Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
He held up a onesie with smiling dogs all over it. It was the only onesie they had for her where the hands and feet were enclosed.
Good. That would make it harder for her to scratch herself.
He laid her down on the changing unit, but didn’t do up the strap. He wasn’t going to let her fall.
As he stripped her off, he realized that she likely hadn’t showered in a while.
“We should give her a bath,” he said.
“Good idea. I’ll go run it.”
He nodded and picked her up, tucking her against his chest. Hmm. She felt cold. He could wrap her up in a blanket, but he wanted something more.
And he thought she needed it too.
So he laid her back down and drew up his T-shirt, then he tucked her underneath the material so she was against his skin.
Skin-to-skin was good for babies, so he hoped it would be good for his girl.
God, she was so cold. It made him shudder.
Roman entered the room and saw him standing there with her entire body curled up under his T-shirt, one arm under her ass, the other around her back.
“What are you doing?”
“Stretching my T-shirt,” he replied dryly. “I’m keeping her warm.”
“Is she all right in there?” Roman asked in concern.
“Come see for yourself.”
Roman set the bottle down and walked over, peering in through the neck hole of his T-shirt to look down at their girl who seemed more relaxed than she had all week.
“She looks good. I’ll get her pacifier.” Roman grabbed her pacifier as Salem walked into the room, then over to check on her as well.
He sighed in relief. “There’s color in her cheeks.”
Thank fuck.
She even took the pacifier without a murmur when Roman slid it against her mouth.
Everything was going to be all right.
He would make sure of it.
61
“Can I feed her?” Roman asked.
It was something he hadn’t done before. He hadn’t felt in the right position to do it.
Before now, he’d been hesitant and unsure.
But today felt different.
Like he had to step up.
He’d watched Alexei bathe her as she’d lain there and watched him, quiet and calm.
Then Salem had dressed her.
For some reason, Salem had put a diaper on her. Roman wasn’t sure she ever wanted to try diapers. However, the plan was for them to take over entirely until she came back to them.
Didn’t mean she had to use them.
But maybe it made her feel younger? Made it easier on her?
He didn’t know. But Salem had reminded her of her safeword.
Roman was worried she might slip away even further, but this was the best plan they had.
“Sure.” Salem held her as he sat in the rocking chair. Then he handed the bottle to him.
He held it to her lips.
Please take the bottle, darling girl.
This was their last shot. Otherwise, she was going to end up back in hospital and they might lose her forever.
To his relief, she took the nipple of the bottle and started to suck.
Maybe things would be better.
God, he hoped so.
62
Tamsyn woke up slowly. Glancing around, she wondered who was in bed with her this time.
She spotted Salem first and then rolled over to come face to face with Alexei.
That made sense considering she was so warm and toasty.
She didn’t want to move. But she also had to pee. And she wasn’t comfortable using the diaper she could feel around her.
To her shock, she’d come to enjoy the feel of the diaper while she was sleeping. At least, sometimes.
But she wasn’t sure she’d ever use it. Or want it all the time. However, between the diaper and the pacifier and the fact that for the last few days the guys had been doing everything for her . . . yeah, she was feeling younger.
Ever since they’d dragged her down for dinner, they had been constantly there. Dressing her, feeding her, giving her bottles of water and a meal replacement shake. Putting her down for naps.
Trying to get her to play and talk.
Physically, she felt better. Stronger.
But, emotionally, she was still having issues.
“You’re awake, Malyshka,” Alexei murmured.
She was holding onto Atlas, and she still had the pacifier in her mouth.
Alexei slid it out of her mouth. She’d noticed that none of them had tried to kiss her since she’d returned. There had been nothing sexual in their touches. Which she understood to some extent.
She’d been like a zombie, no one could be attracted to that. But did they still want her like that?
Or were they completely turned off?
“What are you thinking?” he demanded. “I don’t like that look on her face. Salem, she looks funny.”
To her shock, Roman suddenly stood up. Where had he appeared from? Had he been lying on the floor?
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Is she all right? Do I need to call the therapist?”
Three days after they’d brought her back here, they’d gotten a therapist to visit her. But she’d refused to talk to her.