“Love you, baby.”
“Love you too.”
I hung up feeling more certain that my earlier instinct had been right. I needed to keep her close. And I’d be doing just that for the foreseeable future.
Chapter 12
FRANCESCA
Ilooked over in surprise when Maddox slipped through the door not long after he’d left. I was curled into myself on the far side of the bed and had been trying without success to sleep. Without a word, he slipped off his T-shirt and lifted the covers, sliding into bed next to me. He slid toward me, gently pulling me into his arms.
“What are you doing—?”
“Shh, babe,” he soothed. “I’ve got you.”
I didn’t know if it was my pain, my mood, or it being pure Maddox, but being in his arms just then felt like exactly what I needed. I didn’t fight him.
His chest was warm and firm under my cheek, his smell like a delicious lifeline as I tried to get a hold of myself. His hand stroked my hair, his fingers gently coaxing any tangles out.
For hours, I faded in and out of sleep, the pain pills making me foggy. And through it all, he held me. He had to be bored to tears lying there with nothing to do, but not once did he leave me.
By the time my stomach growled, the sun had set and his bedroom was cast in shadow. “Hungry?” he rumbled, his hand moving to my belly. It was such an intimate gesture and I wasn’t even sure he was aware of it.
“Yeah,” I replied, shifting out of his arms slightly so I could stretch as much as I dared. My cheek was warm where it had been pressed to his chest, my body stiff from lying unmoving for so long.
His hand flexed gently on my hip. “What sounds good?”
“I don’t know. Pizza maybe?”
He stood, and despite myself I couldn’t help but appreciate his powerful body with all his glorious muscle on display. His skin was golden brown, as though he’d spent time in the sun recently. My gaze landed on the light smattering of chest hair that had tickled my cheek as I slept. His six-pack abs curved into a delicious V that dipped into the waistband of his sweats. His skin was largely free of tattoos save for one, a Knights crest stretched across his upper back, a symbol, I assumed, for his motorcycle club. He cocked his head to the side, his eyes gleaming with something akin to amusement, and I realized he’d said something to me.
“Erm, what?”
His full lips quirked into a smile. “I said I’ll call it in. I’ll bring you some water, too. You want another pain pill?”
I grimaced. “I don’t want to take those anymore unless I absolutely have to. They make me so foggy.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, concern clear in his expression. “How about some ibuprofen then? I don’t want you to be in pain, babe.”
“Yeah, okay,” I agreed, fighting a wince as I tried to sit up. “I really want to shower,” I added, knowing that being clean would make me feel halfway human, hopefully.
“I’ll call Scarlet, see what she recommends.” He nodded, looking down at his phone. “And looks like my sister dropped off some clothes for you,” he added, still looking at his phone. “Come on.” He held out a hand to me, helping me off the bed and leading me toward the living room.
“What do you mean?” I asked in confusion as I followed behind him on stiff legs.
“She texted to say that she left a bag of clothes for you outside my front door. Sounds like a couple of the girls pooled some stuff together,” he explained as he opened his front door to reveal two large duffle bags.
My eyes popped wide in surprise. “That’s more than I owned before the fire.”
He hefted both into the living room and handed me a piece of paper. “Looks like this is for you.”
I looked down at the handwritten note that was addressed to me.
Frannie,
I’m so sorry for what happened to you. This is nowhere near enough after everything you’ve been through and what you did for Wren, but a couple of us put some things together that will hopefully tide you over for a few days. We weren’t exactly sure of your size or complexion since my brother is a boy and was clueless when I asked him. Hopefully some of this works. When you’re up for it, I’d love to spend some time together. Maybe we can go shopping! :)
Love, Olivia
