Reaching Rachel Read online

  Ben clapped a hand on Devin’s shoulder. “Come on, man. The cafeteria serves a mean lasagna. It’s partially edible.”

  Devin actually laughed, forcing himself to get out of his chair. His back ached, and his legs felt atrophied, like he hadn’t moved in days. Oh wait, he hadn’t. Looking back at Rachel again, he leaned over her bed, breathing in the scent that even after all this time, was inherently her. He brushed his lips gently over hers, pausing just slightly so he could revel in the warmth of her for a moment longer. “Please wake up,” he begged. As he stood up, he realized that everyone in the room was watching him. Both of Rachel’s parents were wiping their eyes, and he smiled at them thinly. He had bared it all over the last several days; there was no sense in stopping it now.

  Walking out of the room, Devin blew out the breath that it seemed he had been holding for four days. Ben looked at him as they walked to the elevator bank.

  “He’s right,” Ben said, pressing the button. “She is going to wake up. It’s just a matter of time now.”

  “I’m terrified,” Devin admitted, and Ben nodded in understanding.

  “About everything?”

  “Every. Damn. Thing. What will she think when she wakes up? What will she remember? Will she want me here? All of it.”

  “Things didn’t end well with you, right?” Ben asked. Devin looked at him. “Kayley told me.”

  “You could say that,” Devin admitted.

  The doors opened and the two men walked into the busy cafeteria. “All I can say is this, man. Rachel is going to need you. Not only physically, but mentally. So put the bullshit aside and figure that out later, and just be here. Once she sees that, all the rest will be secondary.”

  Walking through the line, Devin looked blankly at all the choices, not hungry at all. Ben reached over and plopped a plate of lasagna on his tray and indicated the checkout line. “You aren’t any good to her if you don’t take care of you. Come on.”

  “How bad is it going to be?” Devin asked, looking down into his food. After a moment without an answer, he looked up to meet Ben’s eyes.

  “It’ll be hard, Devin. She has a long road ahead. Are you up for this?”

  “I have a lot to make up for, Ben. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Rachel gets through this. There isn’t going to be a moment that she doesn’t know I’m here for her.”

  Ben smiled. “She’ll be in good hands, then. You finished? Let’s get you upstairs to change. I have some jeans and a shirt you can borrow.”

  Rachel blinked open her eyes, then squeezed them back together tightly. Bright, so very bright. Trying to turn her head away from the lights, she found it nearly impossible to move. Where was she? Squinting her eyes again, she still saw nothing but blinding light.

  Opening her mouth, she tried to make a noise but her throat was so dry. She decided to move her arm to try to shield her eyes, but a shoot of pain, so intense she whimpered, blazed down her arm.

  “Rachel? Rachel? Are you waking up?” That voice. Who was talking to her? Was she still dreaming? “Don’t move your arm, baby. Is the light too bright? Turn off the lights!”

  The next thing she knew, the room was dark, and she blinked her eyes open. Pain, so much pain. Groaning, a tear slid from her eye without her control. “Rachel. You’re okay. You’re okay.”

  She was okay? Where was she? Who was talking? The voice was so familiar, but she couldn’t place it. “Go get her parents, they’re in the waiting room.”

  “Okay,” another voice answered, and it seemed so far away. Waiting room? Parents?

  Her eyes finally cooperated long enough to look around, and she could only make out the shadow standing next to her, and a light across the room, shining on a spot on the floor. “Wh …” was all she could get out before her voice gave up.

  “Don’t talk, Rachel. It’s okay. You’re in the hospital but you’re okay now. God, I’m so glad you’re awake.”

  Her stomach clenched as her eyes adjusted in the darkness. This wasn’t real. He wasn’t standing next to her bed. This was a cruel joke, a dream that she would wake up from any second. She knew that she recognized the voice, but in her haze, she had no idea why.

  Tears fell from her eyes, yet she couldn’t move her arms to wipe them away. She stared, not blinking, at the man standing next to her bed, afraid at any second he would disappear. His hair was disheveled, like he had been sleeping on it. His gorgeous eyes were looking directly at her. His face—oh God, the face that had haunted her for years. Devin. He was standing next to her bed. And she was in the hospital?

