Chapter 30 #2
Creating a lather in my hands, I ran them reverently down his arms, bringing his fingers to my lips and nipping the pad of each one. Each nip, touch, and caress was a thank you to the universe for his safety and speedy recovery.
Slowly, I stroked his chest and down his abdomen, and over each dip and valley of his impressive six-pack. Ignoring the half-hard and massive package between his legs, I moved to wash his left leg, teasing as I went.
As I ran my hands over the top of his foot, I tickled his toes, making him squirm away from me.
“You don’t play fair.” His eyes blazed with desire and longing as he watched me work.
Moving to his residual limb, I asked. “May I?”
He nodded, and I proceeded to wash the smooth and pale skin, reverence in each caress and touch, at all he’d sacrificed for his country, his team, and now, us.
I kissed the limb and over the scarred skin up his thigh to the apex of his Adonis belt.
Moving up, I continued pressing small pecks to every scar, dip and divot, over his hip, paying close attention to his delicate tattoo and then continued up his ribs.
With my eyes on his, I placed one last kiss over his heart.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. I can’t believe Cain’s been here this whole time.” An involuntary shudder racked my body at the thought of how close he’d been all this time.
Kai’s arms encircled me and held me tightly against his chest. “I know, but he’s been arrested. You’re safe now.”
We sat like that, him on the bench seat and me kneeling with my ear pressed to his heart as we settled into all that had happened.
“Who do you think was helping him? Now that they have arrested him, do you think his accomplice will just leave?”
“Depends on who it was, honestly. If he hired someone or it was a friend, they might just take off to save their own skin.” Kai’s jaw stiffened as he spoke, his muscles rigid. “I hate the unknowns.”
“Me, too,” I agreed as I rose to my feet and quickly washed myself. Kai chewed on his lower lip between his teeth the whole time, his gaze lost in all the worrying possibilities.
Once I was clear and rinsed, I pulled Kai up and turned the water off. “Let’s try not to worry about it now. If it would save him, Cain will probably throw whoever it is under the bus, anyway. There’s no point worrying about something we can’t control.”
Helping Kai step out, I passed him a towel, and we both dried off, the silence turning heavy and foreboding around us.
Once dry, we got dressed, and I settled Kai in bed.
“You rest and I’ll keep an ear out for Maisie.
” I’d borrowed a shirt of Kai’s that was more like a dress and a very loose pair of gray track pants that I’d had to roll up at the legs and waist to keep them from falling down.
The idea of putting my gross work clothes back on after everything that had happened was unpleasant, to say the least.
Kai groaned. “I’m not going to be a very good patient. I hate sitting idle. I need to be useful.”
Sending Kai a smile, I could imagine how challenging he would be. Kai was a man of action, always moving and busy, and being forced to rest would be hard for both of us, I just knew it.
“You need to look after yourself. We’re lucky your injury wasn’t worse. Now behave, or I’ll send one of your teammates to take care of you, and I’ll go home.” It was an empty threat, but his eyes widened in shock at my words, so I guess it worked.
“You wouldn’t,” he gasped.
“Not if you behave.” The put-upon pout he sent me made me laugh.
“You’re such a goof.” Maintaining eye contact, I implored him. “But please, I need you to be okay and take care of yourself.”
He extended his hand for mine and pulled me to him. “I know, and I will.” He planted a kiss on my head as I snuggled into his side.
Before we could get too comfortable, there was a soft knock at the door. I hurried to answer it.
Maisie stood on the stoop. She looked exhausted and cold bundled up in a parka, a knit cap and scarf.
“Are you both okay?” she asked as she bulldozed her way in. She set the bags near the door prior to taking off her extra layers.
Goosebumps had pebbled my skin as the chill from the open door, and I rubbed my arms to ward it off. “Yes, we’re mostly fine. Kai’s resting, but it is only a mild concussion, thank goodness. Are you okay? I take it you were up most of the night?”
“Yeah, the explosion woke everyone, and it’s been all hands on deck all morning. The animals are extra agitated; we had to get the vet to come in and look at a few of them.”
Kai must have heard us, as he yelled from the bedroom. “Which ones? Are the new horses okay?” Rustling sounded before Kai appeared in the bedroom doorway on his crutches.
“It’s actually one of the foals and it’s momma,” Maze said, concern shining in her eyes.
“When’s the vet arriving?” I asked.
Checking her watch, she stated. “Not till two.” Her anxiety fading, she turned back to the door where she’d dropped the bags and hustled them into the kitchenette.
“I have a change of clothes for you and a bunch of food, so you won’t have to leave your little love nest for a while.
” She waggled her eyebrows at both of us, and I felt my cheeks heat in response.
“Thank you,” I said.
We put the extra food away and plated a sandwich for each of us. I noticed Kai’s wince as he settled on the kitchen stool across from us. “Do you need some more painkillers? Should I go grab your codeine script? You need to rest.”
“Such a mother hen,” Maisie muttered. “She’s too good for you,” she added to Kai.
“Oh, I know,” he responded, rubbing his unbruised temple. “Tylenol should be okay for now, but one of the guys can go out and get my prescription. I don’t want you,” he flicked a glance at Maisie, “either of you, going out alone. Not until we know more of what Cain was planning.”
“I have to get back to work.” Cain had been arrested. I was safer now than before.
Kai winced again, squeezing his eyes shut. “It’s not safe.”
Maisie moved around the kitchen, fetching a glass of water and some Tylenol. “Take these and try not to stress. We’ll work something out.” She shot me a sympathetic glance. “I’m sure one of the guys could accompany us. Either way, I’m on tonight too, so she won’t be alone.”
Kai grunted, his jaw tense.
“Let’s get you to bed. We can worry about that later.” I came around and hovered near Kai, ready to help if he needed it. “Thanks, Maze. I’ll let you know about tonight.”
“Alright. Take care of him.” She sent me a nod and a wave and left.
“Don’t forget to lock up,” Kai grumbled as he hobbled over to the bed and laid down.
“I won’t.” Once Kai was settled, I hurried to lock the front door, put my work clothes in the washing machine, and bring our sandwiches and two bottles of water into the bedroom.
Quietly placing the sandwich and a bottle of water on the bedside table by Kai, I took a moment to study his sleeping form.
He’d grown up from the boy I’d once known.
He had tiny creases around his eyes that stood out with the mottled blue and purple bruising at his temple.
Gently caressing his cheek, I leaned down and kissed his forehead, letting him sleep. He could eat later.
Moving to the other side, I carefully transferred Kai’s prosthetic to the chair by the bed before returning to climb in with my back against the headboard.
I needed to eat and catch up on some sleep, too.
I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating and finished the sandwich in record time, and was still hungry for more.
Something sweet sounded heavenly. Wandering into the kitchen, I rifled through the options and thanked my lucky stars, or perhaps Everett, for adding a few chocolate bars and practically inhaled my sweet treat before heading back to bed.
As I rolled to my side, facing Kai, sleep claimed me quickly.