Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 6
“Sweetheart, let’s get you inside.” Rocky had met her in the driveway as soon as she pulled in.
“How’d you know I needed help?” she asked.
“The last client called Tami. Tami called me. Archer found my number using the information on my driver’s license.”
“I should just go to bed. I probably need to get cleaned up first,” she said as she let him help her out of the car. Melissa plucked her shirt away from her body and saw the bloodstains. “Crap. I’ll have to soak those. I hope they come out.”
“Let’s not worry about that now. Come on, Little girl. Let’s get you inside.”
The path to the front door seemed really long even with his supportive arm wrapped around her. All her normal energy was gone. “Sorry. I’m wiped out.”
“It’s okay, Lissy.” He scooped Melissa up off her feet and carried her to the door and inside. Rocky didn’t stop until he reached the large bathroom off the main bedroom.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
He set her feet gently down on the floor. “You are so hot, Little girl. I think you’re running a fever,” he suggested. “Did you take your antibiotic at lunch?”
“I—I think so,” she mumbled.
“We’ll worry about that later,” Rocky told her as he pulled her shirt up and over her head before easing it over her arm. “When did this start bleeding?”
“Petey knocked me over and some before then,” she admitted, shivering in the cool air. She’d been cold all day.
Swearing, Rocky turned and flipped on the water to fill the tub. “We’re going to let you soak in the tub and warm up. How does that sound?”
“Good.” She turned her head to focus on him. He looked so concerned—with the cutest vertical line between his eyebrows. She reached forward to rub that away and yelped.
“Little girl,” he warned with a shake of his head.
“I keep using the wrong arm. Stupid, Melissa. Stupid, Melissa.”
Whack. She stared at him in disbelief. “Did you just spank me?”
“No talking about yourself poorly. I won’t allow it. Of course, you reach with your right arm. It’s your dominant one. We’ll check with the doctor to see if you need a sling.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. That would be easier,” she said, stepping out of her jeans when he pushed them down to her ankles. Somewhere in her brain, she realized he was undressing her. “I can do this.”
“I know you can, Little girl, but it’s easier if I help.” Rocky helped her balance as he took off her shoe and sock before easing off the denim pant leg.
“But you’re going to see me naked,” she protested.
“I won’t look,” he promised and efficiently repeated the process on the other side.
“Oh, okay,” she agreed as he stripped off her panties.
He rose to unfasten her bra. After tossing it away, he ran a hand over her shoulder. “Let’s get that bandage off and seal off that area so we can wash everything else.”
Rocky winced as he pulled off the adhesive to reveal the bandage. “Little girl, this doesn’t look good.”
“Did I bust some of the stitches?” she asked, keeping her eyes away from the exposed boo boos. She didn’t want to see them. Melissa definitely hadn’t watched as they sewed it up.
“Yes. We’ll have to go to the doctors after your bath.”
“Maybe we could wait until after work tomorrow?” she suggested.
“No, Lissy. Sit here on the edge of the tub. Be careful. Let me clean that arm before we rebandage it.”
He was quick and almost pain free. He’d just finished taping some plastic around her arm when the water reached a good place for her to get in. Rocky picked her up and gently lowered Melissa to sit in the tub.
She sighed with delight as he arranged her injured arm safely on a towel. Closing her eyes, she almost drifted to sleep as he washed her body. Almost. Even sick, she was aware of the washcloth moving over her body. She kept her eyes closed so he wouldn’t see that his touch excited her. Melissa also didn’t want to see any disappointment in his eyes at her less than perfect body.
“All clean, sweetheart. Do you feel better?”
She nodded and allowed herself to smile. Peeking up at him, she whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I enjoy taking care of you. Now, five minutes to soak and then we head for the doctor’s office.”
“Oh, I don’t use my insurance. I just went to urgent care because Tami insisted. She actually told me she’d fire me if I didn’t go.”
“She sent that same message tonight when she heard you’d injured your arm again. She’s also given you the rest of this week to heal. Archer and Tim are covering your jobs.”
“That’s not fair,” Melissa said weakly. She tried to protest vigorously, but didn’t have the energy.
“Fair or not, she’s your boss and that’s what she decided.”