Chapter 30
Lydia
I woke up to the smell of blood, sweat, and Daniel. I couldn’t tell if it was cologne or just the soap he used, but it was mixed with the scent of violence. I opened my eyes and found myself curled up in his arms on his lap.
Why are my legs cold?
“Daniel?” I lifted my head and steadied myself with a hand on his chest. His hair was a mess and he had blood on his shirt and a few drops on his cheek. He looked down at me with wide eyes before pulling me closer to him, tightening his grip, and hugging my entire body like I was a ragdoll.
“Oh god, Lydia, you scared the fuck out of me.”
He looked so relieved. I remembered trying to tell him that I was going to pass out, but I must not have gotten that far before everything went black. It was hard enough holding on until Jake and Cole left—the second we were alone, I let go.
Because I trust Daniel enough to do that.
“I can’t breathe.”
He released his hold a little bit.
“Sorry. What happened?”
“I’m fine.”
“Were you having a panic attack? I saw you—”
“Yeah, all night. But Becca needed me and then Jake and Cole needed to know what happened. I had to deal.”
He held me tighter for a second before loosening his hold again.
I looked down at what I was wearing. The oversized shirt I wore as a cardigan was buttoned down completely, and the top and jeans were gone, though my Doc Martens were still on.
How did he take my jeans off and leave my boots on? Did he cut them off me?
“My clothes.”
His neck and cheeks turned a dark shade of red, which was impressive considering his tanned complexion.
“I panicked when you passed out.”
I smiled. “You thought I was injured?”
He exhaled and grinned. “See, that’s what I love about you. You reach the correct conclusion with the information you have.”
What I love about you?
I shook my head and got up slowly, completely ignoring the very clear effect sleeping on his lap had on his body.
“How long was I out?”
He looked at his phone. “Four hours. Jake and Cole still haven’t called back.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me back, and I found myself once again surprised that I didn’t stop him. I sat on his lap, with both of my legs on one side.
“Can you tell me what happened?” he asked.
I put my head on his chest because I didn’t want to look at him and see the anger that I knew would be there when I told him, because it would make me even angrier, and I was already on edge.
“Those two men came to our table to hit on us, but they were focused on her. The second they saw that she was interested in one of them, the other guy sat next to me. He kept trying to talk to me every time I looked at Becca to see if she was okay, and then when things heated up between them, the other guy, Vince, convinced me to give them some privacy. I shouldn’t have listened but Becca winked at me and I thought she wanted—”
“Stop, Lydia. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Daniel’s hand moved on my head, his fingers moving up from my neck to my scalp and back down. It felt nice.
“I hope she won’t be angry with me.”
“She won’t be. You saved her. Again.”
I shook my head and allowed myself to enjoy what he was doing to me.
“I went with the Vince guy and kept her in sight but he was talking and I couldn’t hear him so we went to that hallway.
He tried to make a move and when I wasn’t interested, he backed off.
He only grabbed me when I told him I was going back to Becca, which made me worry even more.
He said he couldn’t let me go and to relax, it’ll be over quick. ”
I felt the muscles on Daniel’s arms tense and thought I could hear him clench his jaw. “I hit him and then you came. You saw the rest. Did Becca wake up?”
“No.”
“When we got to the room I helped her change. She didn’t want me to leave her alone. She was so scared. He told her something.”
Daniel shook his head. “I didn’t see that. When I came around the corner, he was looking at you right before you hit him. Impressive, by the way.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“The ring too. You did some damage.”
“When you’re my size, you use what you can.”
“I’m guessing the nails and hair pin—”
“Yep.”
He chuckled, and I felt it rumbling in his chest.
“Hmm,” I hummed softly.
Shit, I didn’t mean for that sound to come out. But the way he was touching me felt so nice, and it was relaxing.
Mr. Mason. Your Boss. Becca’s brother.
Danny likes you. Becca’s voice rang in my head.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
His hand froze.
“Sorry. That feels nice,” I muttered.
“Good.”
He held me tighter with the arm that was around my back and continued massaging my scalp. It felt so good I fell asleep, not caring that I was curled up, wearing less than usual, on my boss-slash-friend’s lap, getting a massage. It was a rough night, I was with someone I trusted… fuck it.