Stolen Desire (The Lust List: Kaidan Stone #3) Read Free Page A

symptoms.
    “I do have a slight headache,” I say.
    “I'll get you some pain medication to dull that. Stay awake for a few hours, and monitor how you feel.” He rips a piece of paper off his pad and hands it to me. “If you start feeling any of these other symptoms, you need to get to the hospital immediately.”
    I nod, and the doctor leaves. Kaidan gets up, dropping my purse on the chair, and follows the doctor out of the room. I get off the exam table to grab my purse, and when I do, I can make out murmuring from the other side of the cracked door. Curiosity overcomes me, and I take a few steps toward the door, ears perked.
    “Is your brother well?” the doctor asks.
    “I have no idea what he's up to now,” Kaidan says tightly.
    “And you? Are you sleeping?”
    “Some.”
    “If the drug I gave you isn't working—”
    “It works when I take it.”
    “You should take it every night.”
    My heart thumps harder, and I step away from the door, so I can't make out the words anymore, and sink into the armchair. I shouldn't be listening to that. But why is he on sleep medication? I don't have time to wonder, because Kaidan comes back into the room and shuts the door behind him. I get to my feet and sling my hobo bag over my arm.
    He looks at me, but I can't read his flat expression. The blank look in his eyes makes my chest tighten again.
    “I need to get back to work. Charles is coming to get you and take you home. You can call my drivers any time you need them—until your car is fixed.”
    My heart suddenly clenches, and I let out a little gasp and clutch my chest, breathing fast.
    “What's wrong?”
    I shake my head mutely, and he comes over. “Sit down.”
    I fall back in the chair and try to breathe, but my throat feels closed off, and I'm getting dizzy. “I have a co-pay on my car insurance. I can't pay it.”
    He crouches down to my level and rubs my leg. “Breathe. Take a deep breath.”
    I'm having a panic attack, and that knowledge does nothing but make it worse. I breathe in and out, trying to get enough air as I focus on Kaidan's gold-flecked, brown eyes. They aren't distant anymore.
    I’m so ashamed that he's witnessing this. I don't have these often, but when I do, I can usually hide until they're over. “I don't have my inheritance yet,” I blurt out. “It's… tied up.”
    His brows come together. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean… I'll get it,” I choke out, not wanting to tell him about the condition, about Serena's diamond. “But I don't have it yet, and… I don't have the money to pay my insurance and get my car back.”
    “Don't worry about it. It'll be taken care of.” He squeezes my leg. “Look at me.”
    I pull my gaze from where his hand rests on my thigh, and when I meet his eyes, warmth radiates through me at the look in them. He runs his other hand along my cheek. Then he leans in and presses his lips to mine.
    My body responds to that, and my breath evens out, the panic attack fading. I lean into his kiss. His tongue teases my mouth, and as I open it to him, wanting floods me, and I clench my thighs together to ease the ache of it.
    The warmth of him—the scent of him. If he'd wrap me in his arms and take me again, I'd forget all of this and have that sense of peace like I did as I slept last night.
    But he pulls away too soon, running a gentle hand through my blond hair.
    “Charles will be here any minute, and I'll have him stay with you. Let him stand outside your door to dissuade any aggressive paparazzi.”
    “I don't need—”
    “Please.” His expression is pleading, and I don't understand the veiled look in his eyes. My annoyance at him having me followed fades, and all I see is how much my accident has worried him. He cares. Truly.
    “Fine. Okay. Charles can stay.”
    He gives a small nod and pulls me to standing.
    I want to tell him about the drug dealers… but I don't. The moment has passed, and what's Kaidan going to do? Take me to the cops? I'm