“Troy, we’re going to get you cleaned up and into recovery,” Tim said.
* * *
Kip madeit to Gwen first. Russ Sommerfeld and Brody Garrett, who was called because of Kim, made it next. “Gwen, come on, we need to go upstairs and get you cleaned up.” Kip wrapped a blanket over her.
“They just called. Troy is in recovery. ‘Gwen’ was the first word out of his mouth,” Russ said. He brought her a towel to wipe the splatter off her face.
“You saved Kim. Thank you. Are you able to stand?” Brody asked.
“I can stand. It doesn’t stop, does it? Every time we help one victim, there’s one more.” She shook violently.
Gwen stood, her knees wobbling. With Kip’s arm still in a sling, Brody lifted her into his arms. Noah and Kevin formed a protective cordon around her.
“He’s waiting for his beauty,” Kip said.
* * *
After Russ examined her,Gwen showered and changed. “You heard Russ; as soon as you see him, you need to lie down. Lily Black is on her way to spend some time with you.” Kip led her across the bridge and down to the recovery room.
His mother and sisters were coming out. “He’s so pale, and he won’t wake up,” Fani said.
Gwen reached into her pocket and retrieved the evil eye Fani gave her earlier. “I think you need this more than I do.” She placed it in her hand. “My good luck charm is inside.”
Fani was right. He looked pale. An oxygen mask covered his nose and mouth. Gwen slipped her hand through the bedrail and grasped his hand.
“Gwendolen.”
“Hey.”
“I love you.” His brown eyes scorched her.
.
Chapter 51
Monday, August 13th
The estate was quiet. The only other people on the grounds were the groundskeepers and the security personnel. Troy sat tall behind Gwen on the double saddle, his arms embracing her. Gwen directed the gelding to the small stable. There they dismounted and handed the horse to the stablehand.
After a quick change, they took to the pool. Troy touched the wall of the lap pool. Gwen tapped a second after him.
“Come here.” Troy pulled her close to him and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
He thought of what happened since his surgery. As was normal for Troy, what was expected to be ten days ended up being fifteen days in the health center. At home, his body continued to be slow to respond. The length of the surgery, coupled with the strain of removing the scar tissue, left his colon slow to respond as well.
At one point, he was so sick, the four facility directors split their time with Tim, so two were on duty around the clock. Gwen and Trask spent twelve-hour shifts with him, neither performing any other work. Kip, Zach and Wes stayed in the house to be nearby. At Tim’s urging, after Evie and Sofia returned home, Fani moved into Julian’s house. Troy’s cries of pain would’ve sent her reeling.
Ethan Miller took to making house calls, as did Mac Novak. When Troy was ready, Jack Parker joined the home rehab team.
One year earlier his life took on a new trajectory. Today, he was going to take back the last thing that was taken from him. He planned to make complete love to his beauty. After he’d healed enough, he pleasured her with his hands, mouth and toys. She never complained, but she deserved all he had.
The penial rehabilitation program—it took him a long time to believe that was a real thing—and Mac, explored all possibilities. And in the middle of July, he attained his first erection on his own. The team decided that an injectable or suppository meds were best for him. The pills came with two issues: the medical: even though he had normal cardiac testing after the OR incident, the meds came with a cardiac risk; and the emotional one: he associated the pills with Silverton.
They padded through the house. “Be right out.” Troy headed to the bathroom.
Gwen never heard Troy come back as she took off her suit and wrapped herself in a towel.
Two arms wrapped around her. His lips trailed a path of kisses along the nape of her neck to her ear. Turning her to face him, naked, he splayed his hand against her back, a smile touching his lips. His chest heaved with anticipation.