  He reached out and caught the tears that fell from her eyes, touching her so gently that she knew for sure that this was an awfully wonderful dream she was going to wake up from at any second. Leaning over, he put his face within inches of hers, and her heart pounded in her chest. Closing her eyes again, she reveled in the smell of him. After all this time, he was still the same. God, she was terrified to look again, because she knew he would be gone.

  “Rachel,” he said, and she shivered as his warm breath washed over her. She whimpered, wishing that this torture would stop so she wouldn’t have to relive it again when she woke up. “I’m here, Rachel. It’s me. I’ve been here the whole time.”

  It couldn’t be Devin. He was an illusion, a wish that could never come true again. She blinked again. He was still there. He reached out and touched her face, and she began to sob uncontrollably, her body reacting without her conscious thought.

  “Shhh, don’t cry, honey. Don’t cry. I’m here.” Devin reached over and dropped a few drops of water into her mouth, and she swallowed gratefully.

  Devin watched her, fighting with herself over what was happening right now. She didn’t believe that she was awake, that he was here. Tears continued to pour from her eyes as she stared at him. She was awake. After five days, she looked at him.

  “Devin?” the garbled sounds that came from her mouth resembled his name. She wiggled her fingers of her broken arm, and he carefully kissed them, then laced his fingers with hers.

  “Yes …” his voice broke with emotion. “God, I was so worried about you. Thank you for waking up, honey.” Tears gathered in his eyes and he left them, wanting her to see that she was worth every tear he would shed.

  Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. “How?”

  “We’ll talk about that later,” Devin explained, kissing her gently on the lips. “I’m here, and I’m not leaving. Ever again. I’m right here, for everything.”

  Rachel smiled, and Devin’s breath caught. Battered, bruised, and broken, that smile was still the best thing he had ever seen. “You’re here.”

  “I’m here,” Devin repeated, releasing her hand so he could cup her face with both hands. “I promise. I’m right here.”

  The door swung open, and Rachel’s parents rushed in first, followed by Kayley, Ben, and Dr. Zeke.

  “Rachel!” Elise and Dennis said simultaneously. “Oh my god, thank you.” They went to the opposite side of her bed from Devin. Kayley stood at the foot of the bed with Ben.

  “I’m so glad you’re awake,” Kayley said softly, smiling at her friend. Rachel looked at them all in confusion. She still didn’t quite understand what was happening.

  “I’m going to check her for a few minutes, if you could all please wait in the hallway,” Dr. Zeke demanded.

  Rachel’s eyes swung wildly to Devin, and she tried to reach for him, making strangling noises in her throat. He stepped back next to her and put his large hand over hers, smiling down at her.

  “No,” she whispered. “Please.”

  Devin looked back at the doctor. “Can I stay? She’s having a hard time.”

  Dr. Zeke looked at Rachel, then Devin. “Sure, just move to the other side, please.”

  Rachel’s face relaxed as Devin walked to the other side of the bed and began stroking her other hand. She looked back and forth between the two men in the room, figuring that if the doctor was there and he could se
e Devin, it must be real.

  Her head was fuzzy and she had no idea how she had ended up in the hospital. And how had Devin gotten here? Was she in some sort of accident? Who had found him? And why did he want to be here with her? She was too tired to ask all of the questions she needed answers for. As it was, she was fighting with her eyes to stay open.

  She made her eyes focus on the doctor as he examined her, using a light to look at her pupils first. “What’s your name?”

  She blinked. What was her name? “Rachel Elise Dawson,” she rasped.

  The doctor nodded. “How old are you?”

  She turned to see that Devin was still standing there. Satisfied, she turned back to the doctor. “26.”

  “What month is it?”

  “November.”

  “Do you know why you’re here?”

  Rachel looked at the doctor, her mind racing. What had happened to her? She thought back, trying to think about the last thing she remembered, but all that kept coming to her mind was all the dreams she kept having about Devin. He had been here that whole time. “I—I’m not sure,” she admitted. “Was I in an accident?”

