Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
She jumped slightly at his harsh tone and let out a moan of pain. He reached out a hand to her before snatching it back. “Fuck, it’s so hard not to touch you.”
“You’re saying fuck a lot.”
Why didn’t he want to touch her?
He probably doesn’t find you attractive like this. Bruised skin and sunken cheeks likely don’t do it for him.
Or maybe it’s because you keep flinching away from him like you think he’ll hurt you.
Indie closed her eyes for a moment.
“Indie? Did I scare you? I am so sorry. I seem to be doing that a lot lately.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“How is that not my fault?” he asked with clear irritation in his voice.
She opened her eyes, staring up at him in surprise and a bit of hurt.
“Oh no, Princess,” he said in a rush, stepping forward again. “I’m not upset with you. I’m upset at myself. I need to take things so that you know I’d never fucking hurt you. But I look at you and I feel so fucking angry that I want to punch someone. And you know I’ve never really been one to use my fists. What that bastard did to you, though . . .”
“It’s his fault I keep flinching, not yours.”
“If you trusted me, you would feel safe around me,” he said stubbornly. “Once I earn your trust again, then you won’t flinch away from me.”
“You think it will be that simple?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t think it will be simple at all. But the best things in life never are.”
Fuck.
Spencer felt like he was falling apart.
When they’d all agreed that he’d stay with Indie the night in the hospital, he’d thought he’d won the fucking jackpot.
He got to be the one to watch over her, take care of her while the others had to sit around on their hands and worry.
Yeah, he’d thought he was the best person for the job . . . then.
Not so much now.
Now he thought he might be fucking everything up in a huge way. Which was the last thing he wanted to do. Not just because the guys were trusting him.
But because he wanted to do everything right by his girl. He wanted to see her smile again. To watch her laugh.
Seeing fear on her face that was caused by him?
It made him feel ill.
His girl had been through so much.
“I don’t know if I can . . . if I can ever trust anyone again, Spencer.”
“I know you think that, but I aim to show you differently. I just need some time and for you to not shut me out.”
“Not sure I can give you that. I’m not even sure I’m staying.”
“Staying where?” he asked in confusion.
“In London.”
“You’re going back to Birmingham?” he asked incredulously. “That’s not going to be safe. Billy is still out there and I don’t know how long it will take us to find him.”
Her eyes widened.
And he probably shouldn’t have told her that part.
Fuck.
She sat up suddenly, then let out a low cry of pain. Panic flooded him.
“Fuck. Shit. Shitty fuck. It’s all right, Princess. Just breathe. I’ll call for the nurse.”
“No!” she cried out. “It’s . . . it’s fine. I just moved too fast and it hurt. She said . . . I can’t have any more painkillers at the moment.”
“What about your headache?” he asked, noting that she’d squinted a few times.
Indie shook her head with another wince.
Crap.
What could he do to help? He eyed the overhead lights and moved to the door to turn them off. A small sigh of relief left her.
Why hadn’t she asked him to do that before? Or asked the nurse?
He was going to have to teach her to ask for what she needed rather than sitting back and putting everyone else’s needs first.
He’d thought they’d taught her better. It seemed like that tendency was back and he didn’t like it.
She was the precious one. She came first.
“Good girl. You’re doing so well,” he said. “Have you drunk any water?”
“I don’t want to,” she said in a surprisingly young voice.
His eyebrows rose. Did she mean to let her Little side slip out?
“I know you don’t want to, but you have to,” he said firmly. “It will help.”
“A soda would help,” she said. “I need the caffeine.”
Hmm. It probably would.
“Tell you what, I’ll go and get you a caffeinated soda if you’re a good girl and drink a whole glass of water.”
She had her eyes closed but opened them to frown up at him. “I don’t like ultimatums.”
“All you have to do is drink the water.” He resisted the urge to rub the lines out of her forehead, knowing she might not appreciate that.
It was hard, though.
He wanted to touch her constantly.
“Fine,” she grumbled. “My head’s getting worse.”
“Poor Princess. Here’s the water.” He grabbed the glass of water and held the straw for her. She wrapped her lips around the straw.