She squints her eyes open, and I can see it takes a moment for her brain to connect. “Sunrise,” she whispers.
I glance at my watch. It’s 10 am now, so she should be fine taking them. I hold them to her lips and wait for her to open her mouth before slipping them inside. I spot a little plastic cup on the side of the sink with a complimentary travel toothbrush and mini toothpaste inside, so I fill the cup with water and hand it to her to sip slowly while applying some toothpaste to the brush.
She drinks enough water to swallow the pills before shakily handing me back the glass. I take it from her before putting it on the counter.
I tap her lips. “Open your mouth for me, chestnut.”
She does as I ask. And even though she’s in pain, I can see the question in her eyes.
I grin as I slip the toothbrush between her lips and start brushing her teeth for her. “Did you know the outside of a chestnut is prickly? Kinda reminds me a little of you.”
She grunts, making me chuckle.
“Tell me I’m wrong?”
She, of course, can’t. One, because of the toothbrush, two, because I’m not wrong. She never used to be this way. Yes, she had a feisty side, but she was as sweet as the day was long. I know it’s a defense mechanism to keep me at bay. Hell, I’d be ten times worse in her shoes. What gets me is how much I find myself enjoying her grumpiness. It’s kind of endearing, though I value my balls too much ever to admit that.
“Spit.”
She leans a little farther over the toilet and spits.
“Why does everything sound like an innuendo with you?” Her voice is nearly a whisper, but this close to her, I have no problem hearing her.
“You just have a very dirty mind. Now open your mouth for me again, chestnut. Nice and wide.”
She cocks an eyebrow at me, making me laugh. Point taken. I finish brushing her teeth before walking over to the bath, turning off the water, and checking the temperature.
Bending down next to Delphi once more, I slide her hair away from her face. “I know you’re hurting, but I need to clean us up, as well as the bed.”
“I’m sorry.” Her pale face is flushed pink with embarrassment.
“You have fuck-all to be sorry about. Shit happens. Besides, I’ve waited a fucking lifetime to take care of you. All you have to do is let me.”
She whimpers again, making me curse.
“Sorry, baby,” I whisper, knowing she needs quiet. “I’m going to help you get undressed and into the bath. Keep your cast out of the water. I’ll clean up the bed, then come help you,” I murmur.
“Okay,” she agrees in a tiny voice.
I reach for the hem of the T-shirt and slowly pull it up, helping her get her arms out before tossing it in the sink. I put the lid down on the toilet and flush before easing Delphi to her feet. She sways, but I quickly slip her panties down over her hips and ass before sitting her down and sliding them off the rest of the way.
I swallow, taking in the goddess before me. Doesn’t matter that her hair is a mess, that she has scars and bruises and a cast on her arm, or that she smells of vomit. I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman in my life.
I pick her up as carefully as I can without jostling her and lower her into the warm water. I make sure she’s settled before rinsing out the washcloth with cold water, folding it up, and resting it on her forehead.
“I’ll be quick.”
She makes a noise I take as okay before moving to the door. I look back, glad I kept the water shallow in case she falls asleep, though I’ll leave the door open anyway to watch over her.
I catch sight of myself in the mirror and remember I’m covered in puke too. I yank my Henley over my head and toss it into the sink with Delphi’s discarded T-shirt. My jeans seem to have fared better, but just in case, I unbuckle my belt and pop the buttons open so I can slip them off. I carry them out with me, leaving the light off in the bathroom and the door open so thereis enough light for me to keep watch over her. Thankfully, there is no window in the bathroom to contend with. I place my jeans over the chair with my cut and strip the bedsheets, balling them up and carrying them to dump them with the rest of the soiled shit.
Thankfully, the mattress itself looks unscathed. I crack the window open wider to let some air in before grabbing my cell phone from my cut.
I call Havoc, who answers after a couple of rings. “You find her?”
“Yeah, but she’s in the throes of a full-blown migraine right now. Puked everywhere, so I’m not moving her anywhere just yet.”
“Shit, she okay?”
