Chapter Sixteen
Gabriel
I laid beside her, watching her sleep most of the night.
Yesterday was a hard day. After spending three days without her, I was elated when she finally woke up. Even though she was conscious, it was hard seeing the pain in her eyes. It shattered me when the doctor told her about the injuries. She looked defeated.
Telling her about Trevor was heartbreaking. She was looking forward to all of us getting to know each other better. In the end, what killed me the most was when I saw her desperation for my touch. She needs me, and I can’t give her what she wants.
A knock wakes her up, and I want to punch whoever comes through that door. Dr. Thompson enters the room, raising his eyebrows, a grin tugging at his lips.
I start to speak, but he puts his hand up to stop me. “I’ve already heard from Rebecca.” I chuckle as he smiles.
“Please tell Rebecca I’m sorry. Yesterday was rough.” Brooke’s sleepy voice fills the room, and I kiss her forehead softly. I’m dying to kiss her lips, but they’re split open and swollen.
“No worries. We understand. How about we look at you and if everything’s alright, you can go home?”
“Sounds good.” She nods her head, yawning as she speaks. She winces as her swollen skin tightens, mumbling under her breath. “Fuck you, Brian. I can’t even yawn.”
I smother a grin at her newfound fire, but I wish I could resurrect the motherfucker so I can kill him again, slowly.
Slipping from the bed, I watch as the doctor examines her. He tells her he’s satisfied with her improvement, and she will be discharged today. He speaks to the nurse, and after a few moments she returns with discharge paperwork and prescriptions.
As Dr. Thompson exits the room, the nurse offers to help her get changed. As I begin to object, Brooke stops me. “It’s okay. Why don’t you go get the truck ready and I’ll meet you downstairs? I’m ready to go home.”
Stepping in front of her, I bend down, kissing her forehead. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
She smiles for the first time in what seems like an eternity. It’s tiny because of the swelling, but I see it.
My girl is going to be okay.
Leaving the room, I take the stairs, hurrying to get outside. Eric dropped his car off this morning and took my truck. I thought it’d be easier for Brooke. Once I pull up to the door, the nurse is pushing her in a wheelchair.
She looks so fragile, but I know she’s a fighter. She didn’t let them break her and, in the end, she took the life of her enemy. I’m so fucking proud of her.
“This really wasn’t necessary but thank you.” She huffs, making me grin. “Where’s your truck?”
“Eric traded vehicles with me. I figured this would be easier for you.” Carefully helping her out of the wheelchair, I hold her steady as she slides into the car.
“Thank you.” Stepping back to close the door, she grips my hand. “I love you.”
“I love you, baby. More than I can ever put into words.” Closing the door, I walk around the car, sliding into the driver’s seat.
The drive home is quiet. She dozes off after a few minutes. While she’s asleep, I drop off her prescriptions to be filled in the pharmacy drive thru. The woman tells me it will only take a few minutes since they’re not busy. I decide to wait so I won’t have to leave Brooke at home alone later.
When her medication is ready, I drive to my house.
Our house.
We haven’t talked about it yet, but I want her to move in with me. She can sell her place or rent it. Honestly, if she wants us to live in her house, I’d sell mine in a heartbeat. I don’t give a shit where we live as long as we’re together.
Pulling into the driveway, I park close to the house, shutting off the car. Slipping out quietly, I make my way to her side. Opening the door, I take the chance of carrying her without waking her up. If she’s sleeping, hopefully she won’t feel the pain.
I scoop her up gently and with some maneuvering, I get her inside the house without waking her. Carrying her into the bedroom, I lay her on the bed and tuck her in. She snuggles deeply into the comforter, murmuring something I can’t understand.
Once she’s settled, I go outside, unloading her things from the car. I set her medication on the nightstand with a bottle of water. Emptying her clothes into the hamper, I add mine, heading to the bathroom for a shower.
I turn the water on, and stare at myself in the mirror as steam fills the room. My mind wants to dwell on the fact I almost lost my whole world. That is all I did while she was in the hospital. I have to get my shit together.
She needs me.
She’s home and safe.
It’s over.
Stepping into the shower, the spray beats down on my aching muscles. The little bit of sleep I got in the hospital was uncomfortable. Last night I didn’t move much for fear of waking her.
