Page 9 of Inevitable Dream

With my arm braced around her waist, I lead her to the bathroom and have her sit on the edge of the tub while I run the water. She glides her hand through the water, looking lost in her own thoughts.

“Do you need any help?” I ask.

“I think I can manage,” she replies.

“I’ll be right outside the door.” I leave her to it, but keep the door ajar in case she needs me. I can hear her struggling, so I open the door a little more.

Sadie is standing with her arms folded over her breasts. “Could you please help me get this off?” she asks, her gaze dropping to her wrapped ribs. As I do as she asked, her black-and-blue bruises are exposed to my sight. What’s worse, an imprint of a boot mark is pronounced on her white flesh.

Suddenly, the rage that I had finally tamped down returns with a vengeance. I touch her skin, tracing the red marks, then span my hand over the outline.

“Rebel,” she says.

I raise my gaze to meet hers.

“I’m okay,” she whispers.

I nod and slowly release her. “Bath, sweetheart. Then we can watch a movie and relax. Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Sadie

I slip into the hot bathwater and let my muscles soak in its goodness. Rebel added Epsom salts to help with the aches and pains. With a small towel rolled up at the back of my neck, I simply lie still and reflect. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I was looking after Rebel, and now he’s looking after me. He even smiled for me, and when I left Falcon’s apartment last night, I was happy. Rebel was doing well, and I was clutching some extra money.

If I’d done what Falcon told me to do, none of this would have happened. Unfortunately, I remember the way the mugger held me down while he punched my face, not once, but three or four times. I managed to keep hold of my purse, but not for long. When his boot connected with my side, I knew he was going to kill me if I didn’t let go. I think he would have killed me anyway if the bus hadn’t arrived at the right time.

I was foolish. How did I think I could fight him off? Tears start running down my face again. Just when I believed I didn’t have any left in me, I feel them on my cheeks. I wipe them away and sink farther into the water.

“Sadie, how’re you doing in there?” Rebel’s low, sexy voice penetrates my thoughts.

“I’m okay.”

“It’s been half an hour, babe. The water must be cold by now,” he says with concern.

“I’ll finish up.” I stand and turn on the shower to rinse off and shampoo my hair. It takes more energy than I have, but I manage. I step out and grab the large, fluffy, dark blue towel Rebel left for me. I wrap it around me and grab my brush to run it through my tangled mess of hair before putting on a fresh pair of panties and a soft pair of joggers. I don’t bother with a bra but put on a soft gray button-down shirt.

Rebel is right at the door when I open it. He offers me his hand, and I walk with him over to the edge of the bed, where I sit, and he puts a new bandage in place.

His hands are so gentle, and when he’s done, he lifts my chin to look at him. “It’s healing well. Do you still have a headache?”

I shake my head. “No. No headache.”

“Gotta do your ribs, babe,” he says and directs me to stand, switching our positions so that he’s sitting on the bed. He guides me to stand between his spread legs. He lifts the hem of my shirt, holding it just under my breasts. Then he directs my hand to keep the shirt in place where he wants it.

His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t say another word. His hands span the area that’s most affected, and I swear I hear him growl.

“It’s not so bad,” I say. “Better today than yesterday. And tomorrow will be better still.” I try to play it off, giving a shrug.

“Quiet, Sadie,” he commands and begins to wrap my ribs. He concentrates fully on what he’s doing. I’m completely self-conscious. My stomach muscles tighten as he does his work, and I don’t even realize I’m holding my breath until he says, “Breathe, sweetheart.”

When Rebel’s done, he doesn’t let go and instead shifts me so that I’m sitting on his lap. I look into his eyes and see sadness. I can’t help but put my hand on his cheek.

“You need to rest too. You’ve been looking after me, and you’re still recovering. Maybe I should go home.”

“Don’t say that!” he replies gruffly. His arms hold me closer. “I want you with me.”

“You can’t overdo it.”

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