Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“Daddy are you all right?” she asked after he helped her use the toilet.
“Of course I am, baby.”
She thought that was a lie, though.
“Are you getting any sleep?” she asked.
“I’m fine. Let’s get you back to bed.”
She groaned.
“What’s wrong?” he asked sharply.
“Um, I just . . . do you think I could have a shower? I feel gross and dirty.”
That was the truth. And also, it would keep her from having to go back to bed.
“No shower. Not with your arm in a cast.”
“A bath?”
“It will sting with all your scrapes. I’ll give you a wash, though.”
She could feel herself blushing. She didn’t know what was worse. Feeling stinky and gross or having him bathe the stinky and gross off her.
“I’ll get everything ready,” he said.
“All right,” she replied.
He carried her back into the bedroom and sat her down on an armchair. Then he laid several towels on the bed.
“I don’t want to get the bed wet.”
“You won’t, baby. And who cares? We can simply change the bedding.”
Seemed like a lot of fuss, though.
“You know what? I think I’ve changed my mind. I’ll be fine.”
He shot her a quelling look.
“Or not,” she said quietly.
It was strange watching him work like this. Reuben was always so confident. He always had a plan.
Nothing rattled him.
Until she’d been threatened by Eric.
And now she’d been hurt.
And he seemed . . . rattled.
He was treating her like delicate, fine porcelain. Watching her with an intensity that worried her.
“I’m all right, Reuben,” she told him as he walked over and picked her up, carrying her to where he had a bowl full of steaming water, some soap, and a cloth.
“I know, baby. And you’ll be even better after you’re clean.”
He stripped her off, keeping her half-wrapped up in towels so she didn’t get cold as he washed her with reverent strokes of his hand, careful not to touch any of her abrasions. He even washed between her legs, his face never changing expression.
The way he took care of her . . . it was special.
She thought about her family. She’d told him not to call them. Was it the wrong thing to do? Maybe. But for her mental health she couldn’t handle them right now.
She hadn’t even spoken to Cat yet. Or Charlie. She’d been too exhausted and now she just felt so fragile.
This was what she needed . . . this care and attention.
But Reuben needed something too.
He grabbed some clean pajamas out of a drawer for her.
“Daddy, can I have my Little pants and one of your T-shirts?” she asked.
“Of course. Socks, too. Your feet have been cold.”
They had? She hadn’t noticed. He carefully helped her into the T-shirt before leaving the room to grab some things from her playroom.
When he returned, he held some cute white panties with giant sunflowers on them and some fluffy blue socks.
He drew the panties up over her legs. Then put her socks on.
Ahh, that did actually feel better.
“Thank you, Daddy. You take such good care of me. I wish I could get up and play. Petal will be missing me.”
“I’m not sure you’re ready for any play with Petal just yet,” he said as he handed her Colin. She hugged him with her good arm.
Reuben had gotten Alejandro to bring Colin into the hospital for her. She’d been a bit embarrassed, but the nurses hadn’t even blinked.
“I’m going to make you some food.”
“Can I come with you?” she asked.
“Baby, you need to stay in bed and rest.”
“Please.”
He studied her for a moment. “I don’t want you walking around. But I have got something I bought a while ago. I know you like being close to my skin.”
She watched in confusion as he drew something out of the closet and laid it on the bed. Was that a baby harness for an adult?
He took off his top and then clipped the harness around his bare waist. Then he picked her and sat with her straddling his lap. He raised the harness, so it covered her back and then slid his arms through the shoulder parts.
When he stood, she was pressed against him, chest to chest.
Snug and secure. It meant he could carry her around and still use his hands.
“I ordered this while you were in the hospital,” he told her, rubbing her back as he walked around the room. “I knew I was going to want you close all the time, but that sometimes I’d want my hands free. How does it feel? Not pinching anywhere?”
“Daddy, it’s perfect. I love it. Thank you so much. You always know just what I need.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Of course I do. I’m your Daddy, that’s my job.” Picking up her pacifier, he held it to her lips. She sucked on it as he walked out into the kitchen and made her a snack.