Her hand trembled as she twisted the doorknob, feeling nauseous from the sudden drop of adrenalin into her bloodstream. His voice had made her remember where she was, but the physical effects of fear would not dissipate so easily. Clutching the towel around herself, water drops running down her neck, she looked up at Derek with huge eyes.
Derek nodded to her, motioning for her to come to him, but she wouldn’t budge. He took a step forward and snatched her into his arms, picking her up and bringing her back to the couch where she could calm down. “Relax, I’m here. You don’t need to worry about anything when you’re with me.” He placed her on the cushions, going to grab Cora’s clothes before he came back and handed them to her. “Get dressed and then I’ll read you a story so you can fall asleep.”
The abruptness of his motion startled her, and she clutched at her head. A stray thought suggested if she could just throw up she’d feel better, but she didn’t trust it. When he came back wth the clothes, she glanced at him, then back to the pile of fabric, and frowned slightly before shrugging.
She did turn her back to him while she pulled on the clothes, wondering what he saw. Then she curled herself back into the corner of the couch, in the smallest possible ball, obedient to his will.