Page 16 of Charity's Redemption

“A hangover?”

“From the cocaine. Plus the ugly bruise on your ribcage, and knuckles, and the bump on your forehead.”

I groaned. “Make it go away.”

“Cocaine is a powerful drug. You could feel the effects of it for days, or you could be fortuitous and be right as rain in a few hours from now.”

“Oh, goodie,” I grumbled.

“You should consider yourself lucky, though.”

“I don’t feel so lucky.”

My body hurt, and not just from the blissfully, rough sex Luca and I shared. My ribs ached from the impact since a monster of a man threw me across the room like a rag doll, then the sprinkling of cocaine on my face, like it was fucking spring break.

“It could be worse.”

“It could always be worse.”

Doc pulled the stethoscope from his neck and packed it up in his bag, then patted my shoulder before he stood. “Rest, hydrate, and call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks.” I pressed my face further into the pillow, then turned and buried it from his gaze.

“What’s the prognosis, Dan? Will she live?” Nico asked with sarcasm.

“She’ll be fine. I’m not concerned.”

Their muffled conversation carried on as I buried myself deeper into my bed.

Footsteps shuffled towards me, then bed dipped down, and a warm hand spread across my bare back between my shoulder blades and rubbed. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” I said, keeping it direct.

Turning to my side, he kept his hand on my back, his fingers dipping into the grooves between my vertebrae as he caressed.

“You’re lucky.”

Closing my eyes and smiling, I exhaled through my nose. “So I’ve heard.”

“Maybe next time we’ll have someone go with you.”

I flipped the sheet off my body and moved to sit up, but his hand resting on my back moved up to my shoulder and pushed me back down.

“Don’t start that shit already.”

“What shit?”

“The one where you distrust me.”

He lifted his hands. “Not my intention, beautiful.” Nico leaned over and kissed my forehead. “I know you can handle yourself.”

“Thank you.” I sat back up and, this time, he let me. I needed to pee like a Kentucky racehorse, and no one was getting in my way this time.

Bounding off the bed, naked as the day God made me, I raced to the restroom and relieved my heavy bladder, leaving Nico on the bed alone.

I felt grubby, achy, and confused.

“I guess you and Luca had a fun time last night,” Nico said as I walked out of the bathroom, rubbing my clean, damp hands on my naked thighs.

---