I watched his face, looking for any signs of pain as I touched one hand and up his arm, then the other. One wrist had some bruising, probably from hitting it on something.
“Can you show me where it hurts?” No response. Slowly, I moved my hands to his shoulders, then neck. Nothing seemed to be bothering him there. Once my hands cupped his cheeks, I had to shift around to face him better. Only then did his eyes open enough to see me clearly.
“Hey.” I smiled a small smile at him, hoping to show him that everything was okay.
His mouth opened, then closed, as if he couldn’t find the right words to say. He gave up quickly, dropping his eyes and just breathing.
“I’m going to lift your shirt.” At my words, more tears fell from Dakota’s eyes. I couldn’t stop my thumb from brushing a few away.
I regretted sending him away. He was meant to be safe here, to become something other than just a slave to this world.
Pushing my own emotions back, I slowly moved his shirt and sweatshirt up his torso.
I knew he still had fading bruises, but the newest one was red, angry, and already turning blue and purple.
“I’m going to touch you, Dakota. It’ll hurt, but I’ll do my best to make it not, okay?”
“April gave him pain meds so that he may be okay.” Ah, that would make sense on lack of reply of any kind.
I nodded, then touched as gently as I possibly could along Dakota’s rib cage.
“Take a deep breath.”
He did, but then cried out only to gasp for breath in the next heartbeat.
Pulling out my phone, I called Collin. Again.
Chapter 20
Dakota
The pain. Oh my gosh, the pain was unbearable.
I forgot what pain felt like, which was stupid. My life was filled with all sorts of pain. This time shouldn’t have been any different than all the others.
I had broken bones before. Had sprains, too. Bruises and welts. Everything in between. But this, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get through. I wasn’t as strong as I once was.
I couldn’t breathe. Every lungful of air hurt from the inside out. I kept my breathing as shallow as I could, waiting it out.
It’d passed. Or it’d kill me. One or the other, I didn’t care.
Letting my head lie back against the wall, I waited for the magic pill that a nice lady gave me to kick in. Maybe she was helping the people who stared at me so they could hurt me more.
I’d take the pill and lots more, though. I knew with pills, the pain went away. My dick would get stiff, and I’d be used. But at least I got to bliss out on feeling good. Or my body did, anyhow.
I knew that it was working, though. It was slow but getting there.
I heard Sir’s voice and felt his touch. My arms were limp at my sides, and I waited for him to undress me. There was no way I could move my body to do what he wanted, so if he wanted me naked, Sir would have to do it.
Tears still fell, coating my cheeks and clogging my throat. I tried, God did I try, to latch on to Sir’s voice to keep me present as long as possible.
He was here. He was touching me. He didn’t seem mad at me. So that had to be good.
I wanted to fall into his hold. I tried to beg for his forgiveness. But all I could manage was nothing but breathe.
Fighting off the sobs, my breath caught in my throat. Which in turn only made the pain spike again.
“What can I do?” I had no clue who he was talking to, but it sure wasn’t me. “Okay, got it. Thanks, Collin.”
