~Chapter 16~
I ’m snuggled in a cocoon of warmth and light. I feel utterly exhausted, still, but, somehow, at peace. Although, I can’t recall why. I haven’t felt this calm since…
My eyes spring open to find a pair of bright blue eyes staring back at me. His forehead is resting against mine and I gulp loudly at the proximity. Even though I’m staring into his beautiful eyes, I can tell he’s smiling. His cheeks are pushed up and they’re causing his eyes to crinkle at the corners.
“Hi,” I whisper in awe.
His cheeks rise more and his eyes sparkle with pure joy. Dang I missed him.
“Hi,” he responds; a faint blush tinting his smooth cheeks. Shakily, I reach up my casted arm and rub a single finger over his left dimple. Looking back into his eyes, I see that his eyes were not on mine, but rather on my mouth. Unconsciously, I lick my lips, regretting how many meals and drinks I’ve stubbornly picked through.
Swallowing heavily, I lean forward. I need to feel his lips on mine. I need him to kiss me like I need my next breath. I need him to know I’m scared to be vulnerable. I need…
A knock on the door startles me and I dang near fall to the floor. Thankfully, Stu’s like a cat. A big, pretty, goofy cat and he grabs my underarms just in time to slow my descent, allowing the padding of my behind to escape a brutal hit.
Stu quickly stands, his messy, dulled pink hair flopping over his eyes, and gently helps me to my feet. “You ok?” He probes. But, for some reason, his tone makes me think he’s not just asking about my fall.
A voice clears behind me, and I yelp having forgotten someone had been standing there. I shift, facing the doorway, to find Doc standing there with a tight grin and a little bit of intrigue sparkling in his eyes.
“Doc! Good to see you.” I smile, genuinely happy to see him. The faster I heal, the faster I can get out of their house.
I hear Stu shift next to me before he places a chaste kiss to the side of my head, momentarily stunning me.
I must blink ten times by the time he brushes past me, shakes hands with Doc, and exits the room.
Doc clears his throat and smiles pointedly. I feel myself blush and try to look away to escape his all-knowing gaze. “Um,” I mumble. “What can I do you for?” I tried sounding nonchalant, but definitely sounded more like a bartender in the country.
He chuckles good-naturedly, then puts me out of my misery. Stepping forward, he waves at me to take a seat and explains that he just wants to check my healing progress and outline a physical therapy plan; ensuring my muscles don’t atrophy.
An hour later, he leaves me with a warm hug, after asking if I wanted one, and encourages me to take it easy on the guys. He also states, again, that they’re “good guys, with good intentions”. Whatever. They’re basically holding me hostage, so they can take their intentions and shove them up their rears.
The good news is, I’m healing pretty well. My cuts and scratches are mostly gone, and the bruising has faded tremendously; leaving a few ugly yellowish-green marks splattered across my body.
He also had a few things to say about my bull-headedness and basically sulking in my room. I chuffed and rolled my eyes, knowing full well that Charlie probably used those words, but I get it. I can’t get better if I keep hiding in the room.
Deciding to change my attitude, for now, I open the bags in the corner and begin rummaging around for some clean clothes. I was a little, ok a lot, perturbed that someone, or multiple someones, went through my drawers and bathroom stuff, but at least I have my own things to change into.
Awkwardly flinging my bathroom bag over my shoulder, I scoop up my clothes, and hobble towards the bathroom. Arranging my shower crap along the shelves, I take out my shaving cream and razor. Obviously, I can’t shave everything but I hate the feel of hair on my skin so, I can at least take care of some of it.
Eight minutes later, I’m shaved smooth and already feeling ridiculously better, but now I find myself completely befuddled.
It was semi-easy to sit, albeit strangely, on the edge of the tub to shave, but how do I clean my hair and body now? I’m not exactly the most limber woman, but having opposing casts on my body definitely makes things dang near impossible.
Grabbing a folded towel from under the vanity, I lie it on the floor next to the tub and turn the faucet back on; letting it re-warm while I consider how I’m going to do this successfully.
Leaning over, I line the tub with my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash then slip down onto the towel. Thankfully, I think, the faucet is on the right side of the tub, away from the toilet. Kneeling on my right leg, and being forced to extend my casted leg out toward the cabinet, I grunt as I bend over the ledge and dip my head under the running water.
The warmth cascades over me and I groan in appreciation. I deftly keep my right arm on the outside of the tub, preventing the water from hitting it. I reach toward the ledge to my left, blindly looking for the closest bottle before pumping the globby mixture into my hand and rubbing it through my hair. It’s not perfect, but dang does it feel so friggin' good.
