Page 7 of Shattered Dreams
Raine glared at her. “It’s not the same thing, Lizzie. I’ve gotten some sleep. When’s the last time you slept?”
She shrugged. She wasn’t about to admit to her bestie that she hadn’t slept since Master had been brought in late yesterday morning. She was young, she could handle a few hours of missed sleep. She would not be sleeping when he finally woke up and asked for her. She knew he was post recovery and had been moved to a private room, but that she’d have to wait until the doctor cleared visitors. God, she wanted to put her own eyes on Max. This was almost as bad as when he’d had his heart attack a few months ago. In fact, it was probably worse when you considered that someone actually shot at him and Storm.Storm. Maybe a change of subject will work.
“Have you heard how Storm is doing?”
Raine gave a look that said, ‘really?’. “Don’t change the subject, Lizzie. You’ve got huge bags under your eyes, and you look like a stiff wind could blow you away. Don’t make me pull the Master card. You know he’d warm your ass for ignoring your needs – even if you think that the reason is good. Remember when he was sick with the flu last winter, and you swore up and down that you’d nurse him back to health and ended up with walking pneumonia? They almost admitted you to the hospital, and Master was pissed. If I remember right, you ended up getting the short end of the strap over that little incident when you recovered.”
“It’ll be okay because someone is not going to rat me out to Master. Especially when he’s got his own master now that he wants to please instead of making trouble for me.”
“Come on, Lizzie. Any fool can see that you’re tired as hell. If you won’t come home with me, at least lie down on the couch and catch a few z’s.”
“I can’t,” she finally sighed. “I’ve been trying, and I can’t get my mind to turn off. Everything is so big, so overwhelming that I don’t know if I’ll ever sleep again.”
Raine sat down next to her. “What can I do to help?” He looked around really quick. “I can’t make good on my earlier threat. There are too many people around and I don’t want to spend my time in jail because you need a hard spanking to get back in the correct head space so you can sleep.”
“I know.” She moved closer to him. “Hold me?”
“Of course.” He sat in the couch’s corner, then pulled her smaller body in between his outstretched legs. She grabbed one of the hospital blankets that they’d given her earlier in the day. After spreading it over their legs, she tugged the white nubby cloth up to her chin. Raine relaxed behind her, making a comfortable cradle for her. It was a position they’d used many times in the past while they were in foster care – especially nights like these where she couldn’t shut her mind off.
“Do it.” She finally whispered. “I need it.”
“Fuck.” Raine sounded resigned. “I’ll do it, if you promise to go to sleep afterwards.”
“I’ll try.” Tears threatened to run down her cheeks. “Please, Raine.”
“Okay.” He made soft soothing sounds that were a sharp contrast to what was about to come.
In the dark, she let the tears flow as the first burst of sharp pain radiated through her. She bit her lip, breathing through it, while waiting for the next. She inhaled as he viciously pinched her once more, his nails gouging her skin. There was nothing remotely sexual about this. This wasn’t her Master doling out the pain she needed but her brother/bestie. It was meant to hurt – not to arouse.
“Good girl.” Raine whispered. “You asked for the pain like Master told you. It doesn’t matter that it’s me and not him. You didn’t cut. That is being a good girl.”
She made a soft noise in her throat as he dug his fingers in again. More tears spilled down her face as the pain washed away the numbness, the frustration of not being able to do anything while replacing it with something to focus on, rather than what she would do if she lost Max. “Again, please.”
Raine obeyed, digging at her sensitive skin with a sharp twist. She’d have bruises tomorrow, but there would be no wounds to doctor up nor blood to clean off. Master would be happy that she hadn’t backslid, and would more than likely thank Raine for giving her what she needed. But at this moment, she couldn’t have cared less about the resulting praise they’d get. She needed the pain to let go of the fear, the worry, that had been her constant companion. More tears raced down her cheeks, wetting the top of the blanket that was tucked under her chin.
“Enough?” he muttered. “Or do you need more?”
She gave a shuddering sigh. “Enough, I think.” She tipped her head back to look up at him. Worry was in those baby blue eyes of his. But for some reason, she couldn’t help but wish that it was the stormy gray of her Master’s, or even the light green of Detective Landon’s.
God, why am I even thinking about him? He has no bearing on anything.
“Rest, Lizzie. I’ll keep you safe. Close those beautiful eyes and sleep. Nothing will get you while I’m here.”
“K…” she mumbled, allowing her eyes to drift shut, knowing that Raine would watch over her until it was safe for her to stand on her own two feet. She really couldn’t ask for a better bestie. But even as she dropped off to sleep, she couldn’t help but wonder who was going to hold Raine together. She’d seen his wince of pain yesterday when he’d shown up. Had heard his admission of guilt. He might be her best friend, but he was even more screwed up than she was.
Which is why Storm better treat him right. Or I’ll kick his ass, no matter what Master says about staying out of it.
“Thanks, Rainy.” She let her head drift to the side, her nose nestled in the hollow of his throat. “Love you.”
He sighed and pressed a kiss against the top of her head. “Love you, too.”
Chapter Three
“What can I help you with today, Officer? As you can see, I’m a bit indisposed, at the moment, for autographs or interviews.”
Elliot kept his expression neutral. Once he’d entered the hospital room, he’d immediately recognized the sports figure lounging on the bed with his knee elevated. Storm Parkers had put the Colorado Springs Nuggets on the sports map. He’d been a phenomenal wide receiver, who from the looks of it, was very gay if the younger man curled around the Black man was any indication. “We still need your statement, Mr. Parkers. My name is Detective Elliot Landon.”
Storm gave a nod, as he continued to rub circles on the younger man’s back.
