Page 56 of Taking Chances (Healing Hearts 1)

I woke the next morning to find myself alone in the hospital bed, looking to the side of me I saw that Mason was fast asleep in the chair. Sitting up slowly every inch of my body ached, the full effects of the accident showing themselves on my bruised and battered body. I was exhausted, the nursing staff, like they had said, had woken me every two hours through the night as well as taking my blood pressure and pulse. I was eager to get back to the ranch and back to my bed, I just hoped that I wouldn’t have to wait too long to be discharged.

I pulled myself out of bed and slowly made my way to the bathroom, feeling dizzy I grabbed onto the sink before looking up at my reflection, I gasped at what I saw. There was blood matted in my hair from where I had cut my head, and underneath my eye, there was a large bruise starting to form. I traced my fingers over my bruised face, wincing at the pain. I turned and looked at the shower, desperate to feel the hot water on my skin. I was pretty wobbly on my feet and wasn’t sure if I could manage to shower alone, maybe I could ask a nurse to help me. A knock on the bathroom door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Sweetheart, are you okay? Can I come in?” I heard Mason ask, his voice full of concern.

“Come in,” I called out. I was still clutching onto the sink when he opened the door, he glanced down at my hands gripping the side and rushed over to me.

“Why didn’t you wake me, Libby, you shouldn’t have gotten out of bed on your own. Are you feeling dizzy?”

I nodded my head. “A little, I’m okay. I’d love a shower though I feel yucky. Could you buzz the nurse to help me?”

“I’ll help you baby; you don’t need to ask the nurse.”

“You’ll help me in the shower?” I asked him my face flushing with heat.

“Yes, Lib. I’ll go and ask the nurse for a cover for your cast, so it doesn’t get wet.” He walked out of the bathroom, returning seconds later with a chair. “Sit down there, and I’ll help you with your clothes when I come back.” He said, guiding me by my elbow into the chair.

“Mason, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I can just ask the nurse.” He’d never seen me completely naked before, I wasn’t sure I wanted the first time he did to be in a hospital bathroom. “I’m covered in bruises.”

“Sweetheart, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, with or without bruises. It’s my fault you’re hurting, please let me help you.”

“Okay,” I told him reluctantly. “But Mason, what happened, in no way was it your fault. You couldn’t have known that Amber would do what she did.”

He shook his head. “If I hadn’t been thinking with my dick and slept with her, she wouldn’t be in our lives now. I’m the reason she tried to hurt you. I had no idea that she would be capable of doing anything like she has, but I do now, and I don’t intend to let her get anywhere near you again.” He kneeled down in front of me and gently took my face in his hands, looking deeply into my eyes. “You are the most important thing in my life, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe Lib.”

“You don’t think she’s going to try anything else, do you?” I asked him, panic bubbling in my stomach.

He sighed. “I don’t know sweetheart, but I don’t think we can rule anything out.” He pulled me out of the chair and into his chest, wrapping his arms around me. I winced in pain as his arms squeezed my bruised body. He released me immediately and took a step back. “Libby, did I hurt you?” He asked, concern lacing his voice.

I stepped towards him taking his hand. “I’m just a bit sore, you didn’t hurt me,” I told him reassuringly.

I saw him breathe a sigh of relief. “Come on, let’s get you showered. I’ll just run and fetch that cover for your cast.”

He disappeared out of the bathroom, and I began to remove the hospital gown that must have been put on me yesterday when I was admitted. I was nervous for Mason to see me naked, but I was desperate for a hot shower, and he seemed determined to help me. I needn’t have worried; Mason was the perfect gentleman. He stripped down to his boxers and even though I felt like shit my body came alive at the sight of him. Putting his arm gently around my waist he guided me towards the shower area, reaching out to turn the water on. He held me back until the water was warm and then ushered me under the hot spray, careful to avoid the stitches on my head. I closed my eyes, savouring the feel of the water massaging my bruised body. I felt Mason step up behind me and gently snake his arms around my waist, his front pressed to my back. I dropped my head back against his chest relishing the feeling of being safely wrapped in his arms.

“Let me wash you.” He whispered in my ear. I nodded my head, and he reached for the soap, gently lathering up my back. He turned me around and did the same to my front, my face flushing with heat as he carefully washed my breasts, taking extra care around my bruised ribs. “What about your hair baby?” He asked me softly.

“I don’t think I can get my stitches wet just yet, so we’ll have to leave it.”

“Okay, let me clean the blood off your face, I won’t get your stitches wet.” I nodded at him, and he gently wiped my face with a flannel he found by the sink, his eyes never leaving mine.

After we had both dried off, he helped me to put on a clean hospital gown. I didn’t have any clothes to wear as the ones I was wearing when I had the accident were covered in blood and dirt.

“Thank you, I feel so much better after that,” I told him.

“You’re welcome sweetheart, I’m going to find the Doctor and get you out of here.” He kissed me softly on the lips before heading out of the room.

A couple of hours later I was discharged with strict instructions from the Doctor to rest for the next few days. He told Mason that I would need to be woken again through the night, because of my head injury. Savannah had arrived with clean clothes for me to change into and finally, we were on our way back to the ranch. Although I had only been in the hospital overnight, with everything that had happened, it felt like I had been away from the ranch for days.

Aunt Claire was waiting for us on the porch as we pulled up the driveway. “I’m so glad you’re home honey.” She exclaimed, pulling me into a hug as we climbed the porch steps. “Come on I’ve made you all some lunch.”

After eating lunch, I had a pounding headache and felt exhausted. “I think I’m going to lie down for a bit, I’m exhausted,” I announced, standing up and wobbling on my feet.

Mason rushed to my side, taking my arm to steady me. “I’ll help you upstairs. Don’t get too comfy in that bed, though, I want you staying at my place for the next few nights so that I can look after you.”

I looked at him in shock. “You want me to stay at yours?”

“Yes baby, I want you close, I need to know that you’re okay.”

---