The charge nurse hesitated.

“Isn't that a little restrictive, Dr. Hale?”

“My girlfriend has had two episodes of stress-induced headache.”

He signed the instructions and closed the folder.

“If something happens, who's going to take responsibility?”

The nurse said nothing more.

Everyone knew by now how fiercely Dr. Hale treasured his girlfriend. He wanted to watch her twenty-four hours a day and had used years of accumulated leave all at once.

Who would have thought the department's untouchable ice prince would become so inseparable from a girlfriend?

Sebastian went to the head of neurosurgery's office to ask about my latest results.

He was told the residual blood was gradually clearing and that I was likely to regain my memories soon.

He took the report back to his office and sat in silence for a long time.

...

Late that night, only a wall lamp lit the room.

A faint touch woke me.

I opened my eyes to find Sebastian at my bedside, setting his glasses down and undoing his white coat.

It slipped from his broad shoulders, and he draped it over a chair.

Underneath was a fitted black shirt.

He rolled up the sleeves, revealing sharply defined forearms, then took my hand and pressed it over his heartbeat.

My breath caught. Heat rushed into my cheeks.

“Sebastian... what are you doing?”

Through the thin fabric, his heartbeat was steady and strong.

“Keeping you company. Didn't you like looking?”

He looked down at me, his voice deeper than the night.

“Now you can.”

My fingers curled.

“Who said I wanted to look?”

“You don't?”

One arm circled my waist. His other hand kept mine over his heart.

My head felt dizzy. I tried to withdraw my hand, but he held it securely.

“This is a hospital room.”

“I know.”

“You're a doctor.”

“Not right now. Right now, I'm just your boyfriend.”

He moved my hand to his abdomen and leaned closer.

Without his glasses, his eyes seemed even deeper. The feelings he had suppressed had nowhere left to hide.

“Well, girlfriend? Are you satisfied with your boyfriend?”

His cool, woody scent surrounded me.

My back pressed against the headboard, and my heartbeat raced.

“Were you like this before?”

He watched my lips, his throat shifting.

“I didn't dare.”

“Why not?”

“I was afraid you'd find out what I was thinking. Afraid it would scare you.”

His voice was dangerously husky.

“I'm not as indifferent to desire as you think, Sophie.”

My lashes trembled.

Then he bent down and held me hard, as though he wanted to press me into his very bones.

I didn't move away. I caught his shirt and settled obediently against his chest.

My hands stayed over his heart, counting its beats.

“One. Two. Three...”

“Why is your heart getting faster?”

Those words shattered the last of his restraint.

He caught my hand, his knuckles going pale.

“Don't move.”

If this continued, he would lose control completely.

But I chose that moment to tilt my face up and snuggle closer.

“Why?”

He rested his forehead against mine, breathing heavily, a frightening darkness moving through his eyes.

He closed them and forced the words through his teeth.

“Because I'm not as rational as you think.”