Page 41 of Laying it Bare Biker Style - Grayson

“I feel like I ate a pound of sand.” I rasped. Maybe I had.

He twisted to grab a small cup with a straw. “Let me help you sit up. Can you sit up?”

I nodded.

Grayson fussed with the bed control and then he and my dad helped situate the pillow behind me to help me into a seated position. Then he held the cup up to my mouth so I could take a sip. I waited a few moments to make sure my stomach didn’t revolt and when it didn’t; I took another few sips.

“How long have I been here?”

My dad took my hand in his. “Two days. With all the trauma your body went through, your body needed complete rest to start healing. The doctor said you had some internal bleeding, but nothing significant. And now that you’re awake and talking, I believe you’re starting to heal. But I’ll go find the doctor just to be sure.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek before heading to the door.

“I know the guy who took me is gone. Did he have anyone else?” I couldn’t stop the shiver that raced down my spine. I never wanted to go through that terror ever again.

Grayson tugged a chair to the side of my bed and sat down before leaning in close. “Your dad is working with the police to clean up the situation. He looked into the guy’s background and we did some of our own digging. There isn’t anyone else connected to that piece of shit. He was working alone for revenge. And your dad has been very supportive of our actions.”

“Thank God they are all gone.” A few tears slipped down my cheeks. “He was so vicious.” I remembered how hard he had hit me and kicked me. The look of glee in his eyes when I yelped in pain. I tried to keep so much of it locked inside so I wouldn’t show any weakness. “And he touched me, Grayson.” I swallowed down a sob. I didn’t think I’d ever get over the feeling of being violated like that. “I feel so dirty. How can you stand to look at me after he had his filthy hands places he never – ”

“Hey.” He placed a tender kiss on my lips. “You are still my princess and I love you. Nothing will ever change that.”

“I don’t think he . . .” I couldn’t force out the words. I was almost positive he only attempted it once and I killed him during that fight.

“No, he didn’t. We had them run all of the tests while you were unconscious so you wouldn’t have to experience any more trauma.” Grayson peppered my cheek with gentle kisses. “It’s going to be okay, Brooke. I’m not trying to downplay what you went through; it was horrific. But I’m so fucking relieved I have you back. That I can help you every step of the way to work through this. You still have some physical healing to do with your broken ribs and bruises, but your emotional and mental healing are going to take the longest. But I’m going to be with you the entire time.”

“So my dad isn’t going to give you a hard time about this?”

“No. He’s feeling a lot of guilt over this.”

The door opened and my dad and the doctor stepped inside.

“So, you finally decided to wake from your slumber, Sleeping Beauty.” Stepping over behind Grayson, the doctor gave me a wink, his hazel eyes twinkling with his amusement over my reaction to his nickname for me.

My eyes widened as I feared that Grayson was about to go apeshit crazy on him. His emotions were already a mess over my suffering.

But the doctor chuckled and ran a hand through his blond hair. “Ah, you don’t think I should be saying things like that with your biker boyfriend within ear shot. It’s okay. He had been calling you Princess so I joked you were the sleeping one and it eased a little of the tension over this entire ordeal. So no worries. By the way, I’m Dr. Clanson. How about I check some things out to see how you’re healing? Although by the looks of it, I’d say you’re doing pretty well all things considered.”

After Grayson stepped aside but not too far from my bedside, the doctor studied my monitors before gently poking and prodding my body and asking me questions. “Well, it seems you are healing nicely. I’d like to keep you one more night to be sure, but I think you should be able to go home tomorrow. I’ll be back in to check on you tonight when I do my rounds. Right now I’ll order you some simple breakfast to make sure you can keep down food. How does that sound?”

“As long as it doesn’t taste like sand, I’m game.”

“Well it will be bland, but I don’t think it will taste like sand.” The doctor shook my hand and then my dad’s and Grayson’s before stepping out into the hall.

“Please stay with me.” I blurted, panic lacing my tone. “I hate how weak I sound.” But even though the threat was gone, the horrid memories had taken up residence inside of my brain.

Grayson sat back down in his chair. “You don’t sound weak. Because you’renotweak. You’re my warrior Princess.” With gentle fingers, he tucked some of the unruly strands of my hair behind my ear. “You fought for your life, held nothing back, didn’t cower in a corner. Feeling fear and being weak are two completely different things. Do you think I’m weak?”

“No way. Never.” That notion was absolutely ridiculous.

“Well, I’ve never felt fear like I felt when you were taken. I was never more afraid than when your dad showed me that video of you and I had no idea where you were or how long you’d been there. I was afraid I’d be too late. I’ve been at your side since we found you; not just for you, but for me too. I’ve had my guys drop off clothes and stuff for me and I showered here. I couldn’t bear to leave your side.” He rubbed a hand down his scruffy face. I guess his showers had been quick and he didn’t bother taking the time to shave. But I didn’t mind. He was so freaking gorgeous scruff or not and he had been with me the entire time.

“And when I found you crumpled on the floor, your body so battered, at first I thought you were dead and the grief that crushed my chest almost drove me to my knees. But when I caught a slight movement from you; relief rushed through me and quickly morphed into rage at what he had done to you. And then I took in what you did to him and my heart filled with pride. There is not one ounce of weakness in you.”

My dad, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, started to pace my room.

“Dad. Are you okay?” The inquiry scraped along my still sensitive throat.

He turned to me, his eyes filled with so much pain.

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m going to be okay. I’ll heal.” I assured him. The mental and emotional healings were going to take a long while, but I could do this with Grayson at my side.

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