“I’m okay, just banged up a bit. That’s all, I swear.”
He took her small foot in his hand and rotated her ankle gently, watching for any sign in her reaction that maybe she’d broken it. “Does that hurt?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m fine, Ghost.”
He nodded, pulling off the other boot, and then rising to his feet awkwardly. When she saw him favoring his leg, she asked, “Ghost, you’re the one that’s hurt. Your leg—”
“I’m okay. Just got it hung up under the bike. It’s fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, now let’s get these chaps off you, darlin’,” he said in a low voice, his hands already moving to the zippers that ran up the outside of each leg. He gently removed them, taking care not to brush against the scraped area. “We need to get you out of those short, too. Lie back.”
She did, giving him no lip for once. He unzipped the shorts and carefully eased them down, studying her face and watching for pain as he did so. He could tell the effects of the alcohol she’d drunk at the clubhouse were still dulling her senses, and he was glad for it. It may actually have done some good, keeping her body loose when they went down, otherwise, if she’d tensed up, she may have hurt herself worse, perhaps even broken a bone.
Shit, he’d like to catch up with that old man and kick his motherfucking car door in. He blew out a breath, letting go of the anger. It wouldn’t do her any good for him to get riled up right now.
She lie back against the pillows in nothing but his flannel shirt, and her bra and panties. Ghost swallowed and reached for the first aid kit as he sat on the bed next to her.
“Roll on your side, Jessie. Let me have a look,” he instructed softly. She complied, rolling to face him. He examined the scrape. It was bleeding a bit, but not too bad. “How much does it hurt?”
“It stings a little.”
He grinned. “I’ll bet. Don’t worry; I’ll fix you up. Stay right there while I go wash my hands first.”
“Okay, Doc,” she teased. He smiled and headed into the bathroom to scrub his hands. When he returned to sit beside her, her eyes were closed.
“You with me, brat?” he asked as he opened the kit and dug around for an antiseptic wipe. Her eyes opened, and she tried to smile.
“I’m still here.”
“I know you’ve had a lot to drink, but stay with me okay.” He tore open the packet and took out the wipe. “This may sting a little, sweetheart.”
She hissed when he gently cleaned the area.
“Sorry, Jess. I’m trying to be careful.”
“I know you are, it’s okay,” she whispered, and his eyes flicked up to hers.
He winked at her. “Your first case of road rash.”
“Is this some type of initiation?”
Ghost chuckled. “Maybe. But I didn’t lay the bike down on purpose.”
“I guess I dozed off. Last I remember we were pulling away from the clubhouse. I’m lucky you didn’t lose me back on the road somewhere.”
“I felt your weight against my back, I had one hand clamped around your forearm. I wouldn’t have let you fall, brat.”
“What happened?”
“Guy almost hit us. Old man in a Caddy. He came barreling out and clipped the back of my tire as we pulled in the lot. I’m just glad you weren’t hurt more seriously.” He shook his head. “I’d have never forgiven myself if something had happened to you.”
“I’m okay, Ghost. It’s just a scrape.”
“You were on the back of my bike. I take that shit seriously, Jess.”
“I know you do.”