted, sensing the tension that had risen between the two of them. I could almost see them looking at each other, wondering who should speak first. Eventually, it was Dominic’s friend Megan who did it.“My dear, first of all, it is a pleasure to meet you and I am sorry to do so under such circumstances. I would have liked to have met you over coffee. But, to answer your question, Luna...is a kind of nickname...that Dominic here...uses with...his friends. Women, especially. He would not use that kind of name for a man, was he?” Megan’s explanation was a bit forced, but I would not push it either. If I was honest with myself, I didn’t really care about that right now. All I wanted to do was recover and get on with my life. I had a lot of contracts on standby and I either had to honor them or
Dominic’s storyI couldn’t wait to get out of my own house. Rebecca’s presence was driving me crazy, especially since the wolf in me hadn’t found peace since I rescued her. Not being a pureblood, I was skeptical even about that. I thought I could control my senses and not give in to desire. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Although I had used my career as an excuse, I still called my agent and right now we were meeting at my favorite restaurant. I didn’t have any shooting, but I really needed to see Nick. He was a man of many ideas. Maybe this time he had one as brilliant as ever. “You called Megan? The Megan I also know? To help you do what, Dominic?” he asked in a deep voice, almost standing up with the whole table.The second we sat down at the table, Nick started questioning me. I’ve known Nick for over ten years. He was my best friend, almost like a brother. He also knew my other personality. Only I knew the reason I called Megan to help me, and maybe Megan herself knew it.“I
Rebecca’s storyThis house was so big for me, and without Dominic in it, it was even bigger. His friend Megan would occasionally come over to help me, just as he promised, but I got the feeling Dominic was actually avoiding me. This week he’s been home with me for barely three hours during the day, every day. He would always say he would have filming and an audition coming. At night, I would hear him coming in so late that I would lock myself up in my room so as not to disturb him. His room was right next to mine. Sometimes, if it was really quiet, I could hear his breathing through the walls.I was understanding why he brought Megan into the house. And not so I wouldn’t feel lonely. I was sensing certain behaviors in Dominic. But I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. I didn’t quite know what was happening to me when he was nearby. There were some moments when he would stand so close that I would feel overwhelmed by his masculinity. I had to admit that even without seeing him, I was
Dominic’s storyI had just walked into my room when a million thoughts made their way into my mind. How would I help her walk again or see again? So she could join me at the gala. I intended to hire the best physiotherapist in all of New York. And that could only be Declan, who I knew had such courses under his belt. And also arranged for a specialist to perform surgery and restore her sight. It was a bold and difficult plan, but not impossible. And I would be with her all the way.Just as I was getting ready for sleep...“No, Tom! No! Leave him alone, you beasts!” I immediately jumped out of bed and went into her room. She was having a nightmare, one of her many. She was calling her fiance. I reached over and grabbed her shoulders with both hands and shook her a little, then harder... She didn’t wake up. Every second she sank deeper into her dream and she was more anxious. I could feel the terror she was feeling right now. Beads of sweat caressed her angelic face. Seeing her like th
Rebecca’s storyAlthough I couldn’t see and couldn’t move, the way I felt remained the same. And Dominic’s news really shocked me. “Rebecca, I know I took you by surprise. I didn’t want you to find out this way, but I really want to take you with me to the Treasure Awards. So I need you cured in two weeks,” Dominic explained, but my mind remained on the Treasure Awards. This man, if he was indeed taking me there, was actually the actor Dominic Stone. If it hadn’t been him, how could he tell me he was taking me there? “So, I got in touch with the best physical therapist in New York, Catherine Rogers. She is actually my agent’s fiancee.” “Doctor Catherine Rogers?” Who didn’t know Catherine? He was the best, and everyone, without exception, went to him. Another reason to believe Dominic was who he claimed to be. She wasn’t a cheap doctor.The day in Dominic’s company flew by. I was supposed to meet Catherine the next morning at 8 o’clock. And as the time approached, I grew increasingly
Rebecca’s storyI knew it would be hard, but at the same time, I knew I wasn’t alone. “Miss Holland, in front of you is an exercise table I use on patients who have mobility difficulties. So I’m going to put you on that table too,” the doctor explained, and I could already hear my heart pounding to break my chest. I didn’t know if it would be painful, or how long the recovery would take. All I knew was that in the next few seconds, we’d get started. “We need to start with some light warm-up exercises. Dominic, will you help me, please? To get her on the table?” Dominic picked me up so lightly. On impulse, I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning my head up against his chest. I didn’t need to do that. I just sensed I had to. He was like a magnet that was inevitably luring me in. My body was putting up no resistance. It seemed so perfectly normal, this nearness between us.I often tried to explain to myself why I was so attracted to him. And it wasn’t just that he saved me, it was s