The Debt Collector's Bride

Sera's POV:

  I woke up with a sharp choke, like someone had thrown me in ice water. I didn't know where I was. For a moment I thought I was still in the chapel... the promises, Damien's voice, the world turning black. My chest hurt.

  When I finally woke clearly, I was in a huge, soft bedroom. The bed was dark and warm. A fire crackled in the corner. The air was too soft, too calm. Then I saw him.

  Damien sat across the room. He was staring at me, hard. He looked like he hadn't moved at all. My heart started running in my chest.

  "Easy," he said quietly.

  "Don't talk to me," I snapped, crawling backward until the wall hit my back.

  He kept staring. He just studies me calm, controlled like he can see the panic through me. "You passed out."

  I swallowed, trying to think. My wedding dress was gone. I was now wearing a silk nightgown I didn't know. Panic hit me.

  "Who touched me?" I asked sharply.

  "I did," Damien replied, calm but solid. "You couldn't breathe. Your dress was too tight."

  I grabbed my chest, covering myself as if it would make a difference. "You should not have touched me."

  "I only touched what I had to," he said. "You were barely awake. I had no choice."

  I looked down, burning with shame and anger. "You could have left the room."

  "I am not leaving you alone tonight," he answered, simple and final.

  My throat tightened. "Why not? Haven't you taken enough from me?"

  I saw a flash of pain in his eyes.. looked like anger or maybe guilt, but he locked it away fast.

  "You were cold," he said. "You needed warmth."

  "What happens now?" My voice shook. "Are you going to force me into this bed? Is that why you won't leave?"

  His jaw clenched. His voice suddenly got deep and serious.

  "No," he said. "I won't touch you tonight. Not until you stop looking at me like I'm the monster under your bed."

  I let out a gasp of air. His answer was the last thing I expected. It knocked me off balance.

  "You want me to sleep while you sit there and watch me?" I asked.

  "Yes."

  The simple word chilled me to the bone.

  "That is crazy."

  "That is protection," he corrected. "Someone in this house sold you out. The people who took you might still be looking. Until you are safe, I stay here."

  The thought of those awful people finding me made my skin crawl. I fought the fear and made my voice steady. "Get out."

  "No."

  I glared at him. "Damien..."

  "You fainted right into my arms, Sera," he said, his voice dropping low. "I am not leaving you."

  Something inside me trembled, but I wouldn't show it. I threw the blanket off and stood up.

  His eyes narrowed. "Don't."

  But I took a step toward the door. Fear was my fuel. If I reached the door, I could scream. Run. I ran for it. My fingers touched the doorknob... His hand locked around my wrist and pulled me back. I crashed hard against his chest, the air punched out of me.

  "Let go!" I fought, pulling and twisting, but his grip was tight. He was so much stronger.

  "Sera," he whispered, soft but final, "you cannot run."

  "Let me go!"

  He turned me gently to face him. His grip on my wrist was firm, not hurting me, as his other hand slowly moved up toward my face. I stopped breathing. He paused right before he touched me, letting me move away if I could. But I was frozen, I was hurt, scared and confused.

  Then he pressed his forehead against mine. My breath hitched. It wasn't a claim or a kiss, but a connection, it was warm, steady, and terrifyingly gentle.

  "I am not trying to hurt you," he said quietly. "I am trying to keep you alive."

  I shook my head, tears burning my eyes. "I don't want this. I don't want you. I hate all of this."

  "I know," he whispered. "And I'm not asking you to want me. Not tonight."

  Another tear fell, and he felt it. His jaw tightened, but he didn't pull back.

  "I will not touch you," he said gently. "I won't force anything. But I am staying in this room because I would rather have you hate me than lose you again."

  My throat closed. "Again?" I whispered.

  He didn't answer. He guided me back to the bed slowly, gently, never forcing me, never tightening his hold. When I reached the edge, he let go right away.

  He stepped back several feet, creating space.

  "You can rest," he said. "You don't have to sleep."

  "I don't trust you."

  "I know," he answered quietly. "I will earn it. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. But I will."

  I sat on the bed because my legs were too weak. I wrapped the blanket tight around me and stared at the fire, trying to slow my shaking body.

  Damien went back to the chair, sitting straight, watching me. Not angry, not selfish, just watching and protecting. Minutes dragged on. My eyes grew heavy, even though I fought to keep them open.

  "You can rest," he whispered again. "I'm here."

  "That is the problem," I whispered tiredly.

  A faint, sad sound escaped him- half a laugh, half a sigh of pain. "Then hate me when the sun comes up."

  My vision blurred. The room swayed. I blinked hard, but the dizzy feeling got worse.

  "Sera?" Damien's voice became sharp.

  I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.

  The world spun... then everything went black. The last thing I felt was Damien catching my body before I fell.

  AGAIN.