Chapter Sixteen
Last night Jethro had accepted a bag full of supplies from Eric once he’d arrived, and they’d had a beer while sitting in front of the fire with the dogs to unwind. It had been a crazy day and a crazier night.
Jethro was a daddy again for the first time in a long time and it wasn’t like he’d taken it slow, testing the waters with a toe or wading in. Nah, he’d jumped headfirst into the deep end but so far, he didn’t have an ounce of regret. And had continued to be confident in his decision when he’d climbed into bed with Sable.
She’d sighed and snuggled back against him when he’d spooned her, and while she was too thin, she felt otherwise perfect against him—like they’d been made for each other.
Didn’t surprise him at all that he woke before she did in the morning. Hell, wouldn’t be surprising if she slept until noon. He’d let her, but if it was much past that, he’d wake her up if only to eat something.
He had some stuff to do around the nursery but those things could wait. What couldn’t was letting the dogs out and getting them fed, so he went downstairs and took care of Marigold and Rhodie before getting himself some breakfast and grabbing his laptop and heading back upstairs.
The dogs followed him of course, but they curled up together on their bed in his room right next to the chair and ottoman he planted himself on. Cracking open his computer, Jethro dealt with some of the financials and emails from some of his bigger clients, glancing over the top of his screen every so often to check on the lump of blankets on his bed, otherwise known as Sable Hollingsford.
Which Sable would he get when she woke up this morning? Not that it mattered whether he got the frosty queen or the snuggly little—he’d look after her either way.
A couple hours later, the heap of bedclothes stirred and there was a muffled yelp from underneath them. Shit. She’d probably tried to sit up and put weight on her injured shoulder. He dropped his laptop and went to help.
“Careful, baby,” he said as he helped her ease to sitting against the pillows. “You’ve got a shoulder sprain and I’m guessing you might be sore all over.”
Stress would do that to a person, and besides, Jethro wasn’t sure Trent hadn’t hurt anything besides her shoulder. She hadn’t said so, but he got the feeling Sable was used to handling everything by herself unless absolutely necessary.
Sable looked up at him with those wide golden eyes. Even her bedhead was adorable.
“I feel like shit.”
He wanted to laugh because that was not terribly ladylike and he was used to Sable being a lady. But he kept the best straight face he could.
“I don’t doubt it. But you need to watch your language please. Little girls don’t curse in this house.”
She blinked at him and her response would be very telling.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl. Now let’s get you some pain meds, some ice on your shoulder, and then some food in your tummy.”
“’Kay,” she acquiesced.
He peeled the blankets off her, noting the bruises dotting her skin, but nothing that looked serious. Once he’d bared her, he fluffed a pillow and put it on the mattress and then helped her shift until she was draped over it.
Then reached into the bedside table to retrieve lube and the pain killers Eric had dropped by last night.
“Daddy, what—”
“Shh, baby,” he hushed her, rubbing her back before slicking some lube over his finger and then parting the cheeks of her bottom to work her hole open. “This is medicine to help you feel better. Dr. Eric brought it special for you last night.”
“But—”
“No buts, just be a good obedient girl. That’s how you get better, is to follow Dr. Eric’s orders. We know what’s best for you.”
The little squirming she’d been doing stopped, and he praised her. “There’s a good girl. Now open up for Daddy.”
She sighed but relaxed and he took advantage to press his finger inside her bottom. She was so tight and hot, he could imagine how she would feel around his cock and it made him want to bite his fist. But not until she was better.
He worked his finger inside her for a couple of minutes until she was slick and open, and then pushed two of the pain killer suppositories inside her and made her wait on her tummy for another minute before turning her over and settling her against the pillows again.
“I’m going to get you some ice and then you’ll wait here while I get your breakfast. Do you need anything?”
“Mmm, my phone? And I…”