Chapter Sixteen
Luka
Her eyes widen, and she looks up at me with so many questions.
She looks so small and fragile lying in the hospital bed that it hurts my heart.
When I walked in to find her lying on the floor in a pool of blood, my heart fell to my feet.
I was yelling for someone to call an ambulance before I was on my knees scooping my little elf off the ground.
I stayed with her the entire ride to the hospital, and once there, I wasn’t going to leave her just because of some stupid hospital rule that only family can be with her…so I lied. I lied my ass off and told them she was my wife.
The doctor comes bustling in and takes one look at us before a big smile breaks out across his face. “Mrs. Frost, it’s so good that you're awake.”
Did I threaten this man, telling him I would end his career if he didn’t make my wife a priority? Yes. Yes, I did. Would I do it again? Hell, yes, I would!
“Your scans all look good. The nurse told me you were having some issues remembering what happened. That’s not really anything to be concerned about.
It’s actually pretty normal. As long as you’re not forgetting any of the big stuff, like who your husband is or what day it is, I don’t see a reason you couldn’t go home.
Your husband would have to make sure to wake you up hourly to be sure you’re alert and not having any complications, of course, but something tells me that’s not going to be a problem for him. ”
“Not at all. Waking her every hour won’t be an issue at all.”
“Then I’ll work on the discharge paperwork for you. Unless you have questions?”
She looks up at me with big, soft brown eyes but doesn’t call me out on my shit, “N…no, I… don’t have any.”
“I have a few.”
I make sure I am well-versed in what to look for and how I can better help my angel before we leave.
I gingerly put her in my coat, so I know she is nice and warm before picking her up and sitting her in the wheelchair they’ve offered us.
She makes a few token arguments about being able to walk herself and not wanting to be a bother to anyone, but I can tell the meds are taking effect.
By the time I follow her into the back of the SUV, she’s taking longer and longer blinks and looks worn out.
“You doing okay, baby? Are you in any pain?”
“Little.”
Her voice is soft and small, and it guts me. I never should have left her in the same room as that damned ladder. “It’ll be better soon. The meds haven’t had a lot of time to truly kick in yet.”
“So dizzy.”
“Why don’t you lie down and close your eyes and see if that makes it any better?”
I gently maneuver her so she’s lying with her head in my lap as I play with her hair.
I make sure to avoid the spot she’s got the bandage on.
When she fell, she hit the edge of my desk before hitting the ground, which is probably why she doesn’t remember anything from right before.
It also acted as a kind of break, so she didn’t hit the floor so hard or tense up, otherwise she would have more than a little bandage on her head to deal with.
I call my mom and sister to tell them we are heading back home. They’ve promised to meet me there and help me take care of Lumi tonight. They wanted to come to the hospital, but I told them that too many people might overwhelm her. I knew there was no way to keep Mom away after we got out, though.
Once we pull down the driveway, I gently wake her up, only long enough to make sure she actually is responsive and for me to slide out.
I scoop her out and carry her into the house.
Mom opens the door for us as I take her up to my room without even stopping.
I watch as mom fusses over her before leaving, so I can help her out of her elf uniform and into one of my t-shirts.
I try to remind myself that my angel is vulnerable and doesn’t need me to be a pervert.
Still, it doesn’t stop me from lovingly cataloguing every curve and dip of her beautiful body as I unwrap her.
She’s better than Christmas and the most beautiful present I have ever been given by far.
The best present is the trust she is putting in me as I help her step out of her skirt and work the stripped tights down her legs.
“You okay, angel?”
“We shouldn’t be doing this, Luka.” A worried frown mars her face before she tries to bring her hand back up to her head.
“I shouldn’t be taking care of you?”
“I don’t…I don’t think…”
“We’re friends, are we not, sweetheart?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me take care of you, sweet girl. Let me make sure you never have anything to worry about ever again.”
It comes out as a plea. I’m not above begging her.
I’ll beg, pray, plead, whatever I have to do, as long as I'm able to keep this little elf that has come into my life and brought all her magic with her. My lips find hers, and before I can rethink what I’m doing, I’m taking her mouth with my own.
This is not one of the little kisses that I normally drop on her upturned lips before leaving her. This kiss is different.
She gasps at the intensity, and I take my opportunity to enter her sweet cavern and explore.
It takes her a minute, but she eventually starts kissing me back.
It doesn’t take an expert to know she hasn’t ever let someone take her mouth before, but damned if she isn’t a quick learner.
By the time I pull back, both of us are breathing like we just ran for our lives, and my restraint is thin and shaky at best. The only thing that keeps me from pushing my little angel down and taking her is the fact that she’s hurt.
The reminder is enough for my stomach to turn and for me to take a step back.
I’m a monster.
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize they are the wrong words to use. Lumi flinches back and tries to take a step away from me, only to be pulled up short by the edge of the bed. Hurt flashes in her eyes, and she won’t meet mine.
“I should go home.”
She is home. She just doesn’t realize it yet.