Arresting Desires (Lexie Sarcone Romance Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

I swallowed the two pills, and took the offered cup of soup, taking a long sip. I managed to get half of it down before my stomach protested and I pushed it away.
    I leaned back against the stack of pillows, hurt, exhausted, and enraged by everything that had happened. Silently, Michael unholstered his gun. He was still dressed for work, and I realized he must have gone straight to the hospital from the precinct. Taking off the handcuffs, badge, and his button-up shirt, he kicked off his shoes and got into bed next to me.
    “Michael,” I whispered to him in the dark, “when that guy grabbed me, I was so scared.” Carefully, he put his arm around my shoulders, trying his best not to jostle my body in any way. “Maybe I’m not cut out to be a cop.”
    “ Lexie, you didn’t do anything wrong. Kemper screwed up.” His posture went rigid next to me. “Things like this aren’t supposed to happen because your partner should always have your back.” He pressed his lips gently against my temple. “You need to get off the street and away from these fucking yahoos that didn’t learn a goddamn thing in the Academy.” I nestled against him and waited for the constant pain to turn into a dull ache so I could drift off to sleep, safe and protected by the man I love.
     
    ~*~
     
    The next morning, there was loud banging against my door. I moaned and tried to hide under the pillow. “Make it stop,” I whined. The Tylenol from the night before had worn off and my headache was back with a vengeance. Michael got out of bed, shut my bedroom door, and continued to the front door.
    “You son-of-a-bitch,” I heard Michael snarl from the living room. “What the hell were you thinking?”
    “I wasn’t,” I second voice replied, sounding intimidated. “I didn’t think…”
    “That’s right, you didn’t think,” Michael retorted. I heard a loud bang that reverberated inside my skull. “Don’t you ever do anything that fucking stupid again.” The bang sounded again. “Do you understand?”
    “Ye- ye-yes, sir,” the voice responded, and I realized it was Kemper.
    “I should knock you upside your freaking head with a bottle to see how you like it,” Michael threatened, “but you’d probably be too stupid to remember this conversation if I did.” Attempting to steel my body against the pain, I needed to get out to the living room before Michael killed Kemper. But before I could, my front door slammed shut.
    “Michael,” I whispered as he opened the bedroom door, afraid the timber of my own voice would be too loud in my ears, “what happened?”
    “Nothing. Kemper says he hopes you feel better, but he had to go.” Michael saw the pained expression on my face. “I’ll get you some medicine.” When he came back, I noticed his swollen hand.
    “Did you hit him?” I asked, swallowing the pills.
    “Just once. Mostly, I knocked him against the wall.” That explained the rattling, banging sound. “He’s lucky. I wanted to do much worse.” Something crossed over his chiseled features. It was dark and frightening. I had never seen that look before, and he focused his eyes on the light peeking through the side of the drapes. “Is that going to bother you?” he asked.
    “I don’t think so,” I said hesitantly, trying to decipher what I had seen.
    “Okay, if it does, let me know.” He sat on the edge of the bed, putting on his shirt and finding his shoes. “I’m going to pick up some supplies, but only if you can manage for the next hour by yourself.”
    “I’m okay.”
    He leaned back and gingerly brushed his fingers against the bandage that ran from my temple down my neck. I hadn’t looked in the mirror and didn’t know how bad it was or if I would forever be sidled with an awful scar. Right now, I couldn’t focus my thoughts enough to care. He dropped his hand and reached for my cell phone, putting it on the bed next to me.
    “If you start to feel worse or need me, I’ll race back here,” he