by Dez Burke
He shook his head, taking her hand. Her blood was all over his shirt. “We have to stop the bleeding, Nice.” He pushed her face up, searching her eyes. “I think you’re in shock. I’ll call an ambulance.”
His words spurred her to action. “No! I’m fine! See? I don’t have insurance.” She broke away from him. She moved quickly, knowing he couldn’t keep up. She stepped into the kitchen leaving a trail of blood behind her. She wrapped her hand in a clean towel.
Alden followed her into the kitchen. His face was pale and his eyes were full of worry. He had found his cane and was leaning heavily against it. She smiled weakly, “I’m fine.”
He crossed the floor awkwardly to her and touched her face. She flinched away from his fingers. “He hit you.” His voice was choked, strained.
She reached out with her good hand, “Baby, please don’t. I’m fine. I want… I need you to not get upset. Just sit down…your leg.”
His fingertips were searching her face, tracing the line of the bruise. “I’m calling 911.”
“No! I can’t afford that. I’ll be fine.”
The blood had already soaked through the dish towel. He shook his head. “Then I’ll pay for it, but you have to go.”
“Alden, I told you. I’m fine!” She tried to put strength in her voice.
“Stop!” he shouted at her, startling her, “Don’t Alden or baby me! You are hurt badly and I need to get you to someone that can help you! I need to get you to a hospital!”
“Don’t yell at me!” she shouted back and immediately regretted it. He cared about her. His anger wasn’t with her. “I’m so sorry. I need to lie down.”
He shook his head. “No, come on. I don’t care how mad you get, but you are going to the hospital. Trust me on this.” He grabbed her arm gently and pulled her. She stumbled. “Nice, I need you to walk. I can’t do it for both of us right now.”
She nodded and willed her feet to move. He half dragged her out of the bar. Pulling out car keys, he unlocked the car door. She noticed through a haze that he’d switched rental cars. He settled her into the passenger side of the Kia and shut the door.
He slid stiffly into the driver’s side, grunting softly. When he started the car, hot air hit her in the face.
“Tell me where to go. Where’s the ER?”
She shivered. “It’s cold in here.”
Alden grunted as he twisted and pulled a jacket from the backseat. He covered her with it. “You’re going into shock. It’s at least ninety-six degrees in here. Where’s the ER?” he asked again. She looked at him blankly. “Fine. I told you, I’m taking you whether you like it or not.” He pulled out his cell phone and searched for the nearest hospital.
She watched him, the line of his jaw tense. She reached out and pushed the phone down. “Look at me, Alden.” His eyes flicked up, lingering on the blood soaked towel and then higher to her eyes. “I can’t afford to go to the ER. I can’t. Please understand. I’ll be fine.”
He touched the screen on the phone and placed it on dashboard. His voice was soft. “I can’t afford to lose you. Either you can tell me how to get there or the phone will.”
Defeated, she curled herself around her injured hand and pointed her thumb behind her. “It’s that way. The closer one. It’s like ten miles away. You have to get on the highway.”
He nodded in relief. “Thank you.”
He kept talking to her, asking her questions, forcing her responses. He drove on the verge of speeding, panic creeping into every move. She could sense it. She wanted to soothe him, but she was drifting away. He reached out and touched her leg. Reminding her of his heat, his presence.
When they arrived, he helped her out of the car. She leaned on him, letting him walk her to the door. “Wait,” she said softly. “When we get in there, don’t tell them what happened. Tell them I fell and cut my hand on the bottle. Don’t tell them what happened.”
“Nice, your face,” he reminded.
“If you tell them, they’ll arrest him. Please. Don’t say anything. Please,” she begged. She felt weak and vulnerable.
He let his fingers trail down her arm and captured her hand. “I promise you, I will let you do the talking, But you need to come with me, right now.”
