4. ARMS

The familiar beat of a machine stood beside me, a steady sound that matched my pulse.

"Miss Dark?" a flat, monotone voice commanded my attention.

I peeled my eyes open to see a tall, lean female doctor force a small smile.

"I'm glad to see you are awake. Your boyfriend was getting quite... upset." she finished, and a flash of fear crossed over her emotionless mask.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't have a boyfriend." I informed her, reflecting the same logical voice that she had used on me.

Her lips twitched, eyes travelling to my vitals once before leaving swiftly.

A minute or two after she had disappeared, Lorenzo sauntered in, and my eyes widened in response to his appearance.

He looked like someone had killed him.

His eyes had dark eye bags underneath, making his eyes look even more drained. His usual black hair was now tousled, as if someone ran their hand through it too many times. A strand hung over his black, tired eyes, and his skin seemed paler than usual.

"Lorenzo?" I croaked, my voice raspy. My tongue darted out to lick my chapped, dry lips.

A smile found its way on his face, features suddenly glowing at my words.

His strong, warm arms embraced me tightly, pulling my chest to his as he held onto me. I sighed as his mouth hovered over my throat, his cool breath fanning my skin. I couldn't help but sigh at the comfort of his touch.

"I thought I lost you," he murmured into the crook of my shoulder, lips kissing my collarbone lightly.

I shifted closer to him, causing him to growl lowly.

Before I could open my mouth and form words, he was in his chair, a wide distance between us.

"I'm sorry." I offered an apology. I truly never meant to hurt or scare him.

"I understand if you're afraid of me now," I whispered, gaze now to the itchy, light blue hospital bed sheets.

A snicker escaped him, echoing throughout the marble room and bouncing inside my head.

"As if I would be scared," he stated bitterly.

I looked at him in confusion.

"You are the one that should be scared, Isabella." He said this reasonably, as if he were pointing out mere facts.

I glanced up at Lorenzo's pitch black eyes, still dark with concern and fear.

I could see my curious stare in his reflection.

"Why are you here?" I asked him.

His hands fell to his sides, and I thought I saw a flash of hurt cross his expression.

"Do you want me to leave?" His voice was rough, daring me to tell him to leave.

"Of course not," I huffed, the words leaving my lips before I could take them back.

"But I don't know why you would want to be here... You could have just left me in a ditch somewhere," I told him seriously.

He laughed dryly.

"Oh, Bella." He ran his hand roughly over his face, then through his messy halo of hair. His eyes were sharp with anger, lips curled in a mocking smirk.

"You really don't know, do you?"