Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“You won’t be. And you’ll sleep in the bed. Not the couch.”
She fidgeted a little, picking at my shirt. “I don’t…” She swallowed, two tears overflowing before she swiped at them with her hand. “I don’t want to be alone.”
I let go of a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I wasn’t sure I was capable of leaving her alone while she slept, even if it was my bedroom and I’d be right outside the room. What if she had a nightmare? I wanted to be there to soothe her immediately. “You won’t be. I’ll be with you.”
She was quiet for a time, not moving, but she didn’t close her eyes. I’d give my right nut to know what she was thinking. Was she scared? Of me?
“Thank you, Morgue. I’m sure I’m cramping your style, but you’ll never know how much I appreciate you letting me melt down like this.”
I grunted. It was becoming my go-to response. Why? Because I couldn’t seem to get my bearings around the woman! She was battered and broken. Had been drugged out of her mind. There was no hoping she hadn’t been raped or sexually abused in God knew how many ways in the time she’d been there. She’d simply been a captive too long. I was surprised she wasn’t beaten worse than she was. My guess was they kept her so doped she couldn’t do much more than lie there and take it.
What I wanted to tell her was that she never had to worry about anything ever again, least of all being hurt by anyone. She was mine and I protected what was mine. Somehow, though, I doubted that would help matters any. She might feel comfortable with me now, but laying claim to her would change the dynamic.
I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that. I think I might have dozed off at one point. Dorothy did too. It wasn’t until Stitches came back to change out her fluids that either of us stirred.
“Just swapping out bags,” he informed us softly. “How you feelin’, kiddo?”
“Better,” she replied. “My head doesn’t hurt as much, but my belly is still in knots.”
“Yeah. Give it a few more hours. The fluids will help.”
She managed another small smile. “I believe you. I think they’ve helped already.”
“That and the ibuprofen. Once this goes in, I can remove the IV if you like. Or I can disconnect the bag and leave it in case you need more tomorrow. Would save you a stick.”
She nodded. “I think that will be best. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Honey, nothing is too much trouble to make you comfortable and to help you heal. But I’d feel better leaving it in, to be honest.”
It took another half hour for the bag to finish. Stitches taped up her IV site so she didn’t get it caught on anything, then left us. Dorothy didn’t move, but I knew she probably needed to use the bathroom.
When I shifted on the couch, she whimpered and clung tighter. Sparkle lifted her head and whined slightly, licking at Dorothy’s ankle again.
“Ain’t goin’ nowhere. Just thought I’d carry you to the bathroom. Do your business and we’ll go to bed.”
“You promise you won’t leave?” She looked up at me with pleading eyes and my heart melted.
“No fuckin’ way I’ll ever leave you, Dorothy. I’m yours as long as you want me.” Again, her eyes filled with tears, and I panicked. “I mean, I’m not gonna force myself on you or anything. I just mean I’ll protect you. Always.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and the fucking tears started again. She pressed herself close to me as she cried. Every single tear felt like a dagger to my heart. Dorothy was clinging to me, so I held her tighter. If she didn’t want me, surely she’d push me away. There was no way to let her go when she was so distressed.
“Do you promise?”
“Yes. I won’t leave. I told you.”
“No.” She shook her head but didn’t pull away. “That you’re mine. As long as I want you.”
I narrowed my gaze on her. “I fuckin’ promise, Dorothy. I Goddamn fuckin’ promise.”
Chapter Seven
Dorothy
Three weeks later…
“Morgue?” For the first time in weeks, I woke up alone. Even when he woke up before me, Morgue was always at my side. Just like he’d promised, he didn’t leave me. “Morgue!”
“In here, honey.” His muffled voice came from the bathroom where I now heard the shower running. My heart rate slowed, and relief flooded through me. He’d left the bathroom door open. I should have known. He was never more than a room away, and never with anything between. Not even a closed door unless he told me why, which was always the bathroom. Anything else, he did with me in the room.