She nodded, pulling the jacket closer around her. He tugged on her hand and she started walking with him. The light of the ER a beacon in the darkness. They walked inside hand in hand. He squeezed her shoulder and pulled her closer. The ER was fairly empty and cold. They sat in the waiting room for what seemed like forever with her pressing an icepack to her bruised face. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and let her lean into him. His fingers stroked her hair. She breathed softly, her skin felt clammy.
They called her back after a while. Her hand stung, her face ached. The nurse looked at her condition and then turned to Alden. “I’m sorry sir, but you can’t come back with her.”
Nice looked at Alden. “I want him with me,” she pleaded, her voice small.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but its family only.” The nurse said solemnly with another curt look toward Alden.
Nice looked back at Alden. “Either you let him come with me or I’m leaving.”
Alden shook his head. “Go on in,” he whispered. “I’ll be right here. I won’t leave, I promise.”
She shook her head. “No. You made me come here. You’re coming with me. That’s final.”
The nurse rolled her eyes and motioned them back. Nice clung to Alden letting him shoulder her weight. The nurse pointed her to the bed. “Put this on,” she said, handing her a gown. Then the nurse left, closing the curtain behind her.
“I can’t get my shirt off,” Nice said. Alden stepped over quickly and helped her pull it off, moving it gently over her towel-wrapped hand. The once white cloth was dark with blood. Once free of the t-shirt, he helped her pull the gown on. He sucked in his breath when he moved to tie it. His fingers brushed the black bruises previously hid on her neck.
He climbed behind her on the hospital bed. The space was awkward with his leg hanging over the side. “You shouldn’t…” she whispered.
“Don’t start worrying about that now. You need me.”
She smiled a sad smile and curled into his body, cradling her injured hand. He stroked her face, her hair. Her hand was throbbing. He kissed her forehead. Their silence was broken by the doctor entering the room. “Let’s see that hand, young lady.”
The doctor was a short round man. She held out her hand without breaking away from Alden’s embrace. The doctor unwrapped the towel from her hand, revealing the wound. He mimicked Alden’s earlier noise at the sight of it. “How did this happen?”
“I fell on some glass,” she replied.
The doctor flicked his eyes over Alden. “I’ll get a nurse to stitch you up then. Is there anything else that you need me to look at?”
She shook her head. The doctor nodded and left the room.
The nurse came in moments later and cleaned her hand. The woman didn’t speak, but looked at Alden with accusing eyes. She stitched Nice’s hand quickly. Alden kissed the top of her head and whispered, “My god, Nice. They think I did this to you.”
She nodded and twisted her uninjured hand in his shirt. “I would never do this to you.” His voice was choked. “And it’s killing me that you would rather everyone believed that I hurt you than for you to just tell the truth about what happened.”
“Alden, not right now. Please.” She closed her eyes, trying to hold back tears. They spilled out anyway from under her lids.
He brushed them away with his thumb. She lifted her face to look at him, the tears flowing down her face now. He kissed her, gently.
She moved her injured hand to touch his face, wincing when she tried to stretch her fingers. He grabbed her wrist and kissed her knuckles gently. “Here, let me help you out of this gown.”
He gently untied the gown and pulled it from her. He helped her into the jacket from the car. It was too big for her and he folded u
p the sleeves. The doctor returned in a rush. “Alright Ms. Jones, you’re all stitched up.” He handed her a cup with a two white pills in it. “I’ve prescribed some antibiotics to ward off infection. That’s your first round. You can take Tylenol for the pain.”
She nodded. The doctor looked at Alden again and then back to her. “Follow the exit signs to get to discharge. Five days on the antibiotics, twice a day. You’ll have to see your family physician in a week to get the stitches out.”
She nodded again and swallowed the pills dry. The doctor left the room. Alden helped her out off of the bed and she let him lead her down the hall. His fingers found hers, slipping between them. At discharge she signed all the paperwork. Alden paid the bill using his credit card.
He helped her into the car then climbed in on his side. Before he could start the car she asked, “I’m so tired and need to close my eyes for a minute. Can you get back to the bar without my directions?”
“I’m not taking you back there, Nice,” he said.
