~Chapter 10~
T he fog of sleep hangs heavy in my mind, and I groan out. Shifting in the bed with my eyes still closed, I burrow deeper into the safety and comfort of my weighted blanket. Of course, the comfort doesn’t last long as I hear something that sounds an awful lot like a page being turned.
Popping my eyes open, my heart rate spikes as I take in everything around me. Realization finally settles as I remember I am not at home. I’m at the guys’ house, and someone is in the room with me.
My brows furrow as I scan the room. The door is partially open, but I don’t see anyone there. Someone must have moved the chair outside because it’s now missing from its spot next to the door. The chaise is free of any unfairly sexy men, and I question if maybe I’ve lost my sanity. I swore I heard-
Another page flip echoes in the otherwise quiet room. Now that I’m a little more awake, I realize it’s coming from the floor beside me.
Biting my lip to keep all the painful noises from erupting, I scooch closer to the right side of the bed, careful not to twist my casted arm and peer down.
A mop of crazy, wavy black hair greets me, and I find myself grinning. From my view above him, I can see he’s leaning against the side of the bed, his knees bent as he reads a book. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t help but watch him for a moment. Like, I'm getting to see something most people don’t.
He huffs out a sound in response to something he read, and I have to suppress the giggle that wants to bubble out. Why the heck is he so dang adorable?
He shifts to turn the page again, and my arm freezes mid-air.
Realizing I was unconsciously moving to run my fingers through his hair, I whip it back to the bed. That would have been far too intimate and too creepy. Maybe the helmet didn’t totally protect my head because I’m clearly losing it.
My bladder protests, and I realize that I desperately have to pee. I’m about to move when I’m suddenly struck with the thought that I don’t know how I got back after my last bathroom trip. I remember my standoff with Alpha, but it all goes fuzzy afterward.
Shaking my head, I decide not to worry about it for now.
I don’t want to disturb Danny, so I scoot over to the left side of the bed and start to work the blanket off of my legs. My body trembles from a mixture of pain and lack of movement as I lift myself into an upright position. The room tilts and does a little spin, forcing me to swallow back the bile splashing in the back of my throat.
Once the wave passes, I take a deep breath, use the nightstand for support, and push myself up. My arms quake, and a shot of pain fires through my casted leg. I try to clench my jaw, but the muffled scream of pain still echoes out in the room. Dang it.
“Beatrice? What are you doin’, woman? You’re not supposed to be moving on your own. Here, let me.” Danny’s words are rushed and playful. I expected aggression like Alpha, but Danny is still being sweet and annoyingly wonderful.
Shaking my head, I insist, “No, no. I’ve got it. You go back to reading your book. I’m fine.” Unfortunately for me, the word fine comes out way too high as another shot of pain threatens to take me out. Sparks filter behind my eyes as the pain causes another wave of dizziness.
Before it fully passes, my whole world tilts, and I’m being lifted in the air. “Danny!” I screech. “Put me down! I can walk! I’m too heavy for you!” I sound ridiculous, high-pitched, and indignant, but not strong in my convictions at all.
“No can do, My Flower. I’ve got you. And, if you ever say some stupid shit like that again, healing or not, I’ll pull you over my lap and give you a pretty, pink handprint on your ass to remind you that you’re fucking perfect.” How someone who is so playful and so carefree can turn dominant mid-sentence is a phenomenon I never knew existed.
Stu showed his dominant side that night at the bar, and it had me completely entranced. But Danny… he went from playful to possessive really dang quick.
Clearly, I’ve been stunned stupid because we’re already near the bathroom; and now I wonder if my panties are wet because he turned me on or if I peed myself? Good Lord knows that’s all I need right now.
Danny steps into the bathroom and carefully sets me down. When I have a good hold of the counter, he jumps up. “Ooo, I forgot! Be right back!” His smile is wide and infectious, and his eyes sparkle with excitement.
I assume he’s going to leave, but he doesn’t. Instead, he grabs my face, kisses the living crap out of me, then smiles wider and bounds down the hall. The whiplash has me wide-eyed and my mouth gaping. I’m pretty sure I look like a surprised owl right now. What the fork just happened?
I don’t have time to dissect it because he comes barreling down the hall again with a little duffle bag slung over his shoulder. Wait a second. That’s mine!
My surprise must be blatant across my face as he grins cheekily and sets the bag on the bathroom counter. “Figured you’d want your own stuff, so I grabbed some of your bathroom shit while Stu grabbed your clothes, and the other 2 packed up the things Stu told them to find.”
He says it so dang casually, like it was a run to the grocery store, and not at all creepy that four men I don’t trust- and currently hate- were going through my things.
