Chapter 51
I ndie finished making a pot of tea.
Slade was busy working again in his home office. He was on a video call so she was making him some tea.
Although she’d leave it outside of his door and text him. No way was she walking in there like this and risking someone on the other end of the call seeing her in her nightie.
This was part of her punishment. All she was allowed to wear was this nightie.
And nothing else.
They’d turned the heating up to a ridiculous level so she wouldn’t be cold. And before he’d headed out for a run, Spencer had put some fluffy socks on her feet with orders to keep them on.
He was ridiculous.
They all were. Rock was at the office today and to say he’d been grouchy about having to go was an understatement. But they’d spent the whole weekend together, cuddling and making love.
Frankly, she wasn’t minding a bit of downtime on her own. And neither were her girl parts.
Urgh, girl parts? Really, Indie?
She might go hide out in her teepee with a book. Last night, Slade had reignited her interested in reading and in the book he had gotten her.
She put the pot on a tray along with a plate of biscuits and a cup. He didn’t take milk or sugar so she didn’t bother with those.
Lifting the tray, she turned with it in her hands.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” a deep voice rumbled through the kitchen.
With a small scream, she dropped the tray. It was like it was happening in slow motion but she was stuck in sludge. She couldn’t seem to take a breath as the tea pot smashed and hot tea went everywhere.
Including all over her bare legs above her fuzzy socks
She let out a pained cry.
“Fuck!”
Quaid leaped across the kitchen so fast that she barely saw him. He picked her up and set her on the counter. It was so effortless that it stole her attention from the pain in her legs for a moment.
He carefully took off her socks, then he turned on the cold water and spun her so her legs were in the sink.
Indie let out a gasp of shock at the coldness. But it soon helped ease the burning pain.
“Fuck, your legs are all pink. We need to get you to the hospital.”
“No hospital!” she cried. “They’re fine.”
He shot her a look. “They are not fine. You’re burned. Fuck. I shouldn’t have scared you like that.” His gaze moved over her.
Was it her imagination or did his gaze linger on her breasts? The nipples were easily visible through the lace.
Should she cover up?
Probably. This was his home too. And he didn’t want her like that.
Although the way he stared at her said otherwise . . .
Nope. She had to be imagining things. And his gaze quickly moved away . . . so yeah.
Imagining things .
Idiot.
“I’m so sorry,” she said as he examined her legs.
His gaze shot to hers. “Sorry about what? How is this your fault?”
“I didn’t mean about this. I meant, because I’m dressed like this. It must be making you uncomfortable. This is your home and I’m just wandering around in lingerie.”
“Why are you in lingerie in the middle of the day?” he asked.
Indie could feel her cheeks heating, growing bright red. “Oh, um, well, I’m not allowed to put clothes on today.”
He raised his eyebrows, his arms crossing over his chest. There was a stern look on his face. Which was actually quite a show of emotion from Quaid. “Is that right? Why is that?”
“I’d rather not say,” she mumbled.
He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head back. “Tell me.”
Urgh. She couldn’t ignore the command in his voice.
“Icalledmyselfgrossandunattractive,” she blurted out without pausing or taking a breath.
“Did you?” he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he removed his finger. Urgh. Why did she miss him touching her?
“That was naughty,” he told her. “I’m surprised you can sit comfortably. Although, I suppose proper spankings will have to wait until after the baby comes.”
“Can I take my legs out from under the water now?” she asked.
“No. You have to leave them under for ten more minutes. And then we’ll see if we call the doctor or not.”
“We are not calling the doctor.”
“Hmm, the guys aren’t really doing a good job if you think that you get to make the final decision about your health and safety.”
She scowled at him. Rude.
He simply eyed her back.
“As for wearing the lingerie . . . it’s not like any of you knew I was here. I shouldn’t be here. It’s obviously time for me to move on. ”
“No!” she cried, reaching out to grab his arm. “Please don’t go.”
He stared down at her hand and she snatched it back.
Whoops. Shit.
Quaid didn’t like people touching him. Well, other than the guys. Once upon a time, he’d tolerated her touching him.
It hurt that that was no longer the case.
“I mean, unless you want to. Obviously, I can’t keep you here against your will. I’m just . . . I don’t want you to leave because of me, Quaid. I know I’m making you uncomfortable. I promise that I won’t walk around anymore in lingerie with my nipples out again.”
She tried to peer around her stomach to see her legs. They felt frozen now. Surely she’d had them under the water long enough?
“Why wouldn’t I want to see you in lingerie with your nipples out?” he murmured.
Umm.
This felt like a trick question. She raised her gaze to stare at him.
Where was Slade? He must be done with his call soon, right?
She swallowed heavily as Quaid gazed back at her.
“Because you don’t want me . . . like that. I hope we can be friends again, though? Can we?”
“No.”
Ouch.
Her heart was breaking. She swore she could feel it tearing apart and she rubbed at her chest, trying to take a breath.
“Not want you?” he whispered in a raw voice. “There isn’t a moment that goes by where I don’t want you.”
What?
Could what Slade said be right? Did he want her? He just didn’t think he deserved her?
“Then why . . .” she trailed off. How did she word this? “Why haven’t you been here? Why have you been avoiding me?”
“Because I don’t deserve you,” he said in a harsh voice.
Before she could tell him that he was an idiot, Slade walked in and immediately rushed over to her .
“What the fuck? What happened?” he asked.
“It was entirely my fault,” Quaid said in a monotone voice.
“I didn’t think she should be carrying a tray with hot things on it and called out, not meaning to scare her into dropping it.
The pot smashed and her legs have been burned.
I would suggest calling the doctor. I need to leave. I have things to do.”
“You have things to do? What do you mean?” Slade asked. “Shit, Boo, these look sore.”
“They’re really not anymore. Quaid was taking good care of me.” And she desperately wanted him to come back. But he disappeared before she worked out what to say.
Slade fussed over her, but she was only listening with half an ear.
What was she going to do about Quaid?