She gave me a wry smile. “I’m notsaying good-bye to you dumbass, I’m sending Cole after you. You’re not gettingrid of us that easily,” she hollered as I shut the door behind me. “I’ll bet myass you’re back by dinner!” I heard her shout.
I had to smile at her, throwing meattitude even as I was leaving. I wiped my face and strode out of the hospitalwith the clothes on my back, the medicine the doctor had prescribed and thecash in my wallet.
By nightfall, the bus dropped me offwithin the outskirts of Idaho. It had been an incredibly long and unpleasantday sitting on a cramped bus in unbearable pain, trying to deflect sleaze bagafter sleaze bag.
I had enough money to stay in a moteloff the freeway and I used a few bucks to get my dinner from the vendingmachine. I didn’t want to risk going back to my place to get anything,including my car. My phone had rung about one hundred times before I finallyturned it off.
I felt incredibly ill when I lay downon the scratchy comforter. I couldn’t bring myself to eat. My whole body hurtand I felt utterly lost and heartbroken without Cole. I allowed myself todissolve into tears after having held it together all day. I didn’t have theenergy to get up and change my bandages, though I knew I should. I simplycurled up in a ball and fell asleep.
I woke up when I sensed someone elsein the room.
“If you weren’t hurt, I’d take youover my knee and smack your ass,” Cole’s deep voice growled as I jolted awakeand then winced as my side rebelled against the sudden movement. “For Christ’ssake do you haveanyself-preservation?”he demanded with a huff.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, myvoice hoarse with sleep.
“What am I doing here?” he demanded.“You cannot be believed. Jesus Christ,” he bit out. “Stand up.”
“Huh?” I asked.
“Stand up,” he ordered, reaching formy hand.
I knew this mood and knew it best notto argue. I stood up, unable to hide my wince as he came to carefully beginunbuttoning the front of my dress. He smelled so good I had to resist the urgenot to lean into him and breathe him in deep.
Despite making the choice to leave I’dnever been more relieved to see him. I’d had to at leasttry. Leaving was the only thing I could think to do but it was alsothe last thing that I wanted. By showing up here, Cole was effectively takingthat choice from me and if I was being honest in this particular instance, Iwould willingly hand him that.
“You didn’t change these bandages.Baby, what the fuck were you thinking?” he said, more to himself than to me.
“I was exhausted,” I defended myselfquietly while meeting his heated gaze.
He looked up at me from his kneelingposition on the floor as he reached the last button. I knew exactly what thatlook said, that I wouldn’t be exhausted if I had stayed put.
He gently undressed me and led me tothe bathroom, turning on the water for a bath. He removed my bandages as thoughI were made of glass, his face a mask against the emotion I saw churning in hiseyes. He hadn’t seen my bare skin until now, and I knew he was fighting hardnot to lose it as the extent of my ordeal revealed itself.
“Get in,” he continued to order as heheld out a hand and helped me into the water.
I groaned in appreciation when Islipped into the warm water. It felt amazing against my tired and sore body.
“How did you find me?” I askedquietly.
“Wasn’t hard, which means it wouldn’thave been hard for anyone else,” he replied tersely. He was seriously pissed atme.
“You’re seriously pissed,” I spoke mythoughts out loud.
“Doesn’t even cover it,” he repliedwithout hesitation.
I nodded, accepting that fact. Ideserved it and I was too exhausted to put up much of a fight anyway.
“We’ll talk, and trust me you aregoing to fuckinghearme, but I’m toopissed right now,” he said not meeting my gaze as he blotted at my skin with asoapy washcloth.
I simply nodded again wincing slightlyat his ministrations.
He watched my face carefully everytime he touched me. I knew my face looked horrible and my body worse. I wassurprised I didn’t feel more self-conscious under his gaze but there was no judgmentin his eyes, only concern.
When he was satisfied that I was clean,he carefully dried me off and put clean bandages on. We didn’t speak, anddespite his obvious anger at me, I appreciated every hair on his head.
“Bed,” he directed.
I turned and looked up at him, bracingmyself against the emotion on his face. “I….” I didn’t know how to tell himeverything I felt for him. I didn’t know how to explain why I left. Hisbeautiful face, darkened with emotion regarded me for a few silent moments.