Page 28 of Property of Saint

Being a gentleman, I undo her handcuff, help her onto her feet, and let her steady herself with the crutch, then I assist her across the room. Opening the door to the en suite, I guide her inside, leaving her with the instruction, “Call me if you need help.”

Her scornful look suggests she’d rather die.

I hide my grin as I pull the door to and step aside to give her privacy. Wincing when I hear her muffled groan and a clatter as she must have dropped her crutch, I fight my impulse to go in and help her, knowing the gesture wouldn’t be appreciated. When she finally re-emerges, looking like she’s gone a few rounds in the boxing ring, I resist the urge to sweep her up into my arms, instead just hovering behind her as she slowly makes her way back into bed.

Once she’s settled, noticing how grey she looks, I pick up the strong painkillers and the glass of water.

As she goes to shake her head, I growl at her. “Fuckin’ take them, woman.” When she opens her mouth to speak, I harden my voice. “You’ve gotta know that a fight for your life is coming to you, and right now you’re not fit enough to face anything head-on. You’ve gotta let your body get some rest and give it time to heal. And your mind ain’t going to be thinking straight while you’re in pain.”

Still, she seems reluctant. I tilt my head in question, she answers, “What if they make me drowsy?”

“Then they’re doing their job.”

“What,” she starts, swallows, then continues, “What if thatdoctorcomes back to check?”

“He won’t fuckin’ get into this room,” I rasp back, part of me embarrassed that the only qualified medic we’ve got on hand is one who’s now on the sex offender’s register. “Look, he won’t be back unless we need him, and we’ve already gone through this…” I break off, realising that’s not what she’s really worried about. She’s worried Freak’s going to come back and carry out his threat when she’ll be at her weakest.

I stare at her. Downstairs, a beer has my name on it, and one of the bunnies is probably saving herself for me, not to mention the heap of work I should be doing. But damn it, I can’t leave her alone, not now, and not in this state. Sighing, more than half annoyed at myself, I wave toward the bathroom. “I’m going to brush my teeth and deal with business, then I’ll stay and keep you company, and keep any bogeymen out.”

Though it clearly hurts her shoulder, she pushes herself upright. “And what if the bogeyman is you?” she throws at me.

I chuckle. “You’ve got nothing to worry from me, as I think I’ve told you before, I want my woman fit and able if I’m going to be sticking my dick in her, and I don’t need drugs to get her consent.”

The expression on her face is hard to read. I’m not sure whether she’s going to call me out as an asshole, or whether she’ll find my direct ways refreshing. After I watch her for a moment, her lips twitch, and then she laughs.

“You really are a charmer,” she announces, her words accompanied by an impressive eye roll.

“You can bet on it.” I wink at her. Then, finding her tablets, I tap out the correct dosage and pass them to her. I follow thatup with a bottle of water. Her eyes search mine for a moment, then she huffs a sigh of resignation and takes the medication I’ve given her. “Now get some fuckin’ rest.”

Leaving her to decide whether to obey me or not, I sit on the opposite side of the mattress, my weight making it dip. Toeing off my boots, I slide my legs up onto the bed, place one arm behind my head, and lie back.

“You haven’t cuffed me,” she says softly.

A laugh is startled out of me. “If you try and get out of this bed with one arm and a leg out of action, you’re not going to be doing that quietly. You’ll wake me up.”

Her next words are spoken under her breath, but I hear them perfectly well, and fuck me, they make me smile. “Not if I kill you first.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a nap in the afternoon, but as her medication kicks in and her breathing shallows and slows, I find my own eyes growing heavy. There’s a whole world of trouble waiting for me outside that door, so I’ll take advantage of the peace I have for now. Underneath the medicinal odour of antiseptic, a gentle perfume seeps through, something that makes me think of summer days, peaches, perhaps. While we’re not touching, I can sense her presence and warmth in my bed.

For some reason, it doesn’t annoy me.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SAINT

Coming awake with a start, for a second, I wonder where I am. My surroundings are familiar, the companion lying close beside me is not. The explanation returns fast, though I was certain there was far more distance between us when we both closed our eyes.Did I move toward her? Or is she the culprit?Huh, whichever doesn’t matter, I’m quite comfortable where I am.

A glance at my phone on its charger at the side of the bed shows me I’ve only been sleeping for an hour, which is not surprising. It’s the middle of the afternoon, and I’ve never been one to rest during the day. Gently prising my body away from Pippa, I notice her breathing is deep, and the loss of my warmth from her side doesn’t so much as make her flinch.

She’s completely out.

Having personally experienced the effects of the painkiller Doc left for her, I’m not surprised. She’ll probably stay unconscious for at least another couple of hours. Time enough for me to check downstairs, get a drink, find out what’s going on, and, if I see a bunny wandering around, maybe I’ll get herto suck me off. For some reason, waking up next to a female has had a certain effect on my cock.

I change my shirt, go into the bathroom and take a piss, then exit my room quietly closing the door, while wondering why I’m bothering as a herd of elephants tramping up the stairs probably wouldn’t wake her just now. Entering the main room, I check who’s around, seeing Heathen behind the bar, and Short sitting, holding a glass, staring into it as if it’s going to give him all the answers to any questions he might want to ask. Ace and his father are nowhere to be found, giving me cause to let out a sigh of relief. A slight reprieve from having to face my problems.

Over by the pool table are a couple of club girls half-heartedly trying to play a game, but it’s more one to attract interest, as their moves tend to involve exaggerated poses which show off their asses and boobs, leaning too far across the table, giving a display of bare flesh whether you’re looking at them front of back. I know either of them, or both, would be more than up to spend some time satisfying my needs, but for some inexplicable reason, even though moments ago that was my very intention, their blatant advertising sours rather than arouses, and my dick has deflated.

My appetite for beer takes pole position, so I head toward the prospect. My arrival has already caught his attention, and he’s ready with an open bottle in his hand by the time I reach the bar. With just a chin lift to denote my appreciation, I prop myself on the stool beside Short. Showing a lack of situational awareness, he appears lost in his own world.

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