Page 10 of Derek
Me: I had a fun princess day!
Ash: Send me a pic.
I groan, knowing exactly what picture he wants.
Me: Blue
Me: It’s fine, I’m handling it.
Ash texts me again, but I ignore the message. I know it will be something along the lines of I need to move, take it easy, or sit at home and not move at all because I’m a fragile human—such crap. I have to live with this disease forever, and I refuse to let it rule me. I’m not delusional; I know that positive thinking won’t heal me. But neither will being angry and bitter or sitting at home. I have my days when the pain is too much, and I have my days when my dark thoughts scream too loudly to ignore. I am only human, but that doesn’t mean I can allow myself to stay there indefinitely. I have learned over the years to neither fight nor fear my disease; instead, I’ve learned to live with it. I listen when my body says it’s time to rest or when my mind says,“No, Indy, we really need a five-minute cry.”
“Oh, sorry.” Derek’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I give him a small smile.
“No worries, it’s a public area. Besides, I’m about to get up and go back to work.”As soon as I feel like I can get up without crying.
“You don’t have to leave because of me,” Derek says as he opens the door to the fridge and pulls out a water bottle. I steal a moment to appreciate how his jeans impossibly form to his tight ass before summoning the strength to get up. Once I stand, I hold still for a moment, trying to allow my body to calm down, but it’s no use.
“Ah,” I breathe out while gripping the chair, feeling the muscles spasming around my abdomen. Derek looks at me in concern.
“Indy? What’s wrong?” He steps forward, and I wave him off with my hand.
“I’m fine,” I gasp as I whimper again, and another jolt hits me. “I just gotta lay down.” I move to the couch and growl in pain when I ease myself down, only to feel it hit and squeeze again, causing me to roll over into the fetal position.
Derek kneels in front of me and looks me in the eye. “How can I help?” His voice is the softest I’ve ever heard from him, making me want to cry.
“Well,” I pant as I grip my side. “If you can… apply firm pressure here…” I point to the spot on my lower abdomen. Derek looks more than unsure. I’m about to tell him to get Janie or Stevie when he lifts my shirt slightly, and I feel the firm pressure of his palm press in exactly the right area.
“Oh fuck,” I moan as I feel the temporary relief. It’s perfect and gives me enough of a moment to get in a cleansing breath.
“Am I doing it right?” He asks, still completely unsure of himself as he rubs over the spot again.
“Yes,” I whisper as I take another breath. This is precisely my luck. The hottest guy in the universe is finally close to me… touching me. And it’s because I’m having what the MS community has so sweetly named the MS Hug. Basically, the “hug” is an awful pain or pressure, and it can happen anywhere from your chest to your lower abdomen. Mine being on the right side of my belly button.
“Should I call an ambulance?” He asks, and I feel another jolt. I grip his arm as I breathe, and he continues to massage me.
“No,” I grit out. “I’ll call… my nurse when I get a hotel room.” This MS Hug tells me that I am heading for a relapse. I need to call my doctor’s office and tell them so they can start me on some medication to hopefully try and minimize how bad the relapse will be.
“Hotel?” He repeats. “Did Stevie kick you out?” I shake my head.
“No,” I breathe. “Too many steps. I have,” I wince again, I can feel the hug lessening though, and I am so grateful this was a short one. “Multiple Sclerosis.” His hand twitches.
“Will you ever be able to do steps again?” Wow, this isn’t very comfortable. I give him a weak smile and a small shrug.
“Maybe? I try not to think about things I can’t control.” I place my hand over his, and I hear his breath catch. “Thank you.” Derek pulls away so fast you would’ve thought I had set his hand on fire.
“Sure,” He mutters while standing up. “You should get someone to take you home or to your hotel.” He stumbles over the coffee table as he backs up. “Fucking hell.” He grumbles while his face turns pink, and I swear to god it’s the best moment of my life. I watch him walk out of the room, and I let out a sigh as I slowly trace where his massive hand had been rubbing me. I can still feel the heat of his touch, like he’s branded me. If I’m being honest, I hope it never leaves.
Chapter5
Derek
I’m a good man. I have strong willpower and a good sense of right versus wrong. I believe in karma, and I do my best to make sure I don’t fuck with it.
And I know I deserve whatever karma has in store for my ass for the erection I got after what happened in the break room yesterday. Indy’s skin was so soft and warm under my hand, and I tried so fucking hard to remember that she was in pain and needed my help. I thought I’d done a good job keeping myself in check, but once I pulled away and stood to leave, it hit me, and then… it hit my dick. I left the break room, stumbling over myself like a goddamn teenager before hiding in the fucking bathroom until my cock went down. I refuse to acknowledge how difficult it was not to jerk off in the shower last night or on the couch before I slept or this morning when I woke up.
Fuck! All I can do is think about her, and it’s pissing me off. My stupid ass sat on my couch late into the night thinking about how I have zero steps, and she could live in one of my rooms. Me… with a fucking roommate. I need to get back on my normal schedule. I’m getting too close to these fucking people, to her.
Speaking of her, where is Indy?
