Chapter 23 #2
We both look down and see my forearms are blistered and bleeding all over. How the hell did they get this injured so quickly? I thought it was just a couple spatters of fat.
“Fuck, this is bad.”
”It really hurts, Silver,” I whine, tears falling down my cheeks. The worst part might be not being able to bury my face in my hands, as they too are covered in blisters and blood.
“We’ve got to use the magical cream again, it’s up in your room. Hold tight, I got you.”
He scoops me up in his arms and I can’t stop myself from crying. I’ve broken bones and nothing has been as painful as this. I press my face into his chest as I sob, while he all but runs up the stairs to our room.
He practically kicks the door open, making my husbands all jump out of the bed.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“What’s happened?”
“Holy shit, what happened to her?”
They all speak over top of each other, as Silver storms in and sits me on the table. “Get me the magical healing cream, now!”
I hear the others run around as I continue to cry.
“Ah! It hurts!” I yell as Silver helps me lower my arms so we can look at them.
“I know, Sweetheart, but we need to get the cream on them now.”
“I got it!” Indy yells and I suddenly realize I’m surrounded by all four of them.
“Fuck, Baby, what happened? Where were you?”
I look up at him and can see the pain in his eyes mirrors my own. I try to calm my tears as they turn into hiccups.
“We’ll answer your questions after, let’s just get this on. I’m sorry, Sweetheart, but this is going to hurt,” Silver warns me. “I think we should do it quickly instead of slow and gentle, best to get it over with fast.”
They all grab a couple fingers full of the cream, and with the nod of his head, they all start rubbing the cream into my hands and arms.
I can’t stop the scream that flies from my mouth at the feeling, fresh tears escaping my eyes.
At least they move fast, because the immense pain only seems to last about ten seconds before their hands let go.
“Baby, I’m going to move you. Just keep your arms in front of you,” Braxton says before wrapping his arms around me and pulling him into his lap, where he sits on a chair at the table, my back to his chest.
He bands both arms around my middle as he presses his face into my neck, giving me soft kisses.
“Fuck, Baby, never do that to me again. I can’t stand to see you so hurt and upset.”
I keep my head down, feeling embarrassed as I try to control my breathing and watch as my skin magically heals in front of my face. “I-I think it’s already s-starting to w-work,” I stammer out around my hiccups.
“Sugar,” Indy says as he drops to a knee in front of me, gently holding the bottom of my arms as the final wounds seal up. “What happened? Did someone do this to you?”
I shake my head, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Red, please?” Ryker begs.
“I just wanted to make you breakfast,” I say, lifting my eyes to meet Indy’s worried gaze, then Ryker’s.
“The pan was full of bacon and when it fell in the fire, it started spitting like crazy, I had no time to react.”
Indy stands and turns away, running his hands through his soft hair, letting out a deep breath.
My eyes move to Ryker to see him frowning at me.
“Ryker?” I whisper, afraid to know what he’s thinking.
His eyes lift to meet mine, but his expression doesn’t change, and he remains silent.
I can feel my heart beating fast and I’m not sure the cause of this tension.
Were they finally realizing how much work I am?
That was part of the reason I wanted to cook for them, so they wouldn’t think I’m useless, that I can do things for them too.
A lot of good that’s done me now. Ryker finally turns away and moves to the window, leaning one hand against the ledge as he stares into the street below.
“Baby,” Brax mumbles into my shoulder from behind.
“Brax?”
“What were you thinking?” If I could have pulled my head back in shock without hitting him, I would have. And maybe if even one of my mates was looking at my face right now, they would see how close I am to losing it again.
“I-it was an accident, Brax.” I can hear the plea in my voice, hoping he’ll understand I don’t deliberately go looking for trouble, as much it might seem like I do.
I hear him sigh into my neck before he stands up and places me back down on the chair as he whispers, “I just need a minute.” Then he turns and leaves the room, quietly closing the door behind him without even a glance at me.
Fuck. I’ve screwed up, he can’t even stand to look at me right now.
I feel the tears leak down my face as I stare at the door.
