Page 6 of Complications

I tried to hide my grimace, but Matteo’s soft chuckle told me I hadn’t done it well enough. “I know it’s not very appetizing, but your stomach rebelled against anything heavier. If you handle this okay, I’ll ask Michel if you can have something more substantial.”

“Who’s Michel?”

“The doctor who’s been treating you. He’ll be by later this morning to check on you.”

“How long have I been here?” I hated the way my voice shook.

This bed with sheets that didn’t scratch was the most comfortable thing I’d ever slept on in my life. It was amazing, but I knew it wasn’t mine. I didn’t belong here, and I struggled to understand how it had happened. I remembered entering Matteo’s office, but almost everything after that was a blur. The only distinct thing I remembered was every time I’d woken up, Matteo had been there, but I didn’t understand why. I knew my place, and it wasn’t in this bed.

“How long have I been here?”

“About four days. Michel said the best way for your body to heal was to make you as comfortable as possible while your body worked on healing itself. “

“Four days? I’ve been sleeping for four days?” My attempts at calm vanished. I couldn’t imagine what the punishment for four days of laziness would be. What if he was like Ralphie? The kind of guy who would help you get better so he could have the pleasure of tying you down again. Panic rose in me. And a doctor who came to the house? How would I ever afford to pay that bill?

“Hey, whatever you’re thinking, stop. The only thing you should worry about now is getting better. When you’re up to it, I’ve got some questions for you.”

“I’d rather answer them now. I’m fine. I can get up and get to work.”

Matteo’s eyes narrowed, and I shrank back into the pillows that propped me up on the bed.

“You are not getting out of this bed to work. You’re allowed to get up for a shower, though I’d prefer you take a bath for safety’s sake, and use the bathroom. That’s it.”

“Allowed?”

“Connor, this is my home. There are certain rules I expect people to follow when they are under my roof.”

I knew I had lost my damn mind when my insides melted at his words. I should have been scared, but I felt safe instead. It sounded like an order, except it felt more like an invitation to be cared about. That was the surest sign I was still asleep and not actually having this conversation. Ralphie had made it clear his word was law, and I’d been terrified ninety-nine percent of the time with him. The other one percent, I’d been only scared. Matteo’s words made me want to curl up on his lap and promise to be his good boy.

“I, um, need to use the bathroom.” This dream was wild.

Matteo said nothing when he set the tray aside and scooped me out of bed. Since I was dreaming, there was no harm in letting myself snuggle up to Matteo. He put me down next to the toilet, and that’s when I realized I was naked in my dream. Oh well. He told me to sit down and take care of my business so I wouldn’t fall. When I was done, he wrapped an arm around me and escorted me to the sink to wash my hands. While there, he used wipes to do a quick once-over of my body. When I leaned against the counter for support, Matteo had me back in his arms and returned me to the bed. Once settled, he hand-fed me sips of broth and little pieces of toast. I’d never drifted back to sleep within a dream, but the bed in my current one felt like resting on a cloud. I knew that when I woke up, I’d return to the harsh reality of my life. Until then, I was going to enjoy the hell out of my sleep.

I woke up a few hours later with a clear mind for the first time in an eternity. My body ached, but the pain felt tolerable. Strangely, the bed I was in looked precisely like the one from my dream. The first time I saw Matteo, he’d been put-together in his suit and cufflinks. In the chair next to my bedside, he looked anything but. His cheeks had stubble, and he wore casual track pants and a college T-shirt. His feet were bare. Until that very second, I hadn’t thought feet could be sexy. But Matteo’s feet proved me wrong. The toes were long and the light dusting of hair was the perfect amount.

“Have you returned to the living, pup?” Busted. My eyes slowly traveled up his body to find his dark eyes boring into mine. His thighs were thick and his chest was as broad as I remembered. He looked like he was trying not to smile. “Like what you see?” he asked with a smirk.

There wasn’t a good answer, so I ignored his question, asked one of my own, and hoped for the best. “What day is it?”

“Friday.”

“May I get up and go to the bathroom?” I wanted to ask how many days I’d been out, but I wasn’t sure the answer would make me feel better.

“Of course. Let me help you.” Matteo set aside his laptop and moved to pull back the covers.

When I felt the cool air of the room hit my body, I realized I was stark naked. I yanked the covers back over me. I didn’t need to pee so badly that I’d flash my junk to make it happen.

“I think you’re definitely on the mend. A few hours ago, you were a lot less modest. Let me get you a robe, and then you can go.” Mortification washed over me, but he sounded strangely regretful.

He walked to the door on the far side of the room, opened it, and returned with a fluffy white robe. It reminded me of the kind they had at fancy hotels in the movies, but not at any motel I’d ever stayed at. Matteo handed it to me and then turned his back. I scrambled out of bed, jerked it on as fast as possible, and tied the belt.

“I’ll show you where everything is and then leave you to it.”

Like the puppy he called me, I obediently followed behind him. He put a new toothbrush on the counter, started the water in the shower, and promised to put fresh clothes on the bed for me. When he was gone, I stepped out of the robe and into the biggest shower I’d ever seen in real life. A quick glance at the bruises covering my body was enough for me to keep my eyes off the mirror. I was grateful for the wooden bench on the shower’s back wall that allowed me to sit while getting clean. After washing every cranny of myself that I could reach, I almost felt like a new person. It took three rounds of brushing my teeth for the transformation to be complete.

I must have been in the shower longer than I thought because clean linens covered the bed, and as promised, a set of clothes lay across the foot. I shed my robe and tried them on. The shirt was a little big on my frame, and I was grateful for the drawstring in the pants. I looked a little like I’d stolen a big brother’s clothes, but I was dressed and moving.

“Feel better?” Matteo asked when he strode into the room. “Sorry. I forgot to knock.” Seeing my confusion, Matteo clarified, “It’s my room. I’m not used to knocking on the door.”