Free Forgiven (Touched Series #2) by Vicki Green

“Ow!” My body collapses and I feel his hand on my back immediately.
    “Shit! Stormy! What have I done? What hurts?” I’m lifted onto my feet quickly, grabbing my arm and cradling it with my hand. I look at him and see his brows furrowed, his eyes showing his worry and concern, but it’s too late for that.
    I start to walk back across the wet grass, my feet sliding a bit and almost trip. I yell out when I’m lifted into his muscular arms, the look on his face shows his concern but also annoyance. “So stubborn,” he grumbles as he begins to carry me across the grass and into the brush we had run through what seems like a lifetime ago. “I didn’t mean what I did. I mean, I was angry and drunk. I shouldn’t have run away. I should have stayed and let you explain but something snapped in me. Seeing you with other men in my head, letting them…. I couldn’t take it. I’m sorry I hurt you.” My hand reaches out helping to push the limbs of the trees out of our way as he makes his way through the thick brush, my bare feet, getting hit over and over with them along with my arm. Finally, he walks out onto the beach, the breeze hitting me making my body tremble even worse with no obstruction. “You’re freezing.” My eyes look up at him as my hand returns to holding my arm, and I can’t stop my teeth from chattering.
    “Y…. Y…. You have to b…. be cold too.”
    He smiles and then quirks his eyebrow. “I’m tougher than you. I can take the cold.” I try not to laugh, but a giggle escapes my quivering mouth. The rain still comes down on us in full force, the thunder loud, and I startle when lightning cracks, brightening our surroundings for a split second but I can see we’re nearing the deck. I have no idea what time it is, but once he manages to get into the back door I look at the clock on the microwave and see its two o’clock in the morning.
    “I thought your parents were out for the evening. It’s pretty late for them.” He looks at me and smirks.
    “They decided to get a hotel room. Said we could use the privacy. All it did was cause me to take my anger out on you and probably make you break your arm.” Even though my body is still shivering I relax in his strong arms, heat flooding me with his love and tenderness. He continues to walk through the house, bypassing the stairs and out to the garage.
    “Where are you taking me? I just want to dry off and go to sleep.” I yawn, my mouth shaking and then my teeth clatter.
    He leans against his Jeep, fumbling with the door handle but finally manages to open the door, turning to bump it with his hip. He sets me down on the passenger seat then reaches over me and buckles the seatbelt, pulling the shoulder strap under my arm. He places his hand on the seat beside me, hovering over me and gives me a stern look. “I’m taking you to the emergency room to get that arm x-rayed. Don’t argue with me, Peaches. You’re in no position to get your stubbornness in an uproar right now.” I scrunch up my face as he smirks, and he leaves me, shutting my door. I feel the car move as he does something in the back then gets in the driver’s side. He throws a blanket over me, tucking it in around my legs and smirks again. “In case of emergencies.” The little bit of warmth feels good as I watch the garage door open, and he pulls out onto the driveway, turning the wipers on full blast and drives down the pavement. I don’t speak, still trying to keep my teeth from chattering and just look out my window but all I can see is the torrential downpour sliding down the glass. My eyes start getting heavier the further we drive until I finally close them.
    “What!?” I yell as I’m joggled. My mind disoriented and pain shoots in my arm.
    “Shhh. It’s ok, Peaches. We’re at the hospital.” My body jars as he lifts me into his arms and carries me to some doors. I look up to see ‘Emergency’ in bold red letters on the outside of the building.
    “I just