Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Seven rolls over pulling me into his arms and placing a strong hand on my stomach. The intimate touch sends warmth through my body as the feeling of safety settles inside me. I want to deny there’s a connection between us, but it’s too strong. I’m not sure it was the best idea to let him come to our bed but seeing the hurt in his eyes was too much. I couldn’t stand it. That likely makes me the world’s biggest sucker, but I can’t help it.
He burrows his face into my neck, causing me to go stiff as his breath tickles my skin. “It’s okay Gracie, I’m here. Bad dreams can’t hurt you. Go back to sleep, baby,” he mumbles. I can tell he’s half asleep which makes it even sweeter. I finally relax into his heat.
My heart squeezes in my chest. It’s hard to deny that I do truly care for him. Even more, so that I missed him. Hell, missing him sounds like such a washed-out emotion. I ached for him. I went to bed thinking about everything he said, and now it’s still in my head. As much as I wish I didn’t have to face it… he’s right. We do have free will. I wasn’t compelled to let him come back to our room. I just truly wanted him to be here.
All the nightmares I had before I met him felt so sinister and I can’t forget that. It was like evil surrounded me in those dreams. But if I’m honest with myself, that evil specifically isn’t something I’ve ever felt coming from Seven. It’s all so confusing. I don’t know what anything means, and I need to figure it out. That’s easier said than done when you feel like Alice and have fallen down a rabbit hole.
Grace, you need to see Dr. Brashear. He can help you calm your mind.
I jerk away from Seven, shaking my head. I can’t believe he listened into my private thoughts and would say that to me. Seven opens his eyes, blinking away the sleep until he focuses on me.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, groggily.
“I’m not seeing Dr. Brashear,” I tell him sternly. I’ve already made up my mind and I don’t like the reaction I had to his therapy. I can find someone else to help me.
Seven looks confused. “I’m fine with that. I never got to meet him, so I didn’t really like you seeing him in the first place.”
“Then why did you just tell me in my head that I needed to see him?”
“I didn’t tell you that.” The frown on Seven’s face confuses me more than his words.
“I heard you in my head, even if you were trying to disguise your voice.”
Seven sits up, looking at me. “Grace, I didn’t do that. As far as I know, you can’t really disguise your voice during telepathy. There’s no reason to disguise anything when it’s your mate you’re talking to.”
I suddenly feel the need to defend what I heard as confusion and anger settle into me. “I suppose I’m to believe that, too.” I move to get out of bed, but he grabs my arm, pulling me back down.
“I’m serious. It wasn’t me,” he says, firmly. The concern knitting his eyebrows make me pause. “Tell me what you heard.”
He seems to be sure he’s telling the truth. Why would he say that in my head and then deny it? I’ve never heard anyone else in my head, but Seven. Why would that change? That thought makes my heart start to race as worry worms it way through me. It seems silly to me that he would say something and then act like he didn’t when by all accounts he’s the only one that can.
“Grace, you need to see Dr. Brashear. He can help you calm your mind,” I tell him. The words bring goosebumps to my skin. “It was just like you were talking to me, except…”
“Except?”
“Well, I guess if I take the time to think about it, the message felt dark almost evil instead of the concern you usually show. It reminded me of my nightmares.”
“Did the voice sound familiar at all?” Seven asks and I can feel the tension mounting inside of him. He’s telling the truth. He didn’t do this. I’m certain of it.
“Not really although…” I try to place what I heard.
“What?”
“When he said my name, it reminded me of how Dr. Brashear says it, although he had a bit of an accent before and that was missing this time.”
“Maybe he disguised his voice in person and can’t pull it off in your mind when he’s broadcasting."
"I get that, but if my mate is the only one I’ve been able to hear until now, what has changed? How can Dr. Brashear do this? I mean, he’s human.”