Chapter 3 A Night of Fever

[One Month Ago]

"It burns..." Anna hissed, clawing at her own chest.

The hotel corridor felt like a scorching hell peeling away her skin. Anna's vision spun violently, the walls around her melting as if trying to crush her body. The drug Sienna had forced down her throat wasn't just making her dizzy; it was setting her blood on fire, making every inch of her skin scream for something cool.

The heavy footsteps of the thugs grew closer from behind.

"I have to hide," she muttered in panic.

With the last ounce of her strength, she threw her body against a slightly ajar double door at the end of the hall. She slammed it shut, turned the lock with trembling hands, and slid down to the floor. Her breath came in ragged gasps, cold sweat soaking her party dress.

"Who’s there?"

A deep, low voice snapped Anna back to awareness.

Anna looked up with blurred vision. Near the floor-to-ceiling window, a man stood in the shadows. Only the moonlight illuminated his tense silhouette. He was shirtless, one hand gripping his stomach tightly. His face was pale, contorted in unimaginable agony.

It was Damon Lexton.

But to Anna, who was delirious from the drug, the man looked like a refreshing spring of ice water.

Her primal instincts overrode her logic. Anna crawled quickly across the floor and lunged at him.

"Help me, Sir," Anna whimpered as her burning hands touched Damon's cold, broad chest.

"Get away! Don't touch me!" Damon barked.

He shoved Anna's shoulder roughly, sending her crashing onto the thick carpet.

"It hurts," Anna sobbed.

The heat returned, torturing her without mercy. She didn't care about dignity anymore; she needed that cold touch. Anna crawled back and hugged Damon's leg tightly, pressing her burning cheek against his skin.

"Let go of my leg, you lunatic," Damon growled, ready to kick this stranger away.

However, Damon's movement froze in mid-air. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the point where Anna's scorching skin met his leg.

"Wait," Damon muttered, confused. "Why... is it gone?"

The chronic, bone-crushing pain that had gnawed at him for ten years simply vanished in the area she touched. A soothing, cooling sensation spread from the woman's body, numbing his agony instantly.

Damon stared at the woman at his feet with disbelief, which slowly morphed into a look of hunger.

"What did you just do to me?" Damon demanded.

He crouched down, gripping Anna's jaw and forcing her to look up. There was no mercy in those grey eyes, only an overwhelming curiosity.

"Touch me, Sir," Anna rambled incoherently.

"You were the one who walked into the lion's den," Damon whispered huskily, right against Anna's lips. "Now, don't expect to ever leave."

---

[Present Day]

"No!"

Anna woke up gasping for air. The dream felt so real, as if it had happened just a second ago. The heat and his rough touch were still branded into her memory.

"You are so noisy."

That single, flat sentence froze Anna's blood.

She turn stiffly toward the corner of the room, and her heart nearly stopped. Damon was there. He was sitting in a chair in the darkness, watching her. His face was deathly pale, beads of sweat the size of corn kernels dripping from his temples, his jaw clenched tight against the pain.

"Get out of here," Anna squeaked, pulling the blanket up to her chin. "This is my room."

Damon didn't answer. He stood up unsteadily; every step looked like torture. Without asking for permission, Damon climbed onto Anna's bed.

"What are you doing?!" Anna screamed in panic, hitting his arm with a pillow. "Get down right now!"

Damon caught the pillow and threw it roughly onto the floor.

"Quiet," Damon hissed.

Even though his strength was drained by the pain, he was still far stronger than Anna. He dropped his heavy body beside her, then without hesitation, grabbed Anna's waist and forced her to lie down. Damon pulled her back against his chest, locking her petite frame within his muscular arms.

"Let go, Sir!" Anna struggled and kicked. "Are you crazy?!"

"Shut up or I'll break your legs," Damon growled right into Anna's ear, his breathing ragged and irregular. "No doctor's medicine works. My bones feel like they're shattering. This is the only way."

"What do you mean?" Anna asked, terrified.

"Be quiet and be my cure," Damon ordered weakly but absolutely.

Anna wanted to scream again, but the words died in her throat as she felt it. Damon's body pressed against her back felt cold and stiff. He was shivering violently. But as seconds ticked by in that embrace, Anna felt a drastic change.

The stiffness in Damon's muscles began to melt. His breathing, previously short gasps of pain, started to become long and steady. Damon's grip on Anna's stomach, which had been painful, slowly loosened. Now, that large hand was no longer gripping, but holding her naturally. His thumb even unconsciously stroked Anna's flat stomach gently.

"Mr. Damon," Anna called softly.

No answer. Only the sound of heavy, rhythmic breathing near her ear.

Anna blinked in confusion. She turned her head slightly and saw Damon's eyes were already shut tight. The face that had looked in agony moments ago now appeared deeply peaceful.

"He fell asleep that fast?" Anna thought in disbelief.

Just a minute ago, this man threatened to break her legs, and now he was sleeping soundly like a baby. Anna tried to pry herself out of Damon's arms slowly, but instead of letting go, he tightened his embrace, nuzzling his face into the crook of Anna's neck, seeking comfort.

"Don't go," Damon mumbled in his sleep.

Anna froze. Damon's warm breath tickled the skin of her neck. Strangely, Anna didn't feel disgusted. Instead, she felt a warmth spreading from his back to her entire body.

The exhaustion Anna had felt all day slowly took over. Her tense body began to relax in Damon's arms. His broad back felt solid and protective.

"You weirdo," Anna muttered softly.

She stopped fighting. Her hand unconsciously touched the back of Damon's hand wrapped around her stomach. It felt warm and comfortable.

Anna closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth. She knew she should hate this man, but tonight, her body chose a truce.

"Just for tonight," Anna whispered to herself.

Outside, the night wind howled, but inside the blanket, she felt safe. Damon's steady heartbeat against her back became a soothing lullaby until she finally drifted off, following him into the dream world.