So many emotions battle in my mind as I try to find one and hold onto it. Pain, loss, anger, sadness, betrayal… it’s all too much. It’s all too overwhelming.
An ugly sob bursts from my chest, and tears flood my face. Danny’s blurry form moves closer to me, and he wraps me in his arms, quietly shushing me while rubbing my back.
We stand like that, me losing control and him fighting to help me regain it for what seems like an eternity. I felt my knees buckle a while ago, but he’s held me up, held me together; and that makes me feel simultaneously better and worse.
I’m not this woman. I don’t need others to help me. I’ve lived life so long, basically alone. But why does it feel so darn good to be held?
Eventually, my sobs turn into muffled hiccups. Danny slowly releases me but doesn’t move back. His soft hands caress my face as he swipes away the remaining tears. His lips tip up in a gentle grin before he brings his forehead to rest on mine. “It’s ok. You’re going to be ok. I promise.”
And for some reason, I believe him.
I gulp in a deep breath, count to four, then release it.
He lifts his head away from mine, and his nose crinkles adorably. “You’re sexy as hell and beautiful no matter what… but you may want to brush your teeth.” His face scrunches hilariously, and I can’t stop the watery giggle that bursts out of me.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” I cover my mouth and squeal with a mixture of embarrassment and giddiness.
He chuckles and steps around me. “While you do that, I’m going to run you a bath.”
My whole body freezes. “A-a bath?”
“Of course. You can’t get your casts wet, so I’ll wrap them first, but I’m sure you’d like to get clean. It’s been six days since your accident.”
Holy schnitzel! Six days! That’s gross and terrifying, and overwhelming, and-
“Easy, My Flower. It’s ok. I’ve got a lavender bubble bath to cover you, and when you’re ready, I’ll wash your hair.”
“Huh?!” I squeak out. “Wh-why would you do that?”
I turn to face the mirror, catching our reflections as he steps up next to me. “Because you need help. And I’d do anything for you. We all would.”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “You’re wrong about that. Alpha friggin’ hates me. I didn’t even do anything to him.”
Then, the thought strikes me down like lightning hitting a tree. It’s been six days, and I haven’t seen Stu once. I mean, yes, I’m mad and hurt, but… we were friends once. Right? Or was that a lie, too?
Danny’s far too perceptive for his own good. He rubs a hand over my shoulder and whispers, “He needs some time. He’s…” His eyes seem to be searching deep inside for the right words. “He’s hurting. He just needs some time.”
I feel the scowl form on my face. What the fork is he hurting for? I didn’t betray him, I didn’t lie to him, and I’m the one who got hurt. In more than ten ways!
The rush of bath water brings me out of my head, and I look over to see Danny pouring in a heaping amount of something that smells absolutely divine.
I unzip the bag and pull out my toothbrush and toothpaste. The sensation of scrubbing away the grime and muck from my mouth is almost orgasmic.
Once I’m finished, Danny opens the toilet seat and brushes past me. “Holler at me when you’re done, and I’ll get you wrapped up.”
Without a backward glance, he closes the door; leaving me alone with my thoughts and the heavenly aroma of the steaming bath.
It takes Danny and I about fifteen minutes to get situated. After going to the bathroom, Danny came back to wrap my casts. Then, we had a brief argument about him helping me into the tub; one I eventually lost as I slipped trying to hobble out of his grasp.
I made him bring me a towel to cover with, and, of course, he smirked and raked his gaze up and down my body.
Yeah, yeah. I know he’s obviously seen me naked, but that was under false pretenses, and that’s not happening again.
The bubbles would probably cover everything, but as I get in, I’m glad I have the towel. It felt a little like a piece of armor still protecting my heart from the men who run this house.
Eventually, he talked me into allowing him to carry me and slowly submerge my body in the water. At first, it freaking hurt. It all freaking hurt. I can’t lie, though; I’m glad he helped. I definitely would have injured myself further had I been left on my own.
My right arm is now resting on the tub’s ledge and my left leg is, basically, sticking straight up and over the tub; my toes peeking out of the plastic so they can get cleaned, too. Thankfully, the cast goes just a few inches past my knee, so I’m still able to have a full bath.
Danny disappeared a couple of minutes ago to “grab some stuff,” which allowed me to finally sink in and relax in the awesomeness that is this bath. I know I’ve been riddled with nightmares, and sweating profusely, so the warm lavender water feels like a healing balm.
A gentle knock comes from the door, and Danny pokes his head in with a wide smile as if he just found his parents' secret candy stash. Goofy dork is too cute for words.