“I have to go back. The window is smashed in and there’s a mess to clean up. I left my phone. I have to go back.”
He shook his head. “I’m not taking you back there.”
“Alden, I’m fine. You’re making this out to be more than it needs to be,” she said. She swallowed, her throat dry.
He picked up her hand, locking his eyes on hers. “Don’t go back there tonight. Tomorrow you can try talking me into it. But right now, tonight, I’m taking you back to my room and putting you to bed. We’ll figure all this out in the morning.”
She nodded and squeezed his fingers. “Close your eyes and rest. I’ll wake you up when we get there. I’m going to pick up some food on the way for you too.”
Chapter Eight
She didn’t want the fast food he offered her, but immediately after biting into the burger she was thankful for it. He rubbed her knee and urged her to eat. Her hand throbbed, her neck ached, her back, the side of her face. Everything was a big mass of pain. They ate in the car, chatting softly about nothing. When she was done, she closed her eyes and curled back into a ball.
The next time he woke her, they were parked in a garage and he was opening the door for her. She growled softly at him, forcing herself awake. “I can get out of the car myself.”
“I know,” he said, holding out his hand to her. “But it’ll be easier if I help.”
For once, she let herself be helped without protesting. Her body screamed in pain. She stumbled and he caught her. “Aren’t we a fine pair,” he whispered.
They walked slowly to his room. The hotel was nicer than the last one. It was plush and quiet. They took the elevator, avoiding the lobby. In the mirrored elevator, she caught site of her face, her reflection distorted and ugly. She gasped and touched the bruises.
Alden kissed the top of her head. “It’ll heal,” he said, pulling her close. The elevator stopped and he stepped out keeping the door open for her.
“This is a nice hotel,” she remarked.
“I hoped you’d think so. The reviews said the Wi-Fi was great and the pillows were soft. I’ll admit the bed is much nicer.” He slid the key card through the slot, pushing the door open to let her in.
The room was much nicer. There was a sofa set and a desk. His laptop was sitting on the coffee table. She walked into the room and looked around. The bedroom was separate, the white glow shining through it from the bathroom.
“Come on sweetheart, let’s get you into bed.” He led her towards the king size bed and helped her sit down on the edge. He handed her a t-shirt before helping her out of the jacket. He took off her bra, then her shorts, leaving her in only underwear for a moment before pulling the t-shirt over her head and body as if she were a small child. Her blood had stained his shirt, leaving dried brown splotches.
“Oh no! I ruined your shirt.”
“I can buy a new shirt. Here get under the covers,” he said, pulling his shirt off and walking into the bathroom. She slid under the blanket, listening to the sounds of him in the bathroom. He came back with a glass of water and a pill bottle.
He put the glass next to her on the nightstand and sat on the bed next to her. He opened the bottle and shook out three pills. He handed her one.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Vicodin. It will help with the pain and put you to sleep for tonight.”
“I don’t do pain pills. I just need some Tylenol,” she said, trying to hand it back to him.
He kissed her temple over the bruised side of her face. “For heaven’s sake! Please, Nice just take it. For once in your life, please stop arguing.”
She sighed and swallowed the pill, chasing it with a swallow of water.
“What the hell are we doing, Alden?” she asked, pulling her knees up to her chin.
He stroked her hair. “For right now, we’re going to sleep. For more than a few hours. And in the morning I’m going to pick up your prescription and make you eat breakfast. And then we can figure out the answer to that question.”
She leaned back on the bed. “Why do you get to decide?” She smiled and let her head hit the pillow. “These are much softer.” She suddenly felt loose and sleepy.
“We’re going to decide together. Tomorrow. After we’ve had some sleep. Move over.”
“No I really like this spot. You walk around.”
He laughed. “You’re going to make me walk around the bed? Me?”
