“God, you’re the best,” I say when I spot my warm, fuzzy pajamas sticking out of the bag.
He gives me a wink and leans in to start the shower. “I try my best. Now get naked, woman, and let me wash you.”
I laugh and drop the hospital gown, cringing when I see how dirty I am. The nurses cleaned me off a bit when I came in, but it’s not even close to being the same as an actual shower. I’d love to take a bath right now, and I sigh when I think about how good that soak in the hot tub had felt at the Red Wolf. God, that feels like a lifetime ago.
“What’s wrong?” Nikolai asks, pulling his shirt off so he won’t get it soaked.
“I’m fine,” I say, “but you’re not.” I eye the bandage on his forearm.
“It’s nothing, just a very minor burn. I doubt it’ll even earn me a sexy scar.” He gives me a wink, and I run my eyes over his body, making him smile and say, “Don’t even think about it. You’re going to have to wait just a bit longer before you can have your way with me.”
He laughs when I pout and gently leads me under the hot water. “It’s just as difficult for me,” he says, soaping up a washcloth before very carefully running it over my body. “Believe me.”
I close my eyes and let him wash me, enjoying the feeling of being completely taken care of. His hands are gentle but thorough, and I open my eyes to smirk at him when he takes a ridiculously long time to wash my breasts.
“What? I’m just making sure you’re clean.”
“Uh-huh,” I say with a laugh, “because these tits definitely got filthy from the fire.”
“The nurse said to help, and I take my job very seriously.” He gives my nipple a soft pinch before moving on. By the time he gets to my hair, he’s washed every damn inch of me and I’m counting down the minutes until he can take me home and really make me forget about all of this.
“Let me know if this hurts.” He lathers up my hair and starts to massage my scalp, being careful to avoid the bump. I close my eyes and sigh as all the tension leaves my body and the headache I’ve had since I woke up finally starts to fade away.
“You’d make a damn good doctor,” I tell him when he starts to rinse my hair. “I’m feeling better already.”
“Good. Just so you know, I’ll happily bathe you anytime you want. You don’t have to pass out in a burning building to get this kind of treatment.”
“I’ll remember that.” I watch the water drip down his hard chest while he finishes up, and when he shuts off the water, I reach for the towel, but he ignores me. Grabbing it himself, he wraps it around me and slowly starts to dry me off.
“I’m not completely helpless,” I tell him, using a corner of the towel to dry his chest.
“I know, but I like taking care of you, so be a good girl and let me.”
“I thought you liked me strong.”
His gives me a sexy smile and cups the back of my neck, pulling me closer as he starts to dry my hair. “Oh, I do, baby, but there’s something unbelievably sexy about seeing your vulnerable side, too. Plus, I just really like taking care of you.”
“Thanks for being here with me.” I rest my hands on his hips and lean in to kiss one of his hard pecs. “I know it’s uncomfortable, though. I really won’t mind if you want to go home and get some sleep.”
He hooks his finger under my chin and tilts my face up. “You’re my home, Moira, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
I smile like an idiot while he helps me get in my pajamas. When I’m all ready, he leads me back to the bed and pushes the call button so I can get hooked back up to the IV. Once I’m all tucked back in, Nurse Jenny eyes his soaked bandage and gives her head a soft, disapproving shake. She quickly applies a new bandage, even though he tells her he’s fine.
“It will be as long as it doesn’t get infected,” she tells him, using her no-nonsense nurse voice.
He takes one look at my face and says, “I’m fine. Don’t you dare worry about me.”
After she leaves, he sits back down in the chair next to the bed and digs around in the bag again. I laugh when he pulls out a container filled with fruit, a thick hunk of homemade bread, and some fancy cheese that has my mouth watering at the sight of it.
“Gina made this for you, and she and Dima send their love.”
I smile and load up the bread with cheese before popping a grape in my mouth. While I eat, he digs around some more, and I laugh when he pulls out a book that I immediately recognize as one of my highland smut reads.
“You know, these aren’t half bad,” he says, opening the book to where I’d shoved in a torn off piece of paper as a bookmark. “I’ve underlined a few things that I’d like to try with you when you’re feeling better, especially that scene where it’s raining and they’re walking through the moors.”
“The part where they have sex outside?” I say, knowing exactly what scene he’s talking about because it’s one of my favorites.
“Yes.” He gives me a sinfully wicked smile. “We don’t have the moors, but we do have a plaid blanket and a nice, secluded backyard. I would very much like to fuck you under the stars one night, Moira.”