I even add in a good scraping of my nails and a half massage right before I rinse it out.
Gently lifting my head out of the water, I feel a rush of dizziness and groan out, clasping onto the side of the tub to catch myself. Must have sat upright too fast.
With a few deep, rejuvenating breaths, I pump a few globs of conditioner into my hand and work it through my hair, spending a little extra time massaging it in.
Once I’m satisfied that my hair is fully moisturized, I lean my hand under the water again.
Only, this time, the dizziness hits me right between the eyes and I lose my balance. Slamming down into the tub, I crack my head and hear myself shriek from the pain. But, now, my problem is that my leg cast is stuck on the ledge of the tub and the water is pouring over me like some kind of jacked-up water torture.
I try to scream but can’t get anything other than garbled sounds. Holy crackerjacks! I’m going to die.
For some reason, I fight. I fight against the water, I fight to get my cast to raise above the tub, I fight to stop slipping every time I set my free arm down...
I just fight.
Through my panic, I swear I hear a faint hodgepodge of voices, but I can’t be sure.
All of a sudden, large hands are on my body, holding me from what feels like every angle, and I’m being lifted away from the tub.
Coughing and spluttering, I try to suck in deep lungfuls of air as I’m forced upright and cradled against a massive chest. A towel is tightly wrapped across my back and shoulders and I realize I’m shivering uncontrollably. Through the ringing in my ears, I hear Stu’s calming voice behind me. Tears leak from my eyes as my head pounds and the intensity of the situation I was just in comes crashing down around me.
I inhale deeply, the scent of coffee and whiskey fills my nose and I jolt in realization. That was the scent that surrounded Alpha… Charlie.
“You ok, baby?” His thick voice causes tingles to tangle within my body…and my core.
“Y-yes,” I murmur. “Th-thank you.” I’m still shivering, still scared, and kind of mad that I couldn’t even clean myself without causing a scene. Idiota.
“Bea, do you want me to help you finish?” Stu’s voice is soft and runs over me like a comforting blanket. I nod silently, completely abashed by my circumstances. But, thankfully, neither of them comment. Instead, some kind of silent dance begins. Charlie squats low, squeezes me to his body, and dips my head back while Stu tenderly rinses my hair out.
It’s so sweet, so amazing…so disarming.
After he’s finished, Charlie grunts and the water turns off. Stu begins to lightly dry my hair with another towel and his face comes into view as he prods the, most definitely, swollen lump on the top of my head.
“No bleeding, and it’s swelling outward so, that’s good.” I can’t tell if he’s talking to me or himself so I just take in his features.
His crazy piercings, sparkling eyes, and tousled hair make him look like a bad boy. However, his charming smile, and all-around silly nature, prove he’s anything but. Dang, he’s pretty.
Charlie chuckles, causing my body to jump repeatedly from the movement and Stu smiles wide, his eyes sparkling with sheer joy.
“I, uh, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” My whole body flushes and I find myself snuggling further into Charlie, hoping to make myself invisible.
Alas, it doesn’t work.
“You’re prettier, Queenie,” Stu says with a little playfulness in his voice. My body flushes harder before he tugs a little in my hair.
Thankfully, they put me out of my misery.
Charlie carries me down the hall and sets me down on the bed. Stu follows closely behind with my clothes and brush.
He lays everything on the bed next to me as I work to make sure my body is totally covered by the towel. Thankfully, they are all pretty big dudes so they have the extra-large towels.
They both head for the door and I can’t help but watch them walking away. Charlie looks back briefly, seeming a little irritated, but not as much as before so, progress.
Stu, on the other hand, gives me the widest, most beautiful smile and I find myself mirroring it.
“When you’re done, join us in the kitchen. It’s Even’s turn to make dinner and I hear Danny talked him into his famous Chicken Piccata. It’s muah ,” he makes the finger sign for chef’s kiss and “throws it in the air.” Again, I can’t help but smile at his antics.
With a silent nod, I agree and wait for them to leave before struggling with putting my bra on. I finally manage to get the hooks clasped; or, at least, most of them. Deciding it’s good enough, I slip on a loose black shirt that reads “Easily distracted by books” and I’m suddenly a little sad that I don’t have any to help me pass the time.
I slide on a pair of shorts, knowing they will be infinitely easier to get on than jeans and turn to the dresser to swipe my hairbrush.
Once I’m, sort of, put together, I hobble down the hallway and hang up the towel on the towel rack. Then, I turn in the opposite direction and move past the room I’ve been staying in for the very first time.