The shower door opens, and a naked and bruised goddess stands in front of me. She’s a fucking warrior, and her battle wounds prove it.
She’s alive, here with me, while both of them are in the ground.
“I don’t want to be in the bed like this. I feel gross and need a shower. I’ll need some help.” She’s struggling right now, and I’ll do anything to ease her pain.
Holding out my hand, she takes it, stepping inside the shower on unsteady feet. “You just stand there, baby. I’ll take care of you.”
She wraps her arms around my waist, laying her head on my chest. “Hug me, Gabe. I don’t give a damn if it hurts.”
Holding my breath, I wrap my arms around her, careful not to squeeze. She doesn’t wince, and I think she’s okay. This is what I live for. What I crave. Just having my arms around her calms my thoughts and puts my body at ease.
She leans back a little, gazing at me with tears in her eyes. “I know I’m hideous right now, but I really want you to kiss me.”
Irritation trickles through me, but I reel it in as much as I can.
“Don’t ever talk about yourself that way again.
You’re fucking beautiful. These bruises show you fought back.
You’re the strongest person I know, and I’m so damn proud of you.
You’ll always be my gorgeous angel. The only reason I haven’t acted on my own selfish desire to kiss you is because I don’t want to hurt you. ”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror at the hospital, and I didn’t realize my face looked like this.” She hangs her head, and I feel fucking helpless.
Lifting her chin with my fingers, I lean down until our lips touch. She gasps softly and I groan, restraining myself from deepening the kiss.
This is fucking torture.
We want each other, but we can’t do anything about it.
I almost lost her, and all I want to do is live inside her body for days. Keep her locked against me where I know she’s safe and alive. Hold her in my arms, where she can’t be taken from me again.
My cock hardens, trapped between our bodies. She licks the seam of my lips, and I open willingly. Her delicate tongue sweeps inside my mouth, and she tastes like mint and her own unique flavor. I lose myself as we devour each other until she whimpers, and I pull away.
“I’m okay. There’s just a limit on how wide I can open my mouth right now.” She raises her fingers to her lips, checking for blood.
There isn’t any but her pain sobers me, and my libido nosedives.
“We’ll work up to that. It’s going to take some time. Let me wash you, baby girl.”
She nods, giving me a small smile. Being as gentle as possible, I work the shampoo into her hair. I take my time massaging her scalp, and she moans with gratitude. After rinsing her hair, I do it again with conditioner.
I’m thankful her eyes are still closed so she can’t see the hesitation I’m feeling. There are so many bruises everywhere. The ones on her throat threaten to drag me back to the dark place I was in when she was kidnapped.
Lost in the downward spiral, I didn’t realize she opened her eyes. “Hey. Don’t worry. I can handle it.” She places the soft loofah in my hand, and I reach for the body wash.
After squirting some onto the sponge, I stand frozen, terrified of hurting her.
She grips my hand, pressing it against a bruise on her skin. “This amount of pressure is fine.” She moves my hand in circles and once I’m satisfied she’s okay, I move the loofah over the rest of her body.
Any other time, washing her breasts and between her thighs would make me lose my mind. This is different. I’m taking care of her because she needs me. Because I want to be the only thing she ever needs.
Once she’s finished rinsing, she kisses me softly. “I’m going to hop out and dry off while you finish. Thank you, baby.”
Fuck, this is the second time she’s called me that. It does something to me.
Gripping her hand before she can step out, she eyes me curiously. “Kiss me again.”
She smiles as I lean down to make it easier for her. She kisses me softly, trailing her tongue across my bottom lip. “Love you.”
Groaning against her mouth, I pull away. “I love you, too. Dry off and get into bed.”
She leaves the shower, and I debate jacking off right now. She gets me wound up like this with just a kiss. I won’t do it though because it’s not fair to her. If she can’t have pleasure right now, neither will I.
God, help me.
Showering quickly, I dry myself off and slide into bed next to her. We must love the suffering because we’re both lying here naked, unable to satisfy ourselves.
She must have the same thought. “We should’ve put clothes on.”
Chuckling, I kiss her forehead. “We have all the time in the world, angel. Your healing is more important. Close your eyes and get some rest.”
She snuggles into me the best she can, and I repeat our position from last night. Her head is on my bicep, and I lay my free hand on her thigh. It’s not long before she drifts off to sleep, and I let the exhaustion take me, too.