“I’m going to clean her up.” Leonidas breaks my thoughts. He gestures down to the blood on my body and his.
They both nod. Amelia squeezes my arm supportively, and Elijah places his lips on my forehead and gives me a delicate kiss.
As Leonidas takes me upstairs, I ask him the question I’ve been obsessing over since Elijah took Simba out of my arms. “Where did he take him?”
Glancing down at me, he licks his lips. “I don’t know, maybe Elijah put him in our garage.”
I nod against him.
He opens his mouth to say something else but immediately closes it. “I know you don’t want to talk about what just happened,” he starts off slowly. “I understand that one hundred percent. But I would feel better if I stayed with you to make sure you’re okay,” he stammers at the end tensely.
I’m more than okay with that. Frankly, I need him near me.
“I don’t want to be alone right now,” is all I say.
I feel him place his chin at the top of my head and nod.
He walks into his room and dodges the packed boxes. Kicking the bathroom door open with his foot, he places me on the cool counter.
Placing his hands flat on my thighs, he stands between my legs. “I’m just going to get you some clothes, okay?” Concern drips from his voice as his eyes bore into mine.
I nod my head weakly and lean my head against the mirror behind me.
I watch with heavy eyes as he rushes out of the bathroom. I hear him dig through different cabinets ferociously. A minute later, he’s back with two different sets of clothing. He places his clothes on the counter next to me.
“I hope these are okay.” He holds up a large pair of sweats to me. “I have nothing else that’s your size.”
I’m going to drown in those. “Do you have an extra pair of boxers?”
He nods and turns around. Walking in with a pair of black boxers, he sets it on the counter.
“Do you want to have a bath?” He looks down nervously at all the blood on my clothes.
Yes, I want to scream. I want to get this deep shade of red off me as soon as possible.
He sees my eagerness and closes the door. Locking it, he helps me pull my shirt off, trying to avoid getting more blood on me.
He turns the shower on. I’m glad he knows I hate baths. Adjusting the knob, he glances over his shoulder at me.
“You want me to wait outside for you?” He places his hand on the doorknob.
Panic consumes my body. I grip on to his arm furiously. “Please don’t leave me,” I cry out.
His brown orbs widen. “I won’t leave you, baby.” He pulls me by the back of the neck and places his forehead on mine. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I cling on to his body like my life depends on it. Because truly, it does. He’s the only thing keeping me sane right now.
“Go have a shower. I’ll be right out here, waiting for you,” he whispers softly in my ear.
His hands help me off the counter, and he walks me toward the hot water. I take off my remaining clothes. Leonidas looks away in respect. Why is someone so damn perfect with someone so messed up like me?
He knows how sad I am, so he doesn’t look at the body he’s seen naked multiple times. I know him. I know he doesn’t want me to think he’ll take advantage of me. He has the same anxiety inside of him that I do.
“Leonidas,” I whisper.
He looks me straight in the eyes. I see them glistening with tears. He quickly blinks them away and smiles sadly at me.
“Thank you,” I try to say strongly.
