Page 117 of The More the Merrier

Grant

I’d woken up and lounged in bed for far longer than I usually did. Thankfully, the injury wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. My mind was on Dalton’s threat, the one issued before he helped me into bed. That wasn’t the time to delve into serious topics, but he promised in no uncertain terms that he’d be checking me over in the morning.

Dalton planned on handling me, and I was pretty certain I wouldn’t like his belt or being spanked at all. But I’d agreed to his two rules—listening to whatever he told me to do and being honest about my needs and wants. They seemed perfectly agreeable last night. However, it left me wondering what sort of things he had in mind.

Stretching my arms over my head, I rolled out of bed and walked to the window. Peeking outside, I saw snow covering every inch of my property, though it didn’t appear to be a lot. Probably less than six inches. A knock sounded on my bedroom door.

“Come in.”

Dalton strolled in, carrying a mug of coffee with his jump bag on his shoulder. “Did you just wake up?”

“Morning. Yes. Eight is pretty late for me. Usually I’m out of bed by six-thirty.” I accepted the coffee, and he kissed my cheek. One chaste kiss shouldn’t have affected me, but it did. Damn it. He was going to get me worked up before the caffeine hit my brain.

“Sit down. Let me see how it looks this morning.”

“It’s hard,” I deadpanned.

“Your injury, not your dick, though I can take care of both.”

I had nothing to say in reply. Dalton set his bag on the oversized armchair nearby. He snapped on a pair of gloves. Though the sound never bothered or aroused me before, I fantasized about him doing other things while wearing them. Side-eyeing me, he waited for me to get the hint. Grumbling, I tugged my lounge pants off and positioned myself on the mattress. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be needing them for a while. He wasted no time in removing the gauze and tape, checking the edges of the wound, and applying some sort of ointment. I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for him to finish.

“Do you have something more important to do, Grant?”

“Kendall will probably be awake soon if she isn’t already. I can cook breakfast.”

“I raided your fridge and she’s already happily content with eggs, toast, sausage, and coffee. I put cartoons on for her. She knows that our conversation is important, and she will be all right for a little while.”

“I’m not used to people taking care of me.” Letting out a breath, I took a few good swallows of coffee. It tasted delicious, somehow better than what I fixed for myself. I’d have to ask Dalton what his secret was. Noticing a thermometer in his hand, I cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not sick.”

He returned it to his bag and pulled out a small cylindrical container. “The wound could become infected, and you’re warm to the touch. Since you’re drinking coffee, I can no longer use the digital one.”

“I don’t know what you’re prattling on about, but I’m perfectly fine.” He was the one who handed me the coffee in the first place. Dalton shook down a glass rod in front of me. I ignored whatever he was doing and continued drinking my coffee. He popped open the top of a tube. His hand was obscuring the lettering, but when he squeezed a gel onto the tip of the thermometer, I spat the liquid across my sheets. “You’re not sticking anything where you seem hellbent on sticking it.”

“I’d hate to add to your predicament, but I’m no longer playing. Turn on your side or I’ll punish your ass with my belt and then check your temperature, anyway.”

“The chances are slim to none that the wound is infected. The ax barely grazed my thigh.”

“You have a listening problem.” He tapped my hip with his free hand. “Do as I said.”

“There is no reason to use that style of thermometer on me.” I hated how whiny my tone came out. I didn’t recall ever speaking to anyone like that.

“One.”

I stared up at Dalton, not quite believing him. He seemed as serious as ever, but shoving a glass instrument up my ass hardly seemed like a good time for either of us.

“I’ll quit drinking coffee. You can use the other one in a little while.” I set the mug down for good measure.

“If you cooperated, we’d be almost done by now.”

“I appreciate what you’re doing, however, I’d like to get dressed and eat breakfast before checking on the horses.”

“Trey stopped by this morning.” Dalton gestured for me to comply, but I was not having it. “He cleared the snow from all the locations it needed to be cleared, and all the animals are fine.”

“I didn’t think your rules would include medical procedures that involve my ass.”

“Two.” Dalton set the item on my nightstand. “Do I need to spell out what’s going to happen if I get to three?”

“Dalton,” I growled. He took my chin in his hand and tilted it upward, forcing me to stare up at him.

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