“Hello, Gorgeous.” He toddles in, and I can’t help but giggle.
“You act like you didn’t just see me three minutes ago.” I smile, shaking my head. His response is just a shy shrug as he looks away. I see his pale skin flush. Oh my gosh! Is he, for real, blushing? Why is that attractive?
Before I can comment, he clears his throat and holds up a big, purple loofah- with tags still on it- and what appears to be some kind of hose with a showerhead nozzle. I tilt my head and try really hard to get my brain to understand what he’s doing with it. He must see my extreme confusion because he chuffs a laugh and says, “This is to help get you clean,” he holds up the loofah and shakes it around. “I figured you’d rather that than my actual hand since it’s going to be hard for you to maneuver with only one arm and one leg in use.” I feel the blood drain from my face as I realize that he wants to clean me. Is there no way I can do it myself? I mean, how hard can it b-
His voice cuts off my swirling anxiety as he holds up the hose with the shower head. “And this is so I can clean your hair. Don’t want you to move too much, so it won’t be a good idea to dunk you. That, and I’m pretty sure you want to do that after we get the dirty bath water out of there.”
He pauses for all of two seconds before his eyes widen. “Not that you’re dirty, you’re perfect, just that, you know…”
Darn it. He’s too cute. I grin at how quickly he jumps from confident to silly to unsure. He’s too freaking adorable. I kind of hate it. No, you don’t.
“Danny,” I say quietly, my smile stretching so wide it actually hurts. “It’s fine.” I take a deep breath and settle further into the tub before whispering, “Thank you. For everything.”
I peer up at him through my lashes and see him shaking his head before he steps toward the tub. My whole body goes taut like a tight rope as he kneels next to the tub and rips the tag off the loofah with his teeth. Oh, cheese-its. Now, something else tightened.
Danny, completely unaware of my inner turmoil, dunks the loofah in the warm water, then pops back up to my bag. He rummages around before pulling out my Champagne Toast body wash from Bath and Body Works. After applying a generous dollop, he kneels next to me again, rubbing the loofah until it’s nice and bubbly.
Neither of us speaks as he lifts my left foot and gently cleans the little bit of my foot sticking out of my cast. A giggle tinkles out of my mouth, and I slip further into the water. Danny’s eyes widen in surprise as a full smile forms across his perfect face. “Is my Flower ticklish?” It’s completely rhetorical because he swipes the loofah across my foot again, and I squeal out as I try not to kick in response. His answering laugh is dang near musical, and I wish I could hear it every day.
I flick water at him, causing him to flinch back in surprise. His eyes widen and he looks aghast as his mouth drops in shock.
“Be careful startin’ shit with me, Flower. I’ll be forced to finish.” The gleam in his eyes tells me he’s being playful, but I swear his voice dipped a little lower. My pussy clenches in response, and I feel my own eyes widen, hoping to God he has no idea what his words did to me.
His eyes dilate, and his nostrils flare, showing me he knows exactly what just happened. Jerkface.
Thankfully, I’m in the bath, so if I turn into a puddle of goo, I can just slide right down the drain.
He breaks eye contact first, shaking his head to clear whatever images he had playing out in his mind. I feel my face burn brighter and kind of wish I could sink underneath the bubbles.
Danny bends over the tub and glides the loofah over my foot and up my leg in small, circular motions. I tense as he hits the top of my thigh, right next to where the soaked towel is covering my mound. But he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t do anything. Instead, he skips over it entirely and begins working on my arms. He cleanses my right arm first; well the parts that are not covered by plastic. His heady scent, a combination of leather and eucalyptus, swirls into my nose, and I have to actively hold back a groan.
Memories of that night streak through my mind.
Looking back on it, It’s so obvious that it was them, and I feel like a total idiot for missing it.
His voice in my ear talking about taking Even’s pierced cock in his ass. The feeling of his lips nipping and sucking along my neck and jaw while Even worked my pussy, Alpha tortured my clit, and Stu… friggin' Stu kissed me!
Danny continues his ministrations, rubbing the loofah all over my arms, shoulder, chest… I close my eyes and let myself just remember. Remember the last time I was so dang happy; before it all went to crap on a cracker.
Danny and Stu had their hands on my breasts while I squeezed their hard, pierced cocks. I bite my lip, thinking about how they would feel in my mouth, how they would taste.
Something fluffy, yet kinda rough, brushes over my nipple in my mind. I can’t place it in my memory, but I gasp out in surprise. The feeling causes my pussy to clench, and I almost moan out. Thankfully, Danny doesn’t say anything, so I’m hoping he just thinks I’m completely relaxed and content and not at all acting like a horny slut.
