Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“I’m…. I’m okay.” She stumbled in reassuring him.
“If that changes,” Razor said, meeting her gaze directly.
“Okay,” Angel whispered.
“Good. What hurts?”
Angel shrugged.
“Everything, huh? I’m going to need to check you for injuries, but we need to get you cleaned up. Let me listen to your heart and lungs to check for the most vital health conditions.”
Razor quickly conducted a brief exam as Vex hovered protectively at her side. Vex wanted to do more but trusted Razor to make sure nothing urgent was amiss with Angel. “You’re alive, free, and hopefully free of anything majorly wrong. If nothing appears when you shower, Vex will help you focus on rest, good nutrition, and recovering.”
He turned to Vex. “Help her under the spray. She’s too off-balance to stand on her own in the stall.”
“I’ll make sure she’s okay,” Vex promised and put his arm around Angel’s waist. When she leaned into his touch, his anger flared back to full force, and he dragged it back under control to avoid scaring her. How could anyone mistreat her?
“Do you need pads or tampons?” Razor asked.
“No. It’s finished. I… I don’t know if this will come out.” She waved a hand at her jeans.
“Those are going into a bonfire,” Vex said. “I’ll get you some clothes.”
“I can pay you back,” Angel said quickly. “Well, when I get in touch with my family.”
“That won’t happen.” When she appeared concerned, Vex added, “The money part. Not the parent part.”
“Would you rather sleep in a nightshirt or a pair of sweats and a T-shirt?” Razor asked.
“Pants,” she blurted.
Vex grabbed his phone and put out a call for small sweatpants. His would tumble off her small frame. She’d wear one of his shirts for now.
“Rest is most important for the next couple of days,” Razor told Vex.
“Got it. I’ll call if there’s anything urgent.” Vex assured him. “Go let Honey see you’re okay.”
Razor turned and hobbled to the door with his medical bag. He stopped to meet Angel’s gaze directly and said, “You’re safer here than you’ve ever been in your life.”
She nodded and leaned against Vex. Her quiet acceptance made Vex’s heart ache. I’ve got this bad.
When the door clicked behind Razor, Vex brushed Angel’s hair from her face. “How about a shampoo and shower?”
“That sounds unbelievably amazing.” Angel pushed herself off the table and almost toppled to the floor. As Vex stabilized her, she glanced up at him to ask, “How am I going to do this?”
“Come on, Little girl. I’ve got you.” He picked her up and carried her through his bedroom to the large, spacious bathroom. Her delicate body felt like skin and bones against him. When she relaxed against him, Vex savored her trust. She’d have to let him assist her. Angel simply wasn’t stable enough on her own.
Setting her bottom gently on the vanity, he waited until she was steady before gripping the granite top on each side of her. “I’m going to help you, Angel. I want you to know that keeping you safe is my priority.”
Her cheeks blushed an adorable rosy hue as she studied the front of his T-shirt. “I’m sorry you have to see me.”
“I’m not.”
She glanced up in surprise. “You’re not sorry you have to see me?”
“You want me to be honest with you, right?”
“Yes—please.”
Her hesitation before tacking on politeness made the corners of his mouth twitch upward. She had grown up in a more genteel family than his. “Something inside me tells me to pay attention to you. That you’re important. I think you’re my Little girl. Do you know what that is?”
“Little girl. Like the stories?”
“I’m not surprised that books with Littles and Daddies exist. Have you read a lot?” he asked.
She nodded and turned redder.
“I’m glad. Maybe we can enjoy one together later. I’m going to get you cleaned up like a Daddy would help his Little girl who’s hurt. Okay?”
“Thank you.”
Vex shucked off his boots and socks before reaching over his head to tug off his T-shirt. Her sharp inhale made him grin. “I’m glad you like what you see, Little girl. Come on. Let’s get these clothes off you. I vote we burn them.”
She nodded and smiled slightly for the first time.
Vex removed her socks and shoes before pulling her grimy shirt away. The ragged bottom made him guess she’d tried to tear it. He left her bra on for the moment and unfastened her jeans. The stiff and stained material pissed him off.
Angel shrank from him.
“Sorry, baby. My face always gives me away in a bar fight too, before I explode and kick someone’s ass. I’m not angry with you. I wish I’d taken out more Ravagers today.”
Her hand smoothed over the wrinkles in his forehead, drawing her attention back to him. Her cold fingers trembled slightly as she soothed him. Marveling at her sweetness, Vex turned his head to press a kiss against her fingers.