“I don’t want her going to sleep just yet though, just in case. But it is okay for her to take these.” Melissa held out her hand and dropped two small white pills into Diggs’ outstretched palm. “They are very light pain pills and will help with the headache. Once you get her cleaned up, I can do a full physicalexamination.”
Audra lifted her head from his shoulder—the first time since they’d returned to the room. “What about Trigger? They hurt himtoo.”
Melissa came closer, laying her hand gently on Audra’s shoulder. She gave her a reassuring nod. “The guys are already prepping him for me. I promise I’ll take care of him. You should go rest. If I’m concerned about anything, I’ll send foryou.”
When Audra nodded weakly and laid her head against Diggs’ shoulders, he knew how much pain she must be in. She’d never refused to leave Trigger’s side beforenow.
“We’ll be in my room,” Diggs saidquietly.
Melissa stared at him for a moment and then stepped out of theway.
Careful not to jostle her too much, Diggs rose from the bed and carried her upstairs to his bedroom, kicking the door shut quietly behind him. He carried her into his large private bathroom and flipped on the nightlight. He could easily see in the darkness and he didn’t want to make her headache anyworse.
Cradling her with his left arm he reached out, grabbed a cup from the sink, and filled it with water. “Go on and take these pills. They’ll help yourest.”
Audra took them, then he carried her over to the long, padded bench against one of the walls and eased her down. “I’m going to turn on the shower,okay?”
She nodded and slid down onto her side, curling into a ball like she had in the lab,shivering.
Growing more alarmed, Diggs rushed to the shower and turned it on full blast. The mansion had pumps in the water lines so the hot water was available immediately. He tuned it so that it was a little bit more than lukewarm. He didn’t want to scald her tender skin. He stripped his clothes down to his boxer briefs and went to her. “Audra, sit up and lift yourarms.”
She struggled to sit up and he helped her, peeling her soaking wet shirt off her skin. He couldn’t help but notice the full swell of her breasts in her wet bra, and his gut tightened instinctively. Even caked in mud and blood, she wasbreathtaking.
Then Diggs forced his mind from those thoughts and focused on getting her clean so she could rest and recover. “Can youstand?”
This time she opened her eyes and took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. With the same efficiency that he’d used in the field, he quickly pulled off her shoes and socks and then her shorts, leaving her only in her bra and panties. “Turnaround.”
She did as he commanded without question and Diggs unsnapped her bra. His mouth went dry and he took a deep steadying breath. He could do this. He could do this. With determination, he slid off her panties, lifted her against his chest and carried her into the shower. Audra slipped her arms around his neck, so trusting that it nearly took him to hisknees.
The almost over-the-top luxuries of the mansion he’d scoffed at, at first, were incredibly helpful and appealing tonight. The huge walk-in shower had a sitting bench built into the tiled walls and multiple detachable shower heads. Diggs eased her down onto the stone bench and forced his gaze away from the most beautiful breasts he’d ever seen to pull one of the brushed copper shower heads from its cradle and direct the gentle spray of water over herhead.
* * *
Audra groaned,savoring the sweet spray of heat. She’d never felt anything so heavenly in her entire life. She tilted her head back, letting the water fall on her face and down her arms andlegs.
“I’m going to wash you.” Diggs’ deep voice soothed her and Audra nodded. The pain in her head had started to fade. She heard the sound of Diggs squirting a bottle of soap, and then he returned to her, knelt in front of her and began to gently wash the mud from her face. As he brushed against her injured cheek, she winced, and he drew his hand back immediately. “Sorry. I’ll be morecareful.”
Audra put her hand over the back of his and pulled his hand closer. “It’s okay, keepgoing.”
Diggs smiled and began washing her again. “I like taking care ofyou.”
For the first time in the entire night Audra felt her mischievous side rear up. “I like you taking care of me,too.”
And she did. She didn’t feel the least bit awkward sitting there naked in front of him. He wasn’t groping her or staring at her body; he was being so gentle and caring. He made her feel safe andprotected.
More than she’d ever felt in her entirelife.
Maybe it was the pain pills or just the trauma of the night, but as he worked the washcloth down her chest, she found herself arching for his touch, her nipples growing tight. Her breasts feltheavy.
Diggs paused, the washcloth on her collarbone. She heard a sharp intake of breath and saw his eyes go dark. Audra felt the temperature rise, and not from the hotshower.
“Diggs,” her voice came out in a whisper. She could barely breathe let alone think with him soclose.
“You need to rest,” he saidroughly.
Her hand covered his, resting on her chest. His thumb was moving back and forth over one spot as if he was just learning the feel of her skin. Audra felt that touch all the way to her core. Unable to think, unable to do anything but feel longing and desire, she eased his hand down to cover her sensitivebreast.
Diggs’ already impossibly dark eyes went almost black and his fingers clenchedreflexively.
Audra’s heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it would burst from her rib cage. Even though his face was still covered with the dark inky mud, she couldn’t help but stare at the hard granite lines of his jaw and the beautiful sharp planes of hischeeks.
“I need you,” she saidquietly.
Diggs expelled a harsh breath and slowly bent his head toward hers, holding her in a trance. He stopped when his mouth was a breath away. She could feel electricity sizzling between them. Feel his breath fanning over her face. Her heartdrumming.
“Audra, if I start I might not be able to stop.” His words hummed through her all the way to her toes. His hand was already kneading her breast, as if he weren’t even aware he was doing it, his eyes focused on hermouth.
Audra arched, closing the distance between them. “Thendon’t.”
