Talented by Sophie Davis

Author:Sophie Davis [Davis, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2012-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

My head throbbed, feeling about eight times its normal size. Wincing, I tried to lift my cheek from the rough material that was scratching my skin. A large hand gently smoothed stray curls away from my face, as I attempted to open my swollen eyes.

“It’s okay. You’re okay,” Erik’s deep voice cooed. Pain radiated from my skull down through my entire body. I groaned, but finally managed to open my eyes. Scenes from Donavon’s cabin invaded my mind. Erik’s voice brought on another emotion, almost stronger than the pain – humiliation. Burying my sticky face in my shaking hands, I withdrew from his touch. Erik was the second-to-last person that I wanted to see right then.

Stupidly, I’d assumed that Erik had fought Donavon over his feelings for me. How could I have been such an idiot? He hadn’t actually been fighting him because of romantic feelings, but because Donavon was, in fact, an ass. He’d just been defending his partner. I was even more mortified by the fact that he’d let me believe that fight was actually over me.

The betrayal and embarrassment became too much. My body trembled uncontrollably with silent sobs. Erik wrapped his arms around me, and I didn’t pull away. Instead, I clung to Erik’s shirt, as hot tears scorched my skin. He rocked me while I quivered, overwhelmed by hurt, humiliation, and exhaustion. The ache in my chest made it hard for me to breathe. I longed to retreat to the darkness from which I’d just awoken.

“Close your eyes,” Erik murmured into my hair. His voice was firm and authoritative. “Sleep, Tal. Go to sleep,” he repeated softly, his voice commanding. I obeyed, over the stinging protests of my eyeballs.

Unfortunately, the blackness didn’t come. Colorful dreams of Donavon laughing and kissing the faceless blond played in my subconscious. Rage filled me, as I recalled the images of me attacking Donavon, screaming and clawing at his shocked expression. I wanted to physically hurt him the way that he’d hurt me. I continued to shriek while my fists pounded his chest. Cold water dripped, from the crown of my head, down my face. Rough fingers encircled one of my wrists, as I raised it to strike Donavon again. I struggled against my attacker.

“Get off of me,” I screeched hysterically. “Get off me.”

“Talia,” a sharp voice hissed in my ear. “Wake up.”

I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to my current surroundings. My cabin. I was back in my cabin. Erik, not Donavon, was leaning over me, his hands pinning my wrists next to my head. I thrashed against his weight, but he refused to release me. Finally, my body stilled – nightmare. Donavon and the girl were just a nightmare. I struggled to sit up in my own bed, Erik’s eyes alive with alarm. I brushed at the water that was actually dripping down my face. My fingers brushed a small bandage on my cheek. The sound of exploding glass filled my ears, and a stinging sensation tingled the nerve endings under the bandage.

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