Her Imaginary Lover Read Free Page A

to all those times in her childhood, before she had learned to
keep Kaylom's existence hidden from the world at
large and her parents in particular. She hadn't been entirely successful, of
course, but that tone of voice warned her to tread carefully. Besides, there
was another presence here with them. A feather light caress by calloused
fingers that made her heart beat faster and made her wish her parents far away.
    "Trevor,
the girl has just woken up." Macie's mother cupped her cheek, and the
ghostly fingers disappeared, as though they had never traced the line of her
jaw.
    "I'm all right,
Mum, really. Everything just hurts."
    Her mum made a
choked sound, and then there was the press of her lips to Macie's forehead and
an awkward pat to her knee from her Dad's heavy hand.
    "I'm sure
it does. We can talk about this in the morning," her mum said. "We
brought you some toiletries and a nightgown to change into. Do you want me to
help you with that?"
    "No, Mum,
really. I don't need help. I'm not a child." Macie regretted her sharp
retort instantly, and her mum sighed.
    "Yes, I
know, I'm sorry, I just thought … well, you just rest and sleep. You're by
yourself here, mostly. There are a couple of other women in the bay opposite
you, but I'm sure they won't bother you. You get well, and we'll be back in the
morning. The nurse said you'll be discharged then, so that's good, isn't it? I
put your buzzer right by your hand here." She pressed the plastic button
into her palm and sighed again. "So, if you do need help, then get the
nurse, okay?"
    Macie nodded
carefully so as not to increase the pounding in her head, and then her parents
left. Once their retreating footsteps could not be heard anymore she turned her
head in the direction of Kaylom's presence.
    "Is it
really you?" she asked.
    "It's me,
munchkin."
    The childhood
moniker made her burst into tears, and she felt the bed dip, as hard masculine
arms cradled her to an equally hard, broad chest. His chest hair tickled her
cheek, and she inhaled deeply as his unique musk enveloped her. It was more
potent and altogether more virile than she remembered it being, and Macie
snuggled in closer.   Buzzer forgotten she
let her hands roam, and he tensed under the frantic exploration of her
fingertips. Where earlier there had been a sticky congealed mass, now, all she
felt was smooth, warm skin that flexed and rippled under her hands.
    "How can
you be healed already? I know you were injured. There was a knife and …
and…" She couldn't go on. To say it out loud just brought the memories to
life. The paralyzing fear, the stench of her attackers, the
harsh hands that dug into her skin, and the foul taste in her mouth. She
gagged and tried to pull away, but Kaylom tightened
his hold on her.
    " Shhh , it's okay. Don’t think about it. They'll never bother
you again. Not while I'm here."
    Macie allowed
herself one more blissful moment of simply being held, and then she pushed
against his chest. His very male, very naked chest. Renewed heat climbed into her cheeks. Had he been naked when they were
children? Maybe he had been, and she'd just never noticed, but she sure noticed
now, and despite her earlier ordeal, her skin heated and her nipples firmed
under the scratchy hospital gown she still wore. Her breathing hitched, and her
stomach hollowed out as she squeezed her thighs together.
    Her childhood
friend had grown into a man, one her body couldn’t help but respond to as if
those large hands that stroked up and down her back were touching her in far
more intimate places. His fingers found the gap where the gown didn't quite
meet, and his movements slowed. Tingles of awareness raised goosebumps on her skin, and he withdrew and urged her back against the propped up
cushions.
    "Your mum
is right. You need to rest. I've got to explain a lot of things to you, but the
hospital is not the place to do so."
    He lifted a
glass of water to her lips, and she swallowed eagerly.
    "Did they
bring me a