Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Penny nodded her head against my chest and they went to work quickly.
"Duke, let her up a little," the guy instructed me and I moved both my hands to her shoulders, pushing her back a bit and keeping my eyes up as her blue eyes widened, suddenly fully aware of the fact that she was naked save for the green and white leopard-print panties.
"They're professionals," I told her. "And my eyes are on your face," I added and she gave me a little nod.
"I know you," she said as she looked over my face, her light brows drawing together for a moment like she was trying to place me.
"I gave you directions yesterday," I supplied.
"Wait... what? Did you..." she started, eyes going huge, trying to push away from me.
"No. No. I didn't hurt you, baby. I might look big and mean, but I don't put my hands on women. I just... found you is all," I supplied, not sure how Reign wanted to play the situation and not wanting to fuck up the plan.
She relaxed slightly, her shoulders moving down as the man and woman slowly started wrapping gauze around her. "Big," she said with a nod.
"Sorry?"
"Big," she said again. "Not mean," she added with a small yawn, her eyelids getting heavy.
The Vikes were kicking in. Thank fuck.
"Okay," the woman said, reaching into her bag for a package of wrapped elastic bandages. "We are going to try to wrap the ribs best we can while avoiding the wound site on her back," she said, smoothly moving over the fact that she was fucking carved with a biker symbol.
So then they went ahead and did the best they could with that, which wasn't much, but anything would help in making sure she didn't jar them too much. Having had bruised or busted ribs half a dozen times in my life, I knew that shit didn't feel great.
"Alright, here," the girl said, drawing my attention and I realized that I had been lost in my own thoughts enough to not realize the guy had left the room. Likely to go fill in Lo. The girl was standing on the side of the bed beside us, holding out one of my t-shirts, rolled into her hands. "Let's get this on you," she said, dropping it down over her head. I released her shoulders so she could slip her arms in and kept my eyes over her shoulder at the door until the material fell down her body. "Okay. There we go. Is that medicine kicking in yet?"
"Mmhm. I think so," Penny said, words just a bit slower than they should have been. "I'm tired," she added, leaning forward toward me and resting her head back against my chest.
I looked over at the woman who shrugged at me and went to collect the used supplies, tossing them in the garbage she pulled out of my bathroom. "Let her pass out on you for a while. When she's good and out, put her down on her left side and prop some pillows in front and behind her so she doesn't roll. Then you can go down to church," she added, grabbing her bag, taking the garbage bag, and moving toward the door. "Oh, here," she said, stopping and reaching in the bag to pull out an orange prescription bottle and shaking it before tossing it at the bed. "Every four to six hours until she doesn't need it anymore. There's plenty of pills in there."
"Hey," I called as she opened the door and went to move into the hall.
She turned back. "Yeah?"
"Thanks..." I said, raising a brow because I didn't have a name.
"Ashley," she supplied, giving me a nod. "We'll be back to check on her in a day or two," she said then closed the door and left us alone.
Against my chest, Penny hummed something as her breathing got slow and even.
"How's your back?" I asked, letting one hand settle on her hip; the other stroked down her arm which seemed like the only safe place for it.
"Nothing hurts," she said, sounding sleep-foggy. "It's nice," she added.
"Get some sleep," I urged, already feeling her relax against me.
"I don't want to be alone," she said dreamily.
"I'm right here," I said, knowing I would have to leave her, at least briefly, but also knowing that I could send one of the women in to sit with her.
As if on cue, as I felt Penny's body melt into mine, the door slid open and Lo walked in, carrying two cups of coffee. "The men are filing out with the kids and wives. Church will be in about an hour. Figured I would come in so you could go check on Reign."
"Did Alex and Janie find anything?" I asked, a little reluctantly sliding out from under Penny, propping her on her side and stuffing pillows around her as instructed.