Page 99 of Reckless

“I’m good, already had it checked,” he tells me as he starts the car and drives away. I know he’s lying because he hasn’t left my side, and though I may have not been fully compos mentis, I sure as hell don’t remember the paramedic checking him.

I let him think he’s got away with it, but when we get to wherever we’re going, I’ll be checking him. I rest my head on the window as the city lights speed by, and as we leave them behind, my eyes drift closed with images of my mother flashing through my mind.

Something touching my cheek wakes me a while later, and I open my eyes to see Seb crouched down beside me.

“Hey, Firefly,” his voice is warm and drifts over me as my brain slowly registers where we are. “Come on, let’s get inside.” He reaches in, releasing my seatbelt, and I go to step out, but he stops me. He lifts me from the car, and I see why as his feet crunch across the gravel toward the house. I lost my shoes somewhere after my m— I shut the thought down.

Inside, Seb lowers me to the floor, and I get my first look at the house. As I look around, a woman comes rushing down the hall, stopping as she sees Seb and me.

“Mr Roberts, we weren’t expecting you back tonight.”

“I’m sorry, Margaret, there wasn’t time for me to call ahead.” He turns to me. “Jamie, this is Margaret.”

“Good evening, Miss.” Her eyes scan me before going back to Seb. “Do you want me to call Dr Wallis?”

Seb shakes his head. “No, thank you, Margaret. We’re both fine.”

“Don’t listen to him, Margaret.” He turns his eyes to me, but I ignore him. “He needs his arm looking at, but there’s no need for a doctor. If you have a first aid kit, that would be great.”

“Yes, Miss, of course,” she says, spinning on her heels to go and get what I asked for.

“Margaret,” I call out to her, and she stops to look back at me. “Call me Jamie, please.” She smiles brightly before hurrying away. I look over to Seb, who is watching me with a cocky smile on his face. “What? You didn’t honestly think I believed you when you said you got checked, did you?” Seb laughs, shaking his head as he grabs my hand and leads me up the magnificent staircase directly in front of us.

We enter a room on the right-hand side of the stairs, but I wouldn’t call it a room. It’s more like a suite in a top class hotel. I look around as Seb moves to start the fire up, and by the time Margaret returns with the first aid kit, the fire is blazing, and the earlier chill has gone.

I thank Margaret, and Seb asks her to bring some tea and sandwiches. Once she’s gone, I tell him to strip, earning me a small chuckle. He takes off his shirt, wincing slightly as the material has stuck to his arm.

I’m not surprised to see the first aid kit has everything I need and then some, and as I get my first look at Seb’s arm, I’m damn grateful for it.

“Shit, Seb. You should have got this seen to.” I step round him to look at the back of his arm, and I’m even more glad to see an exit wound. “You’re bloody lucky this didn’t hit a bone but went straight through.” I look up at him.

“I know. It’s not the first time I’ve been shot, Jamie.”

“Yeah, I know that, but still.” I’ve felt the few scars hidden beneath his tattoos, and I knew what they were, but hearing him confirm it makes my heart beat erratically.

Brushing my thoughts aside, I make quick work of cleaning and suturing, and I’ve just finished dressing the wounds when Margaret knocks the door before entering, carrying a tray of drinks and sandwiches.

Placing the tray down, she asks if there will be anything else, and when Seb tells her no, she wishes us goodnight, closing the door behind her.

I tidy away the first aid kit, and when I’m done, I pull off the gloves I wore while seeing to Seb, and I’m met with bloodstained hands. My mother’s blood, my dad’s blood, Seb’s blood and even my own blood. Tears prick at my eyes as a finger beneath my chin, lifts my head up, and I look into the eyes of the man I love.

“Firefly?”

“It’s okay. I’m okay,” I say trying to look away, but Seb doesn’t let me.

“I know that’s not true, but for now, let’s get cleaned up, and afterwards we’ll talk.” I nod as he places a kiss to the tip of my nose before getting to his feet.

In the shower, Seb washes me while I try not to look at the pink stained water as it runs down my body, and when he’s finished, I take the soap and do the same for him, even though he tries to protest. I run my hands over his gorgeous body as I wash away the blood, dirt and grime from his skin, and I thank god that I didn’t lose him too.

Wrapping me in the fluffiest towel I’ve ever felt, he leads me to the bedroom, and I almost die when I see the size of his bed.

“Fuck, that’s huge,” I exclaim, taking in the giant four-poster that looks big enough to sleep 6 adults.

“That’s what she said,” Seb retorts, and I slap him in the stomach. “Hey,” he says with a laugh. “Go get into bed, and I’ll grab the food and drinks.”

I didn’t feel muchlike eating, but Seb insisted I eat at least one whole sandwich, which I just about managed, and drink my tea. Now, we are lying in bed facing one another with only the moon lighting the room. He reaches out a hand and touches my cheek where I know there’s a bruise from Marcus’ hits.

“If he wasn’t already dead, you know I’d fucking kill him for touching you, right?”

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