He gave me adrenaline, passion and thrill. I just didn't know at what cost...
When small town girl Mia Thorpe moves to London to begin a new life, the last thing she expects is to fall head over heels for the charming yet mysterious Grayson Cooper...
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To say I woke up miserable would be an understatement.
In fact, miserable doesn't even cut it.
I lie motionless under Grayson's covers, wearing only one of his large t-shirts, and feeling as though every ounce of happiness has been sucked from me; like all that is left in my life is darkness.
Maybe it is.
Horrifying images play around in my head from last night; Joel, the two men who helped in my kidnapping, the repulsive blue pills that were shoved into the back of my throat, and the blurriness of everything that happened after that—which I'd rather not relive.
How did my life become such a mess?
I groan, turning weakly onto my back and wincing as my stomach twinges with pain.
"Mia?"
At least that perfect, husky voice will always bring me some form of comfort.
Grayson sits bolt upright, leaning over me with sheer concern etched into his beautiful face. "Hey, how are you feeling?" He grazes his thumb against my warm cheek, and I lick my dry lips, pulling the duvet down from my face.
"Crappy," I croak.
His eyes fall with pain. His lips push into a firm line as he watches my body deal with the aftermath of last night. "You need to drink," he says flatly, reaching to the side table to pass me a fresh glass of water that looks as though he prepared it in readiness. "Here."
I push myself up, and he places the glass to my lips, supporting my shaking hand as I slowly tip the water into my mouth. The sensation is a relief, and I close my eyes as the cold liquid quenches my palate.
"Thank you," I say, wiping my lips as Grayson returns the glass back onto the side.
He presses his lips to my forehead, his large hand stroking my hair away from my face. "I'm so sorry, Mia. I'm so, so sorry. This should have never have happened."
I turn my neck weakly, pushing a smile onto my face. "Hey, it's not your fault," I groan. "You couldn't have known."
Tears escape from the corners of his eyes. "It is my fault though," he sobs. "I'll never forgive myself."
I lean towards him, using my shaking hands to wipe the tears from his eyes. "Grayson, shh," I whisper. "I'm fine, okay?"
"But you could have died, Mia!" He shrieks, weeping next to me as I hold his face within my hands. "The thought of it makes me feel sick; the thought of losing you like that I—"
"Grayson, hey!" I squeak, my eyes glazing at the broken man in front of me. "I'm fine. It was just a couple of pills."
Maybe on some level this is Grayson's fault. Clearly, I have been getting in the way of his 'duties', but I know that he means me no harm. And as much as all of this is an utter mess—a never-ending spiralling road of confusion—my love for him outweighs that, and I want so much to just hold out through all of this so that we can have a future together.