Returning to my memory, I think about my arms being tied down and how free I felt to let go. To feel so safe and secure that I could just let everything else fall away.
Danny’s hand slides down my body, over the towel, and my eyes open to find him staring into my dang soul. Our breaths are coming out in sharp pants, and I flush from the embarrassment of being caught.
“I-I’m, uh. I’m sorry. Just tired or som-” Danny cuts me off with his lips pressed against mine. The move is sudden and so unexpected that I can’t do anything but stare in shock. His tongue traces the seam of my lips once, twice, before he breaks the connection. He doesn’t go far though, and our breaths mingle as we toe the line of indecency. “Let me help you, Flower. Let me help you relax.” I feel his fingers ghosting over the towel down my stomach and resting just at the top of my mound.
A war rages inside of me. But then I remember how good he feels. And, dang it, it’s just sex. It’s not like any of them are mine, so what’s the harm in a little fun?
Especially since I’m trapped here indefinitely.
He must see my impending answer because he slams his lips against mine. The brutal passion lights a fire deep inside me, and I close my eyes, allowing myself this moment of reprieve. I can’t regret it later, but for now…
His fingers find my mound through the sopping wet towel weighing on my body. His fingers firmly explore my hood, my lips, my everything…except my dang clit.
I growl in frustration and try to thrust my hips up to meet his fingers, but I can’t do much in the sunken starfish position. His throaty chuckle vibrates my body, and I swear I feel myself get wet.
Just, you know, not from the bath.
His tongue plunders my mouth and tangles with mine. His minty flavor makes my mouth water, and I suck his tongue wholly into my mouth, moving up and down like I want to do with his cock. He groans low and deep, and I grin around his tongue, knowing I’m affecting him at least half as much as he’s affecting me.
I’m so turned on I swear to God I would climb this man like a tree if he let me.
His fingers dance their way to the hem of the towel. With a flick of his wrist, the towel flips up and flops over on my stomach. His fingers find their way under my hood and expertly spread my lips wide. I tremble with anticipation as his pointer and ring fingers hold me wide open for him, and he uses his middle finger to swipe me from opening to clit.
I jerk with the attention and moan into his mouth.
His tongue snakes out and traces my lips before nipping on my lower one and sucking it into his mouth. The second his teeth make contact, he plunges two fingers deep into my pussy, and I moan embarrassingly loud.
My breaths are coming out as harsh pants as he begins pumping in and out of me. The heel of his palm connects with my clit as his fingers screw into me harder and harder. The pressure causes me to see spots behind my eyelids.
I feel his warm breath skate across my neck as Danny whispers, “That’s it, Precious Flower, milk my fingers like you would my cock.”
Even though the bath is warm, I feel goosebumps break out across my skin like tiny pinpricks.
He kisses my neck before sucking a section into his mouth. A third finger is added at the same time he releases my neck with a pop , then smooths away the sting with his tongue.
And. I. Lose it.
My brain turns to mush as a tsunami roars through my body and crashes through my pussy. My neck arches across the tub behind me, and I accidentally slam my casted arm into the wall.
But the pain doesn’t register; not the way it should. Instead, it heightens the pleasure, and another orgasm rolls through me.
Danny’s lips find mine in the sweetest kiss that’s both languid and passionate; unhurried yet desperate. His kiss helps bring me down as his fingers continue to lazily pump in and out of my core, ringing out every aftershock possible before he gently removes them.
With a final kiss, he rises to stand, his cock straining against his jeans, and steps back.
For the next couple of minutes, he fiddles with connecting the hose to the shower nozzle, then pulls the drain plug.
He takes his time shampooing and conditioning my hair with the reverence of a friend, of a lover, and it brings tears to my eyes.
Once he’s rinsed it all out, he lifts up, turns off the water, and grabs a towel. Placing the dry towel down before whipping off the wet one underneath, he carefully ensures that I’m all covered up before bending down and scooping me up; as if it’s not awkward to pick someone up from a tub.
My arms hook around his neck, and I absent-mindedly twirl the lower curls of his hair at the base of his neck. My eyes close as I lean my head on his shoulder, inhaling his scent as I continue playing with his hair.
After helping me dry off, completely respectfully, he helped me into another pair of PSD boxers, chortling at the 90s cartoon characters. Then, he slipped an oversized nightdress over my head, handed me a hairbrush, and bounced out of the room in search of water, meds, and some lunch.
I had just enough time to eat lunch and watch a little bit of Grey’s Anatomy with Danny before passing out.
And in the darkness, all the good feelings and happy endorphins disappeared.