Page 58 of Full House

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I’m fine mom, truly. It wasn’t that far of a fall, and Nate was there to help me,” Victoria spoke quietly into the phone because it was late and Nate was asleep, sprawled on the bed beside her.

She had downplayed the events, not wanting to cause her mom upset, but it seemed Shannon Lee was going to worry anyway. The nature of being a mother, Victoria supposed. She would know all about that soon, she thought, laying a protective hand over her stomach.

“I promise I’ll keep you in the loop, but honestly, the media knows things before I do half the time.” Victoria heard her mom’s laughter and smiled.

But what Victoria had stated was true. Shortly after dealing with Byron, the doctor had arrived, checking for concussion—which she didn’t have, thank goodness—and giving her clearance to leave the hospital. And, of course, members of the press had been camped out front, waiting. It would’ve been too much to hope their identity remained a secret. More than likely, someone on the hospital staff had leaked they were there.

After a few more minutes of chit-chat where Victoria, again, assured her mom she was fine, Victoria signed off. “I love you, too. Say hi to Dad for me.”

She hung up the phone and placed it on the nightstand beside the bed. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes, tired after such a stressful afternoon but strangely unable to fall asleep. She couldn’t turn her mind off, her thoughts drifting to her accident.

She replayed the events in a loop, trying to remember every detail in hopes of deducing whether it was an accident or if someone was really out to get her. She hoped for all their sakes, it wasn’t the latter. Victoria had heard some truly horrible horror stories involving stalkers and their prey.

Nate stirred, opening an eye, his sleepy, relaxed expression pulling into a frown. “You still awake?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Come here.” He lifted the sheet, so she could slide flush against him.

Resting her head in the crook of his shoulder, his arm draped down her back with his hand settling on her hip. She sighed and closed her eyes, willing herself to relax.

Her right arm grew uncomfortable, wedged as it was half under her body. She wiggled, yanking her arm out and throwing it awkwardly over Nate’s chest.

A few minutes passed, and she sighed again. Now, her neck, twisted at a funny angle, was getting a cramp. Rolling more to her back, she untangled her feet from Nate’s legs, kicking out with her left leg as it got twisted in the sheet.

She felt Nate’s chest vibrating beside her and rolled her eyes to look at him. “Are you laughing?”

He raised a brow of inquiry. “Are you through?”

“Yes. No.” she sighed, again. “I can’t seem to get comfortable.”

Nate carefully dislodged his arm from under her and rolled from the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“To help you relax.”

She watched him pad to the bathroom, her eyes fixated on his bare ass until the light flicked on and he disappeared into its depths. Soon she heard water running.

He emerged a few minutes later, a towel wrapped around his waist. He strode to the bed, threw back the sheet, and scooped her up.

“What are you doing?” Her arms found his neck, holding on.

“We’re taking a bath.”

“We?” His tub was certainly large enough for the two of them, but she didn’t picture him as a bather. He was more a shower guy.

“Yes, we. I’m going to hold you in my arms, and you’re going to lie back and soak in the warm water until you’re so relaxed you won’t have the energy to get out to get back in bed.”

Victoria had to admit, his plan didn’t sound half bad.

Nate set her down, her toes curling under as her feet met the cold tile. “Lift your arms,” he commanded, grasping the hem of her long t-shirt and pulling it over her head when she complied. Her panties were next to go. Sliding them down her legs, he tapped her ankle, signaling for her to step out.

He dropped his towel, making quick work of turning off the water, stepping into the tub, and lying back.

He eyed her. “Your turn.”

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