“I’ll get you some mouthwash and a bowl to spit it out. Lie back. I’m warming up your heat pack. Drink this.”
She lay back without opening her eyes. He’d half-propped her up against some pillows and he held a glass to her lips. She drank some water then the glass was removed.
“Here’s some mouthwash, swirl it around. I’ll place a bowl under your mouth. That’s it. Now spit.”
She groaned quietly as it dripped down her chin. “So gross.”
“This is nowhere near the grossest thing I’ve seen; I promise you,” he told her in a low, quiet voice, wiping her face once more. “I’m going to go get the heat pack and make you a bottle. Is there anything else you need?”
A bottle?
Maybe she should ask about that, but she couldn’t find the energy to care. He was being so kind and caring. She wanted more.
She wanted it all. All of him. Was this what his Daddy side was like? She’d seen his stern side. And she had seen his caring side. But she thought this was something else.
“Bra. Off.”
“Yeah. Thought that might be the case. Let me see if we can get you comfier. Sit up a bit and I’ll undo it.” He very carefully and gently took off her top layers. She shivered slightly, whimpering.
“I know, baby. I know. Here, let’s get this torture device off and get you into your favorite nightie.” As soon as her bra was off, he put her nightie over her head. She kept her eyes closed. He laid her down and slid her pants off.
“I’ve put Bumbly in beside you and your snuggly is next to your face.” Then the covers were slid out from under her and she was tucked in tight, with the covers under her chin. When he returned a few minutes later, she was nearly asleep.
“Got your heat pack. Gonna put it under your neck.”
She whimpered as he raised her. “I know, baby doll. I know. I’ve got you.”
Oh, that heat felt so nice against her tight muscles. “Here’s a bottle. Might help settle your stomach.”
Something rubbery was pressed against her lips. Was it an actual bottle? With a nipple? Was it her old one?
“Open up. Open up for Da—uh, for me.”
Tears filled her eyes, dripping down her cheeks.
“Baby doll, don’t cry. Shh. Shh, now.” He gently wiped her tears from her cheeks. “I can see I’m gonna have to keep an even closer eye on you. Can’t have you getting into this state again. Here’s the bottle. Good girl. It’s just like a chocolate milkshake, but it’s got lots of good things in it like protein and vitamins. I bought it today for you. There you go.”
He fell silent and let her drink. She fell asleep with the nipple in her mouth and the knowledge that he really did want this. To be her Daddy. To take care of her.
* * *
She felt like garbage.
Pure and utter rubbish. Her head had stopped thumping at least. And she had only thrown up the once.
Go her.
Hmm, just maybe she’d pushed herself a bit hard yesterday. And well, most of the days since Dave died. It wouldn’t hurt her to take a day off now and then. Although she thought she’d been better since Issy appeared in her life and forced her to take regular breaks and eat and sleep.
You know…all those things she neglected to do when left to her own devices.
The door to the bedroom opened and the man in question entered. She couldn’t believe the way he’d looked after her last night. Dave had been a bit squeamish when it came to vomit. Actually, most bodily fluids. Her vomiting would likely have set him off.
Maybe it was because Issy was a doctor.
Or maybe it was just him. Issy.
“Hey, baby doll.” He walked forward. “Hoped you’d sleep a bit longer. How you feeling?”