Maybe he’ll come back in and give me a kiss goodbye, like he always does.
He just forgot, right? But somehow I know it’s more than that.
He’s second guessing everything. I try to wipe my tears away as I hear Ryker say, “I’m going to go clean up the kitchen. ”
“I—”
“Stay here, Penny,” Indy says, following Ryker as they leave the same way Braxton did, without a single glance in my direction.
The second the door closes behind them, I burst into tears, glad I can at least bury my face in my hands without pain now.
Two seconds later I’m scooped up, and the soft voice of Silver whispering, “It’s okay, Sweetheart, just let it out. ”
He sits on the bed and wraps his arms around my body, so I turn against him, crying into his chest. His warm hand rubs the back of my neck.
“Sweetheart, they are just upset you got hurt. They care about you so much it pains them to see you hurting.” After a pause he adds, quieter, “It hurts me too.”
I understand his words, but I don’t really believe him.
I mean, yes, they were upset I got hurt, but they were upset at me.
I feel so useless. Why would anybody want to stay with me?
Everyone leaves me. Charlie left me, my parents left me, even Ria left me.
Maybe none of them chose to leave, but it didn’t stop me from having this feeling, deep down inside, that I wasn’t good enough, that one day these guys would leave me, too.
I need a better way to show them I care, that I think about their feelings, and that I’m not a walking disaster.
“Sweetheart, I should have asked earlier, are you hurt anywhere else? Did the fire burn your legs?” I wipe my face as I pull back to look up into his concerned eyes.
His beard has grown a little longer since I first met him when it was a mere five o’clock shadow.
I can’t help but reach up and scrape my fingers through it.
He leans into my hand for a moment before his eyes widen a little and he quickly stands, placing me on the bed.
“You should probably change out of that dress anyway, the cream is still there on the table, use it on any wounds you find. I should go make sure those three don’t make my kitchen worse in their efforts to clean up.
I doubt any of them have ever used a kitchen in their lives,” he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
As he opens the door to leave, I speak. “Thanks, Silver, for everything. I’m sorry about your kitchen.”
“It’s fine, I’m just glad you’re okay,” he says with one last look at me before closing the door behind him.
“Fuuuuuck,” I groan, flopping onto my back. What the hell am I going to do? How do I fix this? I can’t stand them thinking I’m useless.
A noise at the window has me turning my head to see a soft rain falling outside.
Matches my mood perfectly. I stand and move to the window to watch.
I see a few people hurrying down the street to the market.
If I can’t cook them something, I could definitely buy them something.
I had plenty of money, if I spent it on them, they’d understand how much I care.
It was tradition to buy your husband a wedding present, at least in the human world, and I had three to buy for.
I remembered seeing a few things in the market that they might like. Maybe a new blade?
With a plan in place, I quickly pull off my dress and take a quick look at my legs, luckily I can’t see any burns.
One of my new dresses was recently delivered, so I slip it on, along with the cloak that arrived with it.
The dress is a soft green and cream and the cape is a dark green.
They are both beautiful and when I’m bundled up, I grab a few of the smaller coins we’ve accumulated and slip them in my pocket, making my way downstairs quietly.
Luckily, all the men must be in the kitchen as the tavern is empty, so I quietly slip out, pulling my hood over my head as I head quickly down the street towards the market.
I don’t pass anyone on the way and make it there relatively quickly.
I try to remember where the vendor was with weapons, and after passing stall after stall of food and scarfs, I find it.
I see their array of daggers and try to determine which one will work for each man, but then something else grabs my attention.
At the back of the table is a basket with a selection of rings in it.
I reach out and pick one up, studying it.
It looks like it’s made of silver and shines brightly.
Wide enough to be a man’s ring. Do rings have the same meaning here that they do in my world?
I think about asking the vendor but decide against it, deciding it will be better to find out from my mates when I give them theirs and explain the meaning of wedding bands to them.
“How much for three of these?” I ask, as I start looking through them to find the three I like the most. I find a black one perfect for Brax, although I’m not sure what it’s made of. The silver one for Ryker and a gold one for Indy.