Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“We’ll figure it out, baby. The main thing is keeping you safe. Now, we need to go and see your cousin. Think you can walk all right?”
“I’ll be fine.”
He nodded and moved the armchair away as she climbed from the bed. She felt a bit lightheaded but squashed that feeling.
Shuffling toward the bathroom, she was surprised as he moved with her.
“Uh, what are you doing?” she asked as he entered the bathroom.
“I’m going to stay in here while you shower.”
“Why?” she squeaked.
“Because I’m not going to risk your back seizing up again and you ending up on the floor, unable to fucking move,” he told her firmly.
“Um, well, I don’t think that will happen. My back is much better this morning. But if you’re that worried, you can wait in the bedroom.”
He leaned against the sink and crossed his arms over his chest. “Stop arguing with me over something that’s necessary for your health and safety and get in the shower.”
“It’s my health and safety,” she pointed out.
“Yes, it is.”
She threw her hands up into the air, more irritated over how rational he sounded than by what he was actually saying. “So I shouldn’t get a say?”
“When you make the right choices.”
She narrowed her gaze as she glared at him. “And I suppose you staying in here is the right choice?”
“Look at you making the right choice. You need to turn the shower on, lass. Let the water warm up a bit before you get in.” He frowned. “Or is it too slippery for you to get in and out of? Perhaps I should lift you in and out.”
She sighed. “I can get in and out of the shower on my own, thank you very much.”
The man was impossible, but Sofia knew he was so stubborn that she’d be here arguing all day if she didn’t give in; besides, she really wanted to shower.
And to pee.
“I need to use the toilet.”
His other eyebrow rose. “Not unexpected after all that coffee.” He nodded to it. “There you are.”
“Colm!” she said with exasperation. “You cannot stay in here while I pee!”
“Pretty sure I can.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“You might need help getting on and off the toilet.”
She threw her hands into the air. It seemed to be becoming a common gesture around him. The only outlet for her Colm-induced exasperation.
“I don’t.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“Trust me. I can manage the toilet. And the shower. I’m a big girl. I’ve been toileting and showering myself for a long time. Last night wasn’t a normal occurrence.”
He didn’t look happy, but he did move toward the door.
“The door stays open, though.”
“No peeking! Or listening!”
Yikes.
As if he’d want to watch or listen to her pee. What was wrong with her? Still, she was desperate enough to go that she didn’t bother trying to close the door. She quickly used the toilet and washed her hands. As he walked back into the room, she was turning on the shower.
“Can you, uh, look the other way?” she asked as she went to take off his T-shirt.
“Why would I want to do a foolish thing like that?” he murmured.
“Colm!”
With an exaggerated sigh that she thought was truly unnecessary, he turned to face the mirror. She quickly whipped off his T-shirt and then bent to take off her panties. When she straightened, he suddenly appeared in front of her.
“How the fuck did you get that?”
She was too busy trying to cover herself up to take note of where he was looking.
Then it hit her.
The bruising. She’d done her best to hide it from him last night.
“Sofia. I’m gonna need an answer. Right the fuck now. How did you get that bruising?”
“Oleg,” she managed to say.
“That fucking bastard. He hit you in the ribs? He could have broken them. How badly does it hurt?”
She shook her head. She couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat. Because she knew she should tell him that the bruises were old. That they didn’t really hurt that much anymore.
Well, sometimes they did.
That she was fine.
“How the hell didn’t I see these last night? Were you hiding them?” He crouched to study the bruises. Dear Lord. His face was awfully close to her pussy.
And despite the topic of the conversation, she was turned on.
Seriously. What was wrong with her?
It had to be something profound for her to be turned on while they were discussing the abuse she’d been dished out.
Then Colm placed his hand gently on her side, making her jump.
Something strange filled his face.
Some sort of understanding.
And he glanced up into her face. The look on his face was chilling.
“Colm?”
A shiver ran through her and not because she was completely naked. Because she knew that he knew.
And that terrified her.
“These bruises are old, aren’t they, Mo leannan? He’s been hurting you, hasn’t he? Why the fuck did you stay with him?”