  “It’s okay,” Dr. Zeke said, not answering her one way or another. “You rest, and when you remember, we’ll discuss it.”

  Her pulse started racing and her hands sweating. “Why? Tell me! What happened to me?” She turned her head, noticing the bandages on her shoulder, the sling holding that arm tight to her stomach, and the cast on her right arm.

  The doctor looked at Devin briefly, then back at her. Ohmigod. He knows what happened to me. That’s why he’s here. “Rachel, what happened isn’t as important as you resting and getting better.”

  “Something bad happened, right? That’s why you’re here. Who found you?” Rachel looked at Devin, tears filling her eyes. “Why don’t you all want to tell me?”

  Dr. Zeke put his hand reassuringly on Rachel’s good shoulder. “Rachel, please don’t worry. You just woke up and it’s a lot to take in right now. Visit with your family and friends, and we can talk later about the details. Okay? They’ve been waiting on you for five days.”

  “Five days? I’ve been out for five days?” Rachel was getting more agitated. What the hell happened to her? And just like that, it all came flooding back. Justin. Mad at her. Took her from work. The cops stopping them. Him making her do disgusting things. Justin holding her hostage in her own house while the cops waited outside. Pain, so much pain. A shot going off, people everywhere, and then nothing. Devin. She had seen him, but thought she had been hallucinating from the pain. He had been there? How?

  Her body started shaking uncontrollably, her teeth chattering like she was in a snowstorm without a jacket. Noises started coming from her mouth that she couldn’t contain. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to push the memories from her head. She was no longer in this bed with the doctor and Devin standing next to her. She was back in her house, tied to a chair and being violated in the worst way possible. She was crying, pleading, begging for him to stop. Blood was pouring from her, her arm was screaming in pain, and all she could feel was him, pushing himself inside her, over and over and over while he called her vile, disgusting names.

  Devin stood, rooted to the ground as he watched this beautiful broken woman fall apart in front of him. “She’s losing it,” he said, looking at the doctor with panic. “She’s remembering.” Devin leaned over, whispering into her ear. “Rachel. It’s okay. You’re safe. No one can hurt you. Rachel. Look at me.” She continued moaning and shaking, her eyes tightly shut.

  Dr. Zeke looked sadly at Rachel, then back at Devin. “I’m going to have to medicate her again.”

  “NO!” Devin turned back to her, kissing her fingers, then touching her face. She wasn’t responding to him at all. “Rachel. Open your eyes. It’s me. Devin. You’re safe here with me. He’s gone, hon. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you now.”

  Her body shook so much it looked like she was seizing, and she still hadn’t opened her eyes. “I was afraid of this,” Dr. Zeke said, striding for the door. “The nurse will bring in a sedative.”

  Devin collapsed in the chair as her parents rushed back into the room.

  “What’s going on?” Elise demanded. Dennis kept his hand around her waist, as if holding her up. “What happened to her?”

  “She remembers,” he answered glumly. “She was asking questions when the doctor was examining her, and he was trying to placate her, telling her to rest and to not worry about it. Then, it was like it hit her like a ton of bricks. She started making noises, shaking, and she hasn’t opened her eyes since. He said he’s giving her a sedative.”

  Elise turned, burying her face into her husband’s shoulder, her body shaking with emotion. She walked to her daughter’s bedside, smoothing her hair back from her face. “Rachel,” she said softly, whispering close to her ear. While the noises had quieted, she was still shaking and had her eyes tightly shut. “It’s Mom, honey. Can you open your eyes and look at me? You’re in the hospital. You’re going to be just fine now. He’s gone forever. He’ll never be able to hurt you again. And Devin is here. He’s here just for you. He hasn’t left since they brought you here. It’s meant to be, Rachel. All these years you lived, miserable, without him—and here he is. You are stronger than this, sweetie. Fight through the pain. Open your eyes.”

  The door opened and a nurse rushed in with a syringe. She walked right to Rachel’s IV bag and emptied the contents. Within moments, Rachel’s body was relaxed again, her eyes resting comfortably in sleep.

