Page 102 of Betraying Family Vows
He cups the side of my face, thumb stroking just under my eye.
"I'm going to clean you up," he says. "Then I'm going to take you into that shower and make you forget everything else."
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ATHENA
Ismile at his words, and I shiver form being shirtless.
Dimitri reaches for a blanket, draping it over my shoulders before turning his attention to my pants.
"Can you stand?" he asks.
I push myself up, swaying slightly. His hands steady me, one at my waist, the other on my arm. He carefully peels my pants down my legs. I step out of them, suddenly self-conscious despite everything we've shared.
The blanket slips, and I catch it before it falls completely. He helps me back down and then opens the medical kit, taking out antiseptic wipes, ointment, and bandages.
Starting with my feet, he cleans each abrasion. The antiseptic stings, but it's nothing compared to everything else that's happened.
"This might hurt," he warns before dabbing at a deeper cut along my ankle.
I bite my lip and nod for him to continue.
He works his way up, tending to each mark on my body with a reverence that makes my chest tight. A scrape on my knee. A cut on my thigh. He doesn't miss anything.
"You know, you don't have to do this."
His eyes snap to mine, dark and unflinching.
"I do," he says. "I'm the reason you were there. The reason you're hurt."
"That's not true," I say. "You're the reason I'm safe. I'm here."
"No. I'm sorry," he says. "I should have protected you better."
My throat tightens. No one has ever said that to me. Looked at me like that, like I'm something precious, something worth protecting at all costs. Not my father and certainly not my mother, who saw me as an extension of herself.
I try to swallow against the burning sensation behind my eyes. "Well, it wasn't your fault," I say but Dimitri doesn't respond. I'll never be able to convince him otherwise.
A tear escapes despite my best efforts, trailing down my cheek. Dimitri catches it with his thumb.
"No more tears," he says. "You're with me now."
He finishes with my face, cleaning a small cut near my temple. His eyes never leave mine as he works, and I see something in them I've never seen before.
"There," he says, "That should help."
He stands and looks me over.
"You're the strongest person I've ever met, Athena."
His eyes drop to my lips briefly before returning to mine. "Shower," he says, his voice rougher than before. "You'll feel better after."
He strips his shirt over his head in one fluid motion. The sight of all his own bruises and cuts surprises me.
"You're just as hurt," I say.
"I'm fine," he says, pushing his pants down and stepping out of them.
