Page 209 of Barbi and the Villain

The soap foams all over my body, the yellow water slowly becoming green again as the blood floats away. He rinses my body gently before he wraps me in his arms and takes me out of the shower. Grabbing a towel, he wraps it around me, drying me off before swathing me in it so I am warm and comfortable. Only then does he do the same to his own body.

Wrapped tightly in the towel, he carries me to the bed. He pulls the covers and places me gently on the clean sheets.

“Are you thirsty? Hungry?” he asks as he watches me with worry in his gaze.

“Water, please,” I whisper.

He nods. In a matter of seconds, he’s back with a jug of water. He takes a seat on the bed next to me and brings the jug to my lips, helping me drink. I gulp down greedily, my thirst seemingly uncontrollable.

I am hungry, too. But I don’t think I can eat just yet. Not when the images from before continue to play in my head, threatening to make me sick.

“What else do you need? Say the word and I’ll give it to you.”

I purse my lips, slowly shaking my head.

“Please, Barbs. You are breaking my heart, sweetie. Tell me what I can do to help.”

I don’t know what kind of answer he wants, but it is not one I can provide.

Placing the empty jug by the bed, he shuffles closer to me. His palm curves along my cheek, his thumb caressing my skin softly.

“Look at me, Barbs. Look at me, baby,” he whispers in an anguished voice.

I bite my lip as I gaze up.

His features are tight and wrought with pain. But how can I ease his pain when mine is ready to spill over?

He leans in, pressing his forehead to mine and breathing me in deeply.

“I am sorry,” he apologizes again. “I am so, so sorry.”

His lips brush against my nose and cheeks before he aims for my mouth. Something in me rebels and I turn around, avoiding the contact.

He freezes.

I take a deep breath and push him away.

“I would like to go to sleep,” I whisper.

He stares at me numbly before slowly nodding.

I lie down and pull the covers over my body.

Nyk stands up, still watching me with befuddlement. When I don’t give him attention, he goes around the bed and slides in, sticking to his side.

Silence descends between us.

There’s nothing more I wish than to have him hug me and tell me that everything will be all right—that it will all be okay. But it’s not. And I don’t know how to make sense of this.

Moments on end pass. My eyes are closed as I seek that elusive sleep. It beckons me, only to shut the door in my face when my mind replays the horrific images from before.

Tears cling to my lashes and I desperately blink them away, not wanting Nykander to see or hear my sobs.

“You are shutting me out, Barbs, and I do not like it,” he says in a gruff voice.

A frisson goes down my back at the emotion echoing in those words.

“Tell me,” I speak softly. “Tell me everything, Nyk. Why did you not come when I called?”

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