Chapter 252Eden"I promise," I tell Devante and Cutter. "I'm fine.""Let us take you to Laurel Springs Med to make sure of that," Cutter interrupts. "There could be injuries that you can't see."Devante refuses to make eye contact with me. I'm unsure of what's happening, but I have learned things about him. Like he doesn't want to ever appear vulnerable. I keep telling myself this is what's happening."You want me to drive?" Cutter whispers."No, I will," he answers back and I feel all the hope I had seep out of my bones. It's like whatever was holding me together is now making me fall apart. Cutter's mouth forms a tight line as he looks at his friend. "Are you sure?""I didn't stutter, did I?"Not wanting to see the two of them argue over me, I lift myself up into the back of the ambulance and try to keep the tears at bay. This has been one of the worst twelve hours of my life and all I wanna do is curl into myself and pretend like it never happened. Cutter joins me, off

Chapter 254DevanteWe're in the shower, washing off this shit show of a day, when Devante turns to me, desire and love written so plainly across his face."I came here looking for a change, never knowing I would fall in love with you," I start, my voice breaking as I try to talk out my feelings. "From the first moment I saw you, when we flirted, I knew you were something special. I'm only sorry it took me so long to act on it."Her mouth screws up before tears pool in her eyes and start pouring down her face, although it's hard to tell which are tears and which is the water from the shower. I know she's overwhelmed from the shock of her kidnapping added to our fight, but I have to tell her what's in my heart. I don't want to waste any more time on miscommunication and unspoken words with the woman who holds my heart."I didn't want love, never wanted to get married. I thought sharing your life with someone was dumb, because my dad left at such a young age. I'm learning how stupi

Chapter 256Archer"How'd this happen?"My head yanks toward the opening in the curtain as Alisa's voice precedes her. "Was chasing a runner. Barbed wire caught me as we went over the fence."She smirks, standing in front of me, placing gloves onto her hands. "Looks like somebody tried to ruin that pretty face of yours.""Didn't you tell me the last time I asked you out on a date that it was average, at best?""A girl has to play things close to the vest, Archer." She opens a disinfectant pack and goes to town."Holy fuck that burns.""Poor baby." She leans in, blowing her hot breath against my skin. I've always had a reaction to Alisa, but this goes well beyond professional as I feel my length hardening and pressing against the zipper of my uniform pants. "Yeah, poor me," I press out against tight vocal cords."Are you okay? You're looking a little red. Have they taken your blood pressure yet?"A harsh laugh works its way out of the back of my throat. "Oh, it's sky-high r

Alisa "You're really doing it, huh?" Stella questions as she takes a seat next to me at the nurse's station. "Doing what?" I lift my shoulder up in an innocent gesture.She cuts her eyes to me, a smirk crossing her face. "Must be the full moon, right? That's why you agreed to go out on a date with Archer."Sighing, I bite my lip, my stomach doing this stupid fluttery thing it does when I think about him. "That's totally it. Has nothing to do with the fact he's lean, hot, and inked in places you can't see without a shirt on.""Famous last words." Stella laughs.Glancing at her slightly rounded stomach, I give her a look. "You'd know. Number two on the way with a hot, lean, and inked K-9 handler.""What can I say? Since the first date we went out on, I haven't been able to say no when it comes to him."That's exactly what I'm afraid of with Archer. I've been there before, with a man I couldn't say no to. It got me in way more trouble than I'd ever imagined it could have. That,

ArcherWaking up is painful as I realize I've rolled over on the side of my head with fresh stitches. Back in my college days, I could play football in the quad, get tackled by fifteen different guys, and wake up without much soreness the next day. Fuck, I could even go out that night and have a great time.It's amazing how a few years on the body can change the way it reacts.While twenty-two-year-old me would've been hopping up, heading to Waffle House, and getting a plate of hash browns scattered, smothered, and covered. Today? I'm fucking hurting. Gingerly, I lever myself out of bed before putting my feet on the floor and dropping my head into my palms. Beside me, my phone beeps with an incoming message.AL: Are you awake? How are you feeling? AR: Just woke up and feeling pretty rough.AL: Want some company?Looking over at the clock, I can't believe she's up and at 'em . The last time I talked to her was about ten hours ago. When I work the night shift, it takes me a