Read Wild for Him for Free Online

hating himself.
    “It’s okay,” she said. “You must have thought I was Helena.”
    Helena. The name on her lips was like ice on his cock. Helena. He repeated it silently until his arousal abated. He loved Helena. Gwen was really nice, and really fucking sexy. He shouldn’t have touched her, but he’d been half-asleep. He had no control over his physical response. She was a beautiful woman. It didn’t mean anything.
    “I’m sorry,” he repeated.
    “It’s already forgotten.”
    She wasn’t going to tell Helena. That made him feel worse, like a sexual harasser who was going to get away with it because his victim was afraid of losing her job. He reached into his pocket for his cell phone.
    It was dead. Fuck.
    “I have to get out of here,” he said, lumbering to his feet with a grimace. His muscles screamed in protest.
    She didn’t argue. They left the tent and discovered it was almost lunchtime. Instead of waiting for another meal, they used the public restrooms and got in line for the bus. An uncomfortable silence stretched between them as they waited among a crowd of bedraggled survivors. His screw-up had broken the bond they’d forged over the past two days, and he didn’t know how to fix it.
    They boarded a bus two hours later. It was taking residents out of San Diego County, to San Bernardino Hospital or Riverside Transit Center. From there they could arrange for pickup or use public transit.
    Mitch needed to get his car, so he asked the bus driver to stop along the way. Gwen didn’t want to stay with him. No surprise.
    “Text me after you charge your phone,” he said.
    “I will.”
    “Take care.”
    “You too.”
    He didn’t kiss her on the cheek this time. Feeling dejected, he hopped off the bus and watched it disappear. Then he walked about two miles to his car, his spirits heavy. He was worried about Helena. If she’d been hurt, he’d never forgive himself.
    He might not forgive himself anyway.
    His car was sitting in the parking lot at Mission Trails, untouched. There was dust and bits of ash on the surface. He climbed behind the wheel and plugged in his phone. Then he turned on the engine and started driving.
    Something was wrong; he could sense it.
    He stopped at a fast food restaurant for a hot meal and a cold soda. Revived, he checked his phone for messages. There was one from Helena. She was okay.
     
We need to talk.
     
    Tears burned in his eyes as he read the text. She’d been taken to San Bernardino Hospital for a minor injury. She needed stitches. Breathing a sigh of relief, he sent her a text and pulled onto the freeway, heading north. It was late afternoon when he arrived. She hadn’t replied to his message, and the hospital was a madhouse. After searching the halls for her, he asked a nurse where Helena might be. The nurse said they were taking care of superficial wounds in the cafeteria because of overcrowding.
    His heart lodged in his throat as he strode down the corridor. As soon as he saw Helena, everything would be fine. She’d be surprised to see him. She’d realize that he was committed to making their relationship work.
    And then everything would be okay. When her arms slipped around his neck, all of his tension and confusion and guilt would ease.
    It was going to be so great.
    We need to talk , she’d texted. What did that mean?
    The cafeteria was huge, and packed with people. He searched the crowd for Helena but didn’t see her. As he walked through the doors, he examined the space again, scanning the tables in methodical rows.
    There.
    Helena was a tall, striking woman, hard to miss. She was sitting at the edge of a table with one shoulder exposed. There were a couple of bloody slashes on her upper arm. They looked like animal scratches.
    She wasn’t alone. There was a disheveled man with her, standing too close for comfort. He clasped her hand in his and pressed his lips to her knuckles.
    Like a lover.
    Mitch’s stomach dropped at the sight. This motherfucker