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Emilia kneeled down on the mat by my side. “How do you feel?”
“Good.” I closed my eyes and relaxed as much as possible. I tried to stay still, as my broken ribs jarred with every movement, but getting comfortable in my current state was impossible.
When I felt a gentle touch on my knee, I opened my eyes again. My best friend was looking at me with a mixture of pain and sympathy in her eyes. “No more running backward for you, mister.”
“No, definitely not.” I lifted my right hand and caressed her cheek softly. “I’ll be okay, Em.”
“I know.” She gave me a tired smile. “Still hurts to see you in pain, though.”
I beckoned her closer, and when she scooted forward and leaned over me, I kissed her lips, my mouth lingering on hers.
When we finally parted, neither of us acknowledging what was going on between us, she stood and went over to the shower to grab some shampoo. “Let me wash your hair.”
I nodded, and with her help managed to sit up and forward a little. She wet my hair, then squirted some shampoo onto her hand. As she gently massaged it into my scalp, I couldn’t help the low groan of pleasure that escaped my lips. It felt so good, and the headache that had persisted since my fall began to finally ease.
“You okay? I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“No, Em. I’m okay. That feels really good.”
She continued to massage for longer than was probably required, but I didn’t complain. Once she’d rinsed the shampoo out, she reached for the soap and washed the body parts she could see: my neck, shoulders, top of my chest, knees, and my feet.
The feel of her soapy hands on my wet, bare skin stirred something inside me that I tried unsuccessfully to tamp down. My dick stirred, and if I didn’t do something right now, I was likely to pull her in the tub with me and kiss the shit out of her.
And now was not the time nor the place for that.
“Help me out?”
She rose up and retrieved the large towel sitting neatly on one of the heated towel racks, throwing it over her shoulder. She grabbed hold of me with both arms and helped me to sit up, bubbles covering my skin. Once I’d stepped out of the tub, she wrapped the towel around my waist and tucked the corner in expertly.
She grabbed a second towel and proceeded to dry everything she could see. I let her, because my left arm was throbbing and my ribs ached like a motherfucker. “Do you want me to dry the rest of you?”
She was referring to the body parts hidden underneath the towel. “I think I can manage those parts. Thank you, though.”
“Okay, I’ll go grab you some clean clothes while you finish toweling off.” Once she was out of the room, I dried the rest of my body as much as I could with one hand. She returned with some clean clothes and helped me put them on. Lifting my legs into my boxer briefs and sweats made me hiss in pain.
“Oh, Jase. I know it hurts, sweetheart. I’ll get you some more painkillers once we’re in the living room.”
I decided to pass on the tee she’d brought, fearing lifting my arms up would only exacerbate the rib injury. With Emilia’s help, I settled on the large, comfortable sofa in the living room and downed the painkillers with the water she brought me. At my insistence, she took out her iPad and went through the emails in both of our private work accounts and she responded to my urgent ones as I dictated.
By the time we were done with that, I felt exhausted. My eyes began to close of their own accord, and I didn’t protest when she insisted I take a nap. She helped me to my bedroom and into bed, and when I held up my right arm she slid next to me without a word.
Reaching over to the bedside table, she picked up the remote and closed the blinds, blocking out the sunlight. We gazed at each other intently, her hand stroking my hair softly. “Go to sleep, Jase. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” She brushed her lips against mine and before too long, the painkillers did their job and I closed my eyes.
