suspicious that they’re meeting past midnight? That’s not normal procedure in a hospital. And what about the rest of the staff?”
Remy took out his cell. “You want me to call Kristin and check how the land lies?”
I shook my head and laid my hand on his to stop him from dialing. “Tempting, but no. That could really screw things up. Kristin would ask you to explain yourself, for starters. Where you are, and so on.”
“Yeah . . . of course . . . how dumb of me.” He laughed at himself and stretched out his arms above his head. “Never said I was the brightest crayon in the box.”
I got up from my position on the bed, went to the mini bar and poured myself a Coke. “You’re really taken with her, aren’t you?”
“Who? Elodie?”
“Good luck cracking that exotic nut.”
“Crazy, huh? She held a gun to my back, and now I’m having ideas about dating her. Like that red flag wasn’t enough!”
“Interesting women those two. Quite the mother and daughter team. Although I read that Elodie is Sophie’s step-daughter from her ex-marriage, not her biological daughter.”
Remy took a swig of his whiskey. “She’s fucking beautiful, that’s for sure.” He paused, then looked me in the eyes and said, “Look, Janie, I apologize for treating you the way I did.”
“You did what you thought you had to do. Oh by the way, I’ve got your money here. It’s in the safe.”
He shook his head. “Nah, I can’t take your money. Not after what you’ve been through, and I was partly responsible. You must have been scared shitless. And what with Daniel still being in his condition. Not to mention the shit that went down with the animals—that’s something neither of us will forget in a hurry. Keep your money for something more deserving.”
“But a promise is a promise.”
“Really, I wouldn’t feel right.”
There was a knock on the door. Room service bringing us a feast. Remy tucked into a steak and I had grilled sole with new potatoes and asparagus. I was finally having a healthy, hot meal, after days of cookies, potato chips, chocolate, bad coffee, and too much soda from vending machines.
We stayed up late, me a nervous wreck, and Remy not leaving my side. I guess he knew he needed to keep my mind off Daniel, because every now and then I’d break the conversation and burst out crying. Remy did a wicked Christopher Walken imitation to distract me. I couldn’t help but laugh.
Finally, when it was obvious that nobody was going to call us, Remy said he was going back to his apartment. We promised to call each other if we heard anything. Meanwhile, all we could do was try and get some sleep.
After what seemed forever and—as the sun was coming up—I dozed off.
11
Daniel.
“IT COULD BE another twenty-four hours.”
A male voice is drifting in and out of my consciousness. Other voices, too, join in. I can’t smell Kristin anymore—I feel at ease. I’m surprised I’m still alive.
“Midazolam is a Benzodiazepine and the longer a Benzodiazepine is used, the higher the risk and the likelihood that Daniel is getting addicted to it. Therefore, getting him out of this coma may have some challenges, namely withdrawal symptoms and therefore a gradual weaning off the Midazolam, which might delay his ‘waking up.’ ”
“Withdrawal?”
“I’m afraid so. And when he does come to, there may be side effects such as aggression and confusion because of it.”
I feel myself fading again. Floating . . . floating, on a white puffy cloud, comfortable as a feather cushion.
“JANIE, IS THAT YOU?” My voice is different. A growl. Am I dreaming, am I awake?
“Sir?”
Yes, that’s right, my name’s Finn. I’m Janie’s Dom. But she’s not called Janie. The name of the character she’s playing is something else entirely.
“Sir.” She sounds as if she’s being gagged.
I look down and am glad to see I’ve got my sweet little pet just where I want her—where I need her. On her knees, my cock stuffed into her hot pretty mouth. Oh, fuck, yeah. She’s sucking me hard as my hips move back and forth. Her delicate little hand is cupping one of my balls and she’s groaning, being rewarded with my dick for being a good girl. No lollipops for her, just my huge great cock, which she devours with gusto. She’s doing well, drawing on it, sucking in her cheeks, just the way I trained her . . . oh yeah, now she’s licking along the shaft, flicking