Free True Perfection [Aspire 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Allyson Young Page B

understand. She needed a few things and would arrange for the rest to be delivered when she knew where she was going. She would stay at the hospital in the interim until Warren told her to go. He deserved to tell her to her face. She opened her mouth to protest, but Gordon talked over her and took her arm to nearly drag her out the door.
    “We’re going to see Warren, Haley,” Gordon said grimly, “unless you’ve forgotten?”
    She winced at his tone and shook her head, forcing herself to answer calmly. “Of course not. I just wanted to make this as easy as possible.”
    Gordon briskly walked her to the car and handed her inside, fastening her seatbelt with abrupt, economic motions. She could feel the tension emanating from him and didn’t understand what was going on. The grizzly was back, yet she had done what he told her to do. Gordon drove to the hospital without speaking, and Haley thought it best to stay silent. She had gladly taken her punishment earlier but thought it was over. He was stretching things out, and she was at a loss. This wasn’t like Gordon.
    The walk into the hospital and to Warren’s room was also made in silence, although Gordon held her elbow in a firm grip, steering her through the number of people filling the halls. He held her against his side in the elevator, and Haley fancied that he relaxed infinitesimally. She preceded him through the door and stopped so quickly that Gordon bumped into her. The bed was empty, the machines silent, the IV pole gone. Haley felt her heart stop and then stutter into motion. No. Her brain said it quietly, precisely, but it felt like the loudest scream she had ever made. Then the sound of running water drowned it out. Haley spun to see the bathroom door open and Warren step carefully through it. She feasted her eyes on him and reached out a hand. She would have gone to her knees, but Gordon had grabbed both of her upper arms and was holding her in place.
    “Hello, sweetheart. Gordon.” Warren smiled and took her hand. He walked closer and bent to kiss her. Haley saw the effort it took and knew he was hurting.
    “Let me help you back to bed, Warren,” she said, and Gordon released her so that she could give Warren support. Warren eased his weight down, and Haley bent to help lift his legs up onto the bed. When he was resting comfortably against the pillows, Haley dropped to her knees. This time, Gordon allowed her to do so.
    “You look better than you did this morning, Haley,” Warren said. “I’m glad you got some rest. I don’t want you to tax yourself like that ever again.”
    Haley fought back tears and dropped her gaze. She heard Gordon mutter and then the sound of the door closing and the lock snapping into place. When he then grasped her hair and pulled it from the clip, Haley’s head came up. Warren’s gaze narrowed, and the old intensity flared.
    “What has our sub done now?” he asked Gordon.
    “I’ll let her tell you herself, Warren. Then you can decide her punishment. I’ll administer it for you, and then you can revisit it when you’re able.”
    Haley was astonished. She had no idea what was going on. Surely Warren knew what she had done. Gordon had given her a few minutes to get ready and leave. Had he brought her here so that Warren could administer the coup de grâce? Gordon tightened his grip, and the little sting of pain centred her.
    “Tell him.”
    Haley forced the words out. “It’s my fault that you were nearly killed, Warren. I take full responsibility, and I can’t apologize enough. If I had done what you and Gordon wanted me to do, it never would have happened. I know I am too much trouble. I told Gordon earlier that I’ve been waiting for you, for you both, to tell me to leave. Gordon has already done so, and I expect he brought me here so that you can say it personally. That would be your right.”
    Warren’s eyebrows climbed his high forehead, and he cut his glance to Gordon. Gordon laughed behind her, and she