  She awoke to kisses being pressed down her face to her neck. “Hmmm,” she murmured. Reaching her arms out, she touched his face, slightly scruffy with his morning stubble. Keeping her eyes closed, her lips sought his and when they connected, a sound of approval escaped both of their lips.

  “Good morning,” he said against her lips. She could smell his toothpaste, and that reminded her that she needed to go take care of that before she could continue the perusal of her sexy man. Opening her eyes, she stared into the face of her love, and just like always, her stomach tickled at the love that was evident in the dark blue of his eyes.

  “Morning,” she echoed, wiggling until he let her move and rolling over so that she was perched on top of his bare chest. Running her fingers along the smooth, rippled muscles of his chest, she couldn’t help but kiss every spot she could. Leaning over to his arm, she kissed his tattoo, then ran her tongue along it.

  He grabbed her hips and pulled her on top of him so that he was rubbing her deliciously through her small shorts. He was wearing only a pair of basketball shorts, and she knew from experience that he was naked underneath. And he was very ready right now.

  “It’s a shame how beautiful you are, it really is,” Devin growled, lifting his hips into her and using his hands to touch her breasts through her tank top. She felt her nipples immediately harden against her shirt.

  “Be right back,” she whispered, jumping up. “Promise,” she remarked to his loud groan. She rushed to the bathroom and brushed her teeth, then lost her shorts and tank top. Strutting back to the bedroom, she didn’t see him in bed anymore. Tease, she thought. Where did he go? Just as she finished that thought, he stepped out from next to the bathroom door and grabbed her. He had lost his shorts too, and was standing at attention for her. She gasped as he picked her up easily and pushed her against the wall, pressing himself against her again.

  “Dev,” she moaned as his hands and mouth touched as much as possible all at once. Suckling her neck, he reached her sensitive nipples and played with one while kissing the other. His other hand touched her aroused flesh and stroked her gently, in and out, causing her to writhe in ecstasy. She tried to touch him but she couldn’t, he had her pinned against the wall so tightly. She moved her head back and forth against the wall, sensations taking over. “Please.”

  “Please what.”

  “Now. I want it now.”

  Devin growled, his lips attacking hers with desire so st
rong, she felt it coming off him in waves. His tongue danced wildly with hers, and he titled his head to allow their kiss to deepen. She could feel his rapid heartbeat against her hands as she ran them up and down his chest. She moaned again, squirming against him as she ran her fingers through his hair, entwining her tongue with his and tugging on his lip with her teeth.

  Finally having teased her enough, he shifted so that he could put the tip at her entrance. Rubbing back and forth, she just about lost it as she felt him in just the right spot. The combination of smooth but hard, coupled with the kissing and touching he was doing, she just couldn’t take it. She wiggled again, and he chuckled into her mouth. Pulling away gently, his eyes met hers. Panting, they were both beyond aroused. He cupped her behind and pushed into her, slamming her against the wall as he did it. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rocked with him as he pumped in and out of her. The only sounds were their heavy breathing and intermittent moans. Rachel grabbed his hair as he continued his amazing assault on her senses.

  “God,” she breathed. Abruptly, Devin picked her up and walked with her to the bed. Still inside her, he laid her down and leaned over her, caging her with his arms.

  “I love you,” he whispered against her lips. Her heart stuttered. She loved when he said those words, especially when he was in the throes of passion.

  “I love you too,” she repeated, reaching around and pulling his fine ass closer, deeper into her. “Now show me.”

  Devin smiled, using one hand to push her hair back off her face as he continued to make love to her. While the wall had been hot and fierce, he was now tender, slow, and gentle. She loved both. She loved him.

  Rachel smiled as she awoke, expecting to see Devin lying next to after that wonderful lovemaking. Turning her head, she took in her surroundings. She was not in her bedroom with Devin next to her. She was in a hospital room. Looking down, she saw her one arm in a cast and the other in a sling.

  Tears welling in her eyes, she remembered. She had woken up before, and then she had been asleep again. Realizing she couldn’t even wipe tears from her eyes, she groaned in frustration. It had been a dream, just a dream, she thought sadly. An amazing dream of an amazing time.