AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When he’s gone, silence settles back over the room. My command hovers around us. I hold my breath. There’s no way she lets that slide.
Alex breaks the silence. “Do you have my phone?”
“Umm, I think it’s back at the house.” I dig my phone out of my pocket and carry it to her in the bed. “Here, you can use mine.”
With a half-hearted chuckle, she says, “I-I don’t actually know anyone’s numbers by heart.”
A blush steals across her cheeks as she looks down at the cotton blanket spread out over her legs.
“Who do you need to call?”
Her eyes lift to mine and with defiance filling her tone states, “I just wanted to call Savannah and ask her if she wouldn’t mind getting me from the airport.” She waves her hand through the air, leaning back in the bed, effectively dismissing me. “It can wait until I get my stuff.”
“Did you not hear me when I said you’re staying with me?” I ask incredulously.
“Did you not hear yourself? Our whole charade is over. You don’t need to take care of me. And anyway, I’d rather stay at my place. It’s right round the corner from work and… my bed is really comfy.”
I can’t stop my laugh or the smile that slips onto my lips. She’s certainly something special.
“Fine, we will stay at your place. It really doesn’t bother me.”
Her focus shifts to me and her mouth forms the perfect ‘O’ of surprise. “I didn’t mean forusto stay at my place. I feel like you aren’t listening to me. I’ll be fine, and I’m sure Savannah won’t mind checking in on me…”
Her words trail off as I stalk towards her. When I’m towering over her at the side of the bed, my hands slide into her hair and I drop my forehead to hers. Our breaths mingle and I don’t miss the barely audible hitch in hers.
“I’mgoing to look after you, Alex. It’s my fault you’ve ended up here with a broken arm.”
Her eyes move to my mouth as her tongue darts out, her voice breathy as she says, “It’s not your fault. I shou—”
My mouth drops to hers, cutting off whatever it was she was planning on saying. It is my fault, despite what she might think. I’m just glad she’s okay, or as okay as she can be, considering she was thrown from a horse.
Alex moans into my mouth. Her hands grasp onto the front of my t-shirt and at the insistence of my tongue, she opens her mouth. It’s a kiss of desperation. Like she’s reassuring me. Her tongue tangles with mine, matching my need, swipe for swipe.
We’re lost in the moment when a cough sounds in the room. I step away and grab onto the back of my neck as I look around sheepishly. Jose is standing at the end of Alex’s bed, a brow cocked and a smirk on his face.
“Sorry for interrupting, but I have your paperwork all signed, the painkillers as promised and so you're good to go. Do you have any questions?”
“No,” Alex croaks. Clearing her throat, she continues, “No, thank you.”
“Perfect. I’ll go and get a wheelchair to take you out. You can get dressed and I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“Thank you,” Alex and I say in unison.
I move to the bag that Miriam and George brought, lifting it to the chair I was sitting in before unzipping it and removing Alex’s clothes. Alex is perched on the edge of the bed, the hospital gown making her look fragile and in need of protection.
Miriam had packed Alex a pair of ripped jeans, a white short sleeve t-shirt and a clean set of underwear. I move so that I’m standing behind Alex. My hands find the string on the back of the hospital gown and I undo it, baring Alex’s naked back to me.
She sucks in a breath as my fingers graze her smooth soft skin. “What are you doing, Bastian?”
With great effort, I resist the urge to dot kisses across the expanse of her back. Instead, I focus on the task at hand, getting her dressed so that I can take her home.
“I’m dressing you,” I reply, as if it’s obvious.
I pick up her bra and hold it up for her to slide her arms into it. She does so without question, and I can’t help but be pleased that she’s letting me do this. She’s letting me take care of her. It’s the least I can do.
It’s on me that she’s here.
“I can see that, but I’m capable of dressing myself.”
