Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 706

Tara knew Dylan better than anyone. Once he got involved with someone-even if it was just out of responsibility-he'd never really treat her badly.

She slipped off her clothes, moving slowly, hesitating a second before reaching for the last piece. That's when the man on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.

Tara's fingers froze. The stuff her uncle gave her was supposed to be strong— Dylan shouldn't be awake.

She crept closer, her heart racing when she caught the heat in his gaze. For a second, hope flickered across her face.

"Dylan..." she breathed.

She leaned down, aiming for a kiss, desperate to make this real before anything changed.

But Dylan shoved her away so hard she almost fell off the bed.

She managed to steady herself, took a shaky breath, and tried to keep her voice soft. “Dylan, are you awake? The doctor said there was nothing else he could do. He told me to stay and... help you, in case things got worse."

It was all about covering herself-making sure Dylan knew this wasn't her idea, that she wasn't the mastermind here.

Dylan pushed himself upright, acting like he hadn't heard a word.

He tried to get off the bed, but Tara blocked his way. "Your body's at its limit. If you don't... if we don't do this, something could go wrong. Dylan, I don't want anything to happen to you."

in Dylan's body was screaming, his mind barely holding it together as some wild, uncontrollable urge threatened to

some kind of monster trapped in the dark. "Get away from me,"

to shove her again, but this time Tara clung to him,

don't care. I want to help I could be your cure, and I swear I'd never get between you and Clara. After tonight, I'm leaving. I'll be gone for good. So please, stop fighting me. It's killing

her, eyes sharp

a kiss, but he stood up suddenly and walked straight

called, panic rising. She was so close-she couldn't let

now.

inside and

frustration burning in her chest. If she forced her way in, she'd make

would be too out of it to remember

work-pinching her own skin until angry red marks appeared, making it look like she'd been grabbed and held down. She made sure the marks went deep, even to places that wouldn't show. Then she tore

lips until they were red and swollen, like she'd been

everything looked perfect, she finally

echoed

bathroom. Inside, Dylan was

1.n

his mind a mess of noise. His hands shook as he knocked everything off the counter, bottles and