JODIE
“You’re making me late again,” Toby growls into my neck as he lowers my feet back to the floor of the shower, both our chests heaving from our exertion.
“I didn’t invite you in here,” I say on a sigh as he grazes his teeth down my throat.
“I like to think I’ve got an open invitation whenever you’re naked and wet,” he quips.
“Is that right?”
“Sure is. Now turn around and let me do my thing—”
“Pretty sure you’ve already done that.”
“Demon,” he growls, slapping me teasingly on the arse when I move. “Be a good girl. I want to change your bandages before I leave.”
A contented sigh falls from my lips as his fingers push into my hair a beat after the floral scent of the shampoo he bought for me. It’s not the only new addition to the bathroom, and I suspect there’s more throughout his flat.
I wanted to chastise him for it last night when I first stumbled in here and found it all, but I was too exhausted to say anything.
“I’m more than capable of doing them myself.” How neither of us caused ourselves any further damage last night is beyond me. I’m pretty sure what we got up to exceeded the light exercise the doctors advised for us for a week or so while our wounds heal.
“I know, but I want to do it. I want to take care of you.”
“You’re a little bit cute, you know that, right?”
“Shh, don’t tell the boss,” he teases.
“Your secret is safe, bad boy.”
As soon as he’s happy that I’m fully clean, he gives himself a once-over and instructs me to sit on the closed toilet so he can deal with my dressings.
“I don’t even think they really need them anymore.”
“The doctor said a week, so we’re following the rules.”
“Is that what you did last night?” I quip.
“Some rules are made to be broken, baby.”
After tucking a towel around his waist, he grabs a first aid box stashed in the cupboard and drops to his knees in front of me.
My hand automatically lifts to the new chain hanging around my neck, my fingers toying with the little padlock.
Spotting the movement, Toby looks up from picking at the old sodden bandage that’s barely sticking to my calf.
“Mine,” he growls, sending goosebumps shooting all around my body.
“Yours.”
He smiles up at me, and the love and adoration I see in the depths of his blue eyes makes my heart tumble in the best of ways.
That moment doesn’t last nearly as long as I wish it would before he looks back down and continues tending to my almost healed cuts.
His touch is so gentle, it makes my eyes burn with emotion. The memories of how I got them slam into me. The scent of burning, the sound of destruction that I remember all too well from that night assaults my senses.
“It’s okay, baby. You’re safe now, and I fucking swear to you, I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”
Reaching out, I thread my fingers through his wet hair, hoping he can feel how strongly I care for him in my touch.