Stitch by Jaime Lewis (ebook reader online .txt) 📗

to Ace when he told him that he was in love with Mia. What started as a crush quickly morphed into love the more time he spent with her. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but she wasn’t in the mindset for that proclamation. He gently wiped the tears from her red-stained cheeks, and she flinched. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep his anger at bay.  He didn’t want her to think he was angry with her.

“I can’t believe that I slept all day.” She said in a husky but sexy voice that totally turned him on.

“You need the rest.”

She nodded again, then laid her head against his shoulder.  One of the many things he was taught during his lengthy combat medic training was to keep the injured calm, even during the midst of a battle. And, Christ all mighty was this a battle.

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So many emotions filtered through Mia’s head, making it hard for her to think straight. Her brain didn’t want to cooperate. That was probably from the drugs the doc gave her. Being in Stitch’s arms grounded her. He was full of warmth, and his presence gave her the sense of protection she was seeking.  She moved just slightly and felt the ache in her ribs, then as if right on cue, the pressure on her bladder increased.  She looked up at the handsome man embracing her, and she felt her cheeks flush.  Jesus, woman, get your shit together. You need to pee. 

Stitch chuckled, and she saw the amusement dancing in his warm eyes.  He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Before you ask, yes, you said that out loud.”

She ducked her head in complete embarrassment. Her brother used to make fun of her when they were kids because she would talk to herself, or ‘think out loud,’as she liked to call it.

“I really need to use the restroom, but I don’t think my legs want to work.”

“No worries, sweetheart.” As if she weighed nothing at all, he stood with her and walked to the bathroom. He set her feet down on the cool tile floor in front of the toilet and held her hips to help steady her. “Can you handle this by yourself?” He asked, nodding his head toward the toilet. She should have been embarrassed by the situation, but right now, she couldn’t care less.  All that mattered was emptying her bladder.

“I think I can handle it—alone.” She watched him as he studied her, probably asking himself if she was telling the truth. Once he seemed satisfied, he nodded his head. And, thank god, because she really didn’t want to tinkle with him watching and listening.  Before he left, he told her to holler when she was finished, and he’d help her back to the bed.

Once he closed the door, she exhaled. He was so intense, and though he smiled here and there, she sensed his edginess, but she knew it wasn’t directed at her. Turning toward the mirror above the sink, she gasped at the reflection staring back at her. Her face looked like a big discolored blueberry with all the bruising and swelling. Her arms were covered with black and blue finger marks. She was sure she would find the same types of marks and colors on her legs and torso. No wonder Stitch wouldn’t stop staring at her.  She looked like someone’s science project.

She grabbed the edge of the vanity and lowered herself to the toilet. It was a painful process. As she did her business, her eyes spotted the jacuzzi tub sitting in the corner. It was as if a spotlight shined down on it. It was surrounded by windows, and even had candles around the edge of it. Oh man, she’d do anything to be able to soak her body in that thing. The candles gave it an intimate setting, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Stitch had brought women up here before. Not that she thought he was a saint, but the vision of him with another woman caused a slight ache in her chest. An ache that she didn’t need to have right now because she had enough bumps and bruises to deal with for the time being.

She used the vanity to help her stand. She couldn’t pull her eyes from the tub. She could fill that monstrous bathtub with piping hot water and soak her aching body until she shriveled up like a prune. The only problem she saw with that idea was how she planned to get herself in and out of it. She could hardly walk, much less maneuver herself in and out of that thing.

She felt so emotional. She was completely helpless and vulnerable right now. Those feelings didn’t sit well with her because all her life, she was taught to be strong, confident, and independent.

She wasn’t sure how long she stood there in a complete daze when she felt those familiar arms come around her waist. She looked at her reflection again in the mirror and saw Stitch looking at her as he stood towering behind her, and she met his eyes. “Look at me. I look awful.”

He pressed his body closer against her backside and moved her hair off her right shoulder. Ever so gentle, he pressed his lips against her bare shoulder. She closed her eyes from the intimate and tender gesture and relished in the feeling of his firm lips pressed against her skin.

“You are the most beautiful woman I know, even with the bruises, and those’ll fade over time.” His words brought a slight smile to her face and made her heart beat a little faster. His fingers brushed against her sides where her shirt had lifted. His touch added to the sexual sensation flowing through her.

“How can I help you?” He whispered in her ear.

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She looked at him then glanced over her shoulder at the bathtub. “I’d love to soak in the bath. But I don’t think I can