She giggled, already floating away She listened to the sound of him standing and moving across the room. He turned the light off in the bathroom before settling into the bed besides her. She turned, laying her head on his chest. His heat filled her, warmed her, chasing away the chill of the air conditioning. He rubbed her shoulder, kissed the top of her head. “Goodnight, baby,” he whispered.
She grunted back, drifting away.
***
Alden woke her with breakfast. She pulled herself up, rubbing her eyes. “What time is it?”
He kissed her temple, sliding down on the bed with her. She leaned against him. “Ten thirty. I didn’t know what you liked so I got you pancakes. I figured everyone likes pancakes.”
She nodded, wincing when she tried to move. Her body was sore, everything ached.
“Do you want to talk about anything?”
She shook her head, only pulled herself closer to him.
“Then we won’t.”
“Does your leg hurt?”
“Terribly. But you probably knew that already.”
“I’m sorry about knocking you to the floor. I didn’t think. I thought you were going to kill him.” She looked down at the bruises on his knuckles.
“I was. I truly think I was. I was planning to take you to dinner. Chinese because it’s what you keep asking for. The door was locked and I could hear him yelling and you weren’t making a sound. All I could think about was getting through the door and making sure you were alright. And you weren’t okay. Because once again I wasn’t there in time. Because you were alone. Again.”
“You’re not just talking about last night.”
“It’s my fault. All of this is my fault.”
“It’s not your fault, Alden.” His hand stilled on her back. She moved against him, taking his face in both of her hands. He was frowning slightly, his face was warm, his cheeks freshly shaven. He smelled like aftershave. “It’s not your fault and you have to stop blaming yourself for all of these things. I read your letters. All of them. Don’t you think you’ve suffered enough?”
He moved to pull out of her hands, to disagree. “I think you have, Alden. I think you have.”
Nice moved to kiss him. Alden reached up to stop her, gently touching the side of her face. His fingers were hot on the sensitive bruises. She pulled away, reaching up to brush aside his fingers. Old feelings of rejection and loneliness flooded her.
“Now the bruises on the outside matches the hurt on my inside,” she said softly, turning away.
“You need to look at m
e, Nice. Baby, look at me,” Alden pleaded.
She turned back to him. His eyes were locked on her, searching her face. “There’s only you,” he said, pulling her face to his. His kiss was hot against her. She pushed his mouth open with hers, hungry for him, his touch. He pulled her onto his lap, holding her close, his mouth finding her neck, his hand in the hollow of her back. She sighed against his touch, wanting him, needing him.
His phone rang. Loud and rude against their solitude. He stopped and regretfully pulled it out of his pocket. “I have to take this call. I’m supposed to be working right now.”
She nodded at him, letting him lean back against the bed, the space between them filling with cold air. “Hello?” he answered. She moved to climb off of him and he stopped her, his thumb trailing over her hipbone before squeezing her thigh.
She smiled at him, bending and kissing his neck. He stroked her hair as she moved lower beneath his collar. She used her good hand to unbutton his shirt. His conversation was dull background noise. Her lips brushed against soft hairs, she felt his breath hitch as her tongue found his pink nipples, teasing him. He leaned his head back, breathing hard on the phone.
“I’m fine,” he said to the caller. “Just fax the files. I’ll take care of it.”
Slipping into the space next to him, she ran her fingers over his stomach, the hairs were soft, his breathing deep and even. She loosened his belt, pulling it out of the buckle. She watched his eyes as she unbuttoned his pants and slipped her hand into the space, finding him already hard and waiting for her. She pulled his pants down past his hips until they were at his knees. She stroked him slowly, watching his eyes close. His answers to the caller became single words.
Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, “I want you. I want you to make me feel something.”
He told the caller he had to go, hung up and let the phone drop to the floor. She climbed back on top of him, the phone buzzing against the carpet. He pulled her mouth to his, kissing her hard. His need melted her. She could feel her desire rushing. He pulled her shirt up, breaking the kiss for a moment to reveal her body to him. He ran his hands down her side. He slipped his hands into her panties moaning as she rocked against him. “I need these gone now,” he growled underneath her.