Free Bound For Me by Natalie Anderson

just climbed a kabillion stairs carrying her, but still felt amped and strong enough to climb another fucking four dozen, just to get her to the damn doctor.
    Her eyelids fluttered.  
    “We need to get her inside,” he growled.
    “Want me to take her while you—”
    “No.” He hoisted her higher and punched at the keypad with his still bandaged index finger. It took two goes before he heard the click. He barged in backwards, swivelling to then stalk into the spare bedroom. “Come on. Both of you.” He didn’t look to see if they’d followed, he was too busy looking at how dark Savannah’s lashes were against her whitened face.
    “Are you going to put her down so I can examine her?” Austin asked, unusually warily.  
    “What?” Connor’s arms instinctively tightened. “Oh. Sure. Of course.”
    Carefully he placed Savannah on the edge of the bed and stepped back only just enough to let Austin past.
    The doctor checked her over with annoyingly slow thoroughness.
    “You haven’t been partying tonight?” Connor suddenly barked at Austin.
    “No, I’m aware of my obligations,” Austin said mildly, not looking up from his examination of Savannah. “I’m on call most of the time. Therefore I don’t drink. Most of the time. And I haven’t tonight.”
    “Good.” Connor fisted his hands and folded his arms across his chest, watching the doctor’s every move. He knew he could trust him. Austin was a good guy.  
    “Breathing’s good. Heartbeat’s strong and regular.” Austin sent him a troubled look. “But I don’t like that we don’t know what we’re dealing with.”
    “I know.” Connor replied grimly. “Some drug.”
    “Stupefying,” Austin nodded. “Could be one of several. Where the hell was she?”
    “In the middle of St Clair’s.”
    Austin looked puzzled. “With a million people present?”
    “I don’t think they wanted to attack her, just humiliate her.”
    Puzzlement turned to disgust. “You called the sheriff?”
    “About to.” No way in hell were those assholes not getting caught. And punished.
      “I’m going to put her on a drip. Make sure she’s hydrated. Flush out her system.”
    “You can do that here.” Connor didn’t want her leaving his sight. “You’ll stay with her, right?”
    “Of course.”
    “You okay to stay the night with her as well?” He turned to Krista.
    “You want me to?” Krista fidgeted with the car key.
    Connor glared at her. “If you were drugged and couldn’t remember anything that had happened to you, wouldn’t you want some reassurance from someone that you weren’t hurt? Weren’t touched or humiliated in any way? I’m not having her doubt it, even for a second.” He turned and looked at the woman lying motionless on the bed. “She’s not being left alone with any one person until she’s fully alert again.”
    Not even him.
    Austin nodded. “Good. I just need to go get a couple of supplies. I’ll be five minutes, tops.”
    “Great,” Connor stepped closer, taking the space that Austin left. He glanced over at Krista. “Can you take off her boots and loosen her clothing, but don’t undress her any more than that.”
    “Absolutely,” Krista hurried forward.
    Only then did Connor step away from the bed and turn slightly away. He pulled out his phone again and called the sheriff.
    Ten minutes later Austin was back and quietly making notes at the small desk under the bank of windows. Connor sat in the chair nearest the bed, aware of Krista on the other side shooting him curious glances now and then.
    “I wasn’t aware you knew her,” she finally said.
    He didn’t answer. He just watched Savannah, lying too still. That fire that had caught his eye that first time he’d seen her was lacking. That spark and strength. And sweetness. He so got off on that combination. And he wanted all of it back in her eyes—that sparkling intelligence and challenge.
    “Sheriff’s waiting, Connor.” Austin interrupted his