She nods as if in approval and then hugs me again. “Okay, I’ll be here with some food when you’re ready.”
Cole assists me up the stairs and into a bedroom, shutting the door behind us. “This is my bedroom when I stay here. Now it’s our room.”
I sit down on the edge of the bed, and a woman steps out of the en suite bathroom. “Oh, I’m so sorry. The bath is ready. Can I get you anything else?”
Cole shakes his head. “No, thank you, Maggie.”
She quietly walks out of the room, and then Cole comes to stand in front of me. He squats down and puts his hands lightly on my legs. The dress is ruined. It’s covered in dirt, grease, and soot. As if in a daze, I shake my head. “This dress was three thousand dollars.”
He shakes his head. “The money doesn’t matter, Luna. All that matters is that you’re safe.”
I suck in a harsh breath. Cole searches my eyes. “Honey, talk to me. Did they…” He flinches. “Did they touch you?”
I shake my head emphatically. “No, they just wanted the money.”
He lets out a breath and then tenses when he looks at me. He inspects my wrists that are red and sore. He lifts the dress and looks at my ankles. He touches them softly but pain ignites. I try to hide it, but he’s watching me closely. “Stay right here.”
He moves behind me and slowly starts to unzip my dress.
He then comes back around and helps me stand. He pulls the dress from my shoulders, carries it to the door, and then drops it in the hallway before shutting the door again.
He comes toward me and helps me out of my bra and underwear, then lifts me in his arms.
He’s silent as he carries me to the bathroom and gently places me in the tub.
I sigh at the luxurious feel of the bubbles against my body.
“Get in here with me, Cole.”
He shakes his head. “Let me take care of you, Luna.”
I hate that he denies me, but I’m not going to beg. Cole washes my hair and every inch of my body. He’s slow and meticulous about all of it, but it becomes unnerving when he doesn’t say anything.
The only thing he utters is instructions. “Lean your head back,” he says as he rinses my hair.
When that’s done, he sits on the edge of the tub and just watches me for what seems like hours.
“I wanna get out,” I tell him finally because I’m starting to feel like I’m under a microscope.
He’s on his feet instantly. He unplugs the stopper from the tub and helps me stand up. He rinses me off and then wraps me in a hot towel.
He carries me to the bedroom, and there are clothes, including underwear, folded on the bed.
He unfolds them and starts to put them on me, but I frown at the clothes in his hand. “Whose are those?”
He shrugs. “I’m not really sure, honey. Maybe my mom’s or Maggie’s. Knowing my mom, she sent someone to get them for you.”
I keep my hand held up. “So they’re not an old girlfriend’s or anything?”
He frowns at me and seems offended that I even asked. “No, of course not.”
I lower my hand, and Cole starts to dress me. His movements are slow and deliberate. His eyes stay on the task at hand. There’s no warmth in his gaze. He’s controlled and protective. It’s not like he’s touching his fiancée right now. He’s treating me as if I’m someone that he has to put back together or something.
As soon as he’s done, he steps back. “Food?”
I’m about to shake my head when my stomach growls loudly.
We both laugh, and he takes my hand. “Want me to bring it up here? Or do you want to come downstairs?” He holds a hand up. “Just so you know. If you don’t come downstairs, my brother, father, and mother will all be up here to check on you.”
