He nodded. “I do. It was just empty when we found you.”
“I wish I knew more about what he did.”
"Don't worry, the cops are tracking him, and they know he did a bunch of bad stuff. He will go to jail."
She leaned her head against the back of the couch, and he reached over and squeezed her knee.
“You ready to go back to sleep?”
She shook her head. “I can sleep later. I really want to sit and talk to you.”
His chuckle warmed her. She put her hand on his and squeezed. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her again, but he didn't move closer.
She was a little disappointed, but honestly, just being with him was nice. Spending time with this man was good, and she hoped she got to spend even more time with him before he moved into his cabin.
Chapter 28
If he knew Calla better,or if it had been back before he’d gained some responsibility, no question they would be having sex. Calla deserved better.
He adjusted on the couch, trying to find a more comfortable position.
“How is your leg? Do you need to take it off?”
He met her gaze, wondering if she would freak out if he slid it off. It didn’t seem like she would.
“It’s okay.”
She raised her eyebrows and looked at him doubtfully. “It’s fine if you do. I can leave the room.”
"No, you don't have to." He'd put on some of Griz's shorts earlier so he could more easily take his leg off without having to strip down to his underwear.
He sat forward and removed the prosthetic, setting it aside. Calla didn't move for a moment, then she reached out and almost touched the stump that was sticking out of the shorts.
“Do you mind?”
He shook his head. Not one woman had ever wanted to touch his leg. Of course, he hadn't been with anyone save one woman who took pity on him but then was disgusted by his injury.
Calla didn’t seem disgusted at all as she ran her hand over the bumps and lines left from the surgeries he’d had.
She glanced up, her hand still on his leg. “Do you ever feel like it’s still there?”
He nodded. "Every so often, I have dreams of running or playing ball or doing something that takes two legs. I also have nightmares of the explosion."
“I’m sorry you have to relive that.”
“Yeah, sometimes it’s not even the real explosion but some wild version of events that didn’t really happen.”
“Does massaging help?”
He nodded. “It does.”
Her hand on his leg was making him feel all sorts of things, and if he wasn't careful, she was going to see evidence of it soon.
After a few more seconds, she moved her hand and sat back. "When I was locked up in my room for days on end, especially when he chained me, I wondered if I was brave enough to cut off my hand or something to escape. I never tried. I mean, I tried to escape, just never tried to get out when he had me chained and would leave the door unlocked."
“I don’t know if I would be able to do that. I’ve read stories of people trapped in the mountains or something and them removing limbs, but it would take a lot.”
She nodded. “I’m glad I didn’t have to resort to that. You and your friends showing up was my miracle.”
