Vampires Are Foreve(88)

“Come on, Inez,” Thomas muttered as he switched back to compressions. “Don’t you die on me. Come on!”

He bent to breathe into her mouth, jerking away when she suddenly began to cough. Turning her swiftly on her side, Thomas made sure her head was tilted back so her throat wasn’t blocked and then simply rubbed her back as she continued to cough and began to spit up the water she’d swallowed.

When Inez finally fell back with a moan, Thomas reached down to brush away the damp hair plastered to her face and breathed out with relief.

Noting that her color was much better now, he took a moment to run his hands over her neck. Thomas was sure the other immortal hadn’t got the chance to do an injury to her, but he checked anyway, relieved when her neck seemed fine.

Sitting back on his heels, he glanced up and down the path, but there was no one around. The immortal was long gone, and while he could see a couple of people walking across the bridge at the end of the path, they were far enough away they didn’t even seem to notice he and Inez. Certainly no one appeared to have noticed them in the water and rushed to help.

Another moan from Inez drew his gaze back and Thomas leaned over her again. “Love?” he said quietly. “Are you awake?”

Inez’s eyes fluttered open. They were full of confusion and pain until she recognized him and then relief filled her expression and she whispered, “Thomas.”

“Yes, love. I’m here. You’re safe now.”

Her fingers clutched weakly at his hand, her eyes solemn as she gasped, “Thought would die before could tell you—”

Thomas felt his heart tighten as she broke off into a deep, painful sounding coughing fit. Slipping his arm behind her back, he lifted her into a half-sitting position, and then rubbed her back, trying to help her through it.#p#分页标题#e#

“Have to tell you,” she gasped once it was over.

“Don’t talk, love. Just rest,” he insisted worriedly.

She shook her head with frustration and tried anyway. “I want you to know, I lo—”

Thomas rubbed her back again as she went into another coughing fit. He was sure she was trying to tell him she loved him, and while he wanted to hear those words more than anything in the world, he didn’t want them at the expense of her health.

“You can tell me after,” he assured her, scooping her into his arms once this fit ended. “When you’re feeling better.”

When she merely moaned and sagged weakly against his chest, Thomas held her a little closer and turned toward the stairs. He stumbled over something on the path and glanced down. Spotting her purse, Thomas stooped and rested Inez’s legs on his knees as he picked it up. Fortunately, it was a zippered purse and hadn’t burst open on impact. Slinging it over his shoulder, he slid his arm under her legs again and straightened to walk to the stairs.

Inez remained still and silent in his arms as he mounted the stairs. Thomas kept glancing down at her, his attention torn between the steps and his concern for her.

“Hang in there, Inez. I’ll take you to a hospital. You’ll be okay,” he murmured.

Inez’s reaction to the words was almost violent. Jerking in his arms, she raised panicked eyes to him.

“No…. No hospital,” she protested, her voice hoarse and weak.

Thomas frowned at her upset, but said, “It’s for the best, love. You nearly drowned.”

“He’ll find me,” Inez cried, and the fear in her voice made his heart hurt. It also told him that the immortal hadn’t bothered to wipe his taking control of her from her memories, but then, why would he bother? Thomas was sure the man had intended for her to die. He’d stake his life that he’d been about to snap her neck when he’d intervened.

Perhaps the hospital wasn’t such a good idea, Thomas acknowledged. He didn’t want her out of his sight for a minute from now on and couldn’t guarantee they wouldn’t try to separate them at the hospital or try to keep her overnight. The immortal might very well get his hands on her again and Thomas wasn’t allowing that.

“No hospital,” he assured her soothingly as she moved restlessly in his arms. “I’ll take you back to the townhouse now.”

A little sigh of relief slipped from her lips and Inez closed her eyes and went still in his arms, but her expression was still tight with fear. Thomas felt a slow rage begin to burn in him as he peered down at her.

No woman should have to live in fear, and he’d be damned if his was going to, Thomas thought grimly as he started up the stairs. The moment he had Inez back to the townhouse he was going to turn her. The immortal would still be able to read her until she was taught to put up—and keep up—guards, but she would be harder to read and control…and definitely harder to kill. At least she’d have a fighting chance.