Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
“Pleasure always helps the healing process for little girls. I’m glad you enjoy your daddy’s touch,” Zale said with a gentle smile.
Aspen slammed her eyelids back closed, afraid her inner thoughts would show in her gaze. Images flashed into her brain of Jerico touching her intimately and driving her to pleasure.
“I hope you find your Little,” Jerico told him, rubbing his hands down Aspen’s spine to reassure her. She shivered at the feel of his callused touch—not due to any itchiness, but instead arousal from the fantasies in her thoughts.
“Me, too,” the medic replied. Aspen could hear the truthfulness in his tone. She crossed her fingers, hoping for the best for him.
When Zale finally removed the thermometer, Aspen melted onto the soft surface below her. She sighed happily.
“It’s a little high, Jerico. Not enough that she needs to go to the hospital, but we should treat her.” Zale handed him the thermometer to look at the results and stripped off his glove. He opened the drawer in the changing table again and pulled out a large rubber bulb syringe.
“Good. You’re well stocked. After her bath, I want you to insert a cup of cool water with these pills dissolved in it. You may need to add more water to the container and swish it around to get all the medicine inside. More won’t hurt her.”
“I don’t need that.” Aspen broke into the conversation when Zale grabbed a few packets from his medical case.
The medic just patted her hip. “Your daddy’s going to help you feel better.”
He turned back to Jerico. “Medicine in. Diaper on. Into bed with a bottle of a protein shake. Change the sheets and pillowcases. She could nap in here first while you take care of the med. Do a rinse of her hair in the oatmeal bath as well, in case there’s any residue from that cleanup job. Have her soak every inch of her body she can get under the water.”
“Got it. I’ll do that now,” Jerico promised.
“I’ll go concoct the suppositories. I’ll message you when I drop them by in a small, insulated bag. Keep them in the refrigerator,” Zale instructed.
“Got it. Temperature check every two hours. Suppositories when you deliver them. Lots of sleep time and fluids.” Jerico ticked off the medic’s instructions.
“Let me know if her temperature rises. I don’t think she’ll need to go to the hospital. I’ll contact her supervisor and report her reaction as well, in case she needs more days than the weekend to recover.”
“Thanks, Zale.”
“I’ll see you both on Sunday at the barbecue. Cancel if you need to,” Zale suggested before teasing, “but I think Aspen will get bored by Sunday afternoon just stuck with you.”
“I like my daddy,” she mumbled in protest and then wiggled as Jerico pulled a thick band from the backside of the changing table to wrap around her abdomen, securing her firmly in place.
“I’ll be right back, baby. You sleep.”
“Okay, Daddy. Thank you, Zale,” she forced out of her mouth, or at least she thought she said it.
CHAPTER 18
“Come on, little girl. Let’s get you in the bathtub. The water is going to feel so good,” Jerico assured Aspen as he released the protective belt around her. She’d been sound asleep since Zale left the room.
“Don’t want a bath,” she mumbled, squeezing Bowbow.
She was so adorable, he couldn’t help but pause for a minute to enjoy her stubborn, sleepy look. He brushed her hair off her face and kissed her head. Thank goodness they’d called off the mission. She would have been home alone.
“Daddy will let you sleep later. Now we need to keep healing these itchy spots.” He deliberately stroked one of the last raised spots on her skin, making her twitch away.
“Don’t. Itches,” she protested.
“Exactly.” Scooping her up in his arms, Jerico paused by the bed in the nursery and suggested, “Let’s let Bowbow sleep while you take a bath.”
Reluctantly, Aspen allowed him to pluck the caterpillar from her hold and set it on the pillow.
Setting her on her feet by the tub, Jerico scanned her beautiful body. Still a few red patches, but she had to feel better now than she had earlier when he’d gotten home. Thank goodness Zale had followed him home.
Crap! I forgot to get that scope. He made a mental note to leave it inside the screen door for Zale to pick up when he dropped off the medicine.
“Step into the water, baby. I’ll help.”
“It’s not warm, Daddy,” she fussed as she stepped into the creamy-looking water.
“That would make your itch worse. I think this is going to feel so good. Try it out.”
She shivered a bit as she settled into the deep water but soon relaxed against the back of the tub with a deep sigh. “This feels heavenly.”
“Bend your knees, Aspen. See if you can get your shoulders under the water,” Jerico urged as he knelt by the tub.