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“Yoga.”
“She’s been in a major road accident. She has a moderate to severe concussion. She is not in any kind of fit state to do yoga.”
Rainer rubbed his temples. He felt dumb asking the question of Doctor Young, but at the same time, he felt completely unable to deny Esme. She wanted to do yoga, and — no matter how silly that was — he wanted to do everything he could to help her do what she wanted.
This was so crazy. He was meant to be a fucking mechanic, not a yoga facilitator. He was meant to be a badass Dom, not a coddling Daddy.
And yet…
“Maybe some of the poses, some of the less demanding ones?”
He heard a sigh on the other end of the phone. “Listen. If she can do a pose that involves her lying still on her bed and still call that yoga, then I suppose there’s no harm. Maybe the breathing will do her good. But she mustn’t get up yet. And when she does, you need to be there, next to her, to make sure that she doesn’t fall.”
He’d been tailing Dog when he’d driven into Esme. It hadn’t been his fault — he’d barely had time to realize what was happening before she was skidding across the tarmac — but of course, he felt entirely responsible.
He never found out where Dog was headed, of course. Probably nowhere important. Probably just off to a liquor store knowing him.
“She seems fine so far,” Rainer said, clearly distracted.
“Well, that’s good. But please, follow my instructions. Bed rest for another week, and—”
But before the doctor could finish his sentence, there was a crash and a thump from the room next door — Esme’s room.
Rainer didn’t think. He hung up the phone and burst through the door, only to find Esme spread out across the floor. The drip bag and stand were down, and Esme had a look of agony on her face.
“Esme? What are you doing?” He crouched down next to her.
“Trying to go. I have to get out.”
Rainer stroked her forehead. “You need to stay. Just for a while. You’re safe here, babygirl.”
“I know. But I’m not safe out there. Not safe at home.”
Rainer’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“So, your landlord hasn’t threatened you?”
“No.” Esme was back in the bed, where she belonged for the time being. “He’s been nice.”
“When’s your rent deadline?”
“I don’t know. I can’t remember. But soon.”
He couldn’t bear to see the pain on her face, the worry.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “It’s all going to be okay. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.”
She nodded, but he couldn’t help but feel as though there was something she was holding back. It’s not like he blamed her. She probably thought he was an asshole, just like most — if not all — the Littles who were affiliated with the club did.
“You’re gonna be out of here in no time.”
“I’m so stupid.”
It took him by surprise. “You’re not.”
“I am. I’m dumb. Trying to get up. I should never have done it. I need to accept my fate.”
He looked at her for a moment, trying to take it all in. There was a deep wound in Esme. He could feel it. He was nowhere near getting to the bottom of it, but he knew that he wanted to.
