“He didn’t actually mean to do it. He was going for my underwear.”
My lips part, but once again I swallow down the words.
“Let’s get it cleaned up and see how bad it is.”
She nods once, and I rush to get the first aid kit, turning the bath off while I’m there. It’s never been used so much since she moved in. Actually, I’m pretty sure it had never been used at all.
The second I wipe the blood away, I see that she’s right. My panic and the amount of blood covering her makes it look worse than it really is.
“I-is the bath ready yet?”
“But—” I say, looking down at the knife wound on her hip.
“It’s hardly going to kill me.”
My eyes fly up to her. No, but that cunt and his knife could have. “Let me dress it. I know it’ll come off, but it’ll make me feel better.”
“Whatever,” she sighs, her body relaxing back into my mattress.
I put a sterilised pad over the wound before covering it in as much tape as possible.
“Okay, good as new.” I look at her and wish I could eat my words. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
I hold my hand out for her, and almost immediately, she slips her small one into it.
She allows me to lead her to the bathroom before coming to a stop in front of the bath full of bubbles.
“Okay?” I ask when she just stands there, doing nothing.
“Are you… are you leaving me?” Her voice is low, and the chill within it guts me.
“I’ll do whatever you need me to do,” I say, taking her hand back in mine and squeezing in support.
She nods but remains silent for a second as she thinks.
“Help me?” Her words are almost a whisper, and for a moment, I think I misheard her. But when I look into her eyes, I know she said them. She’s running on empty right now.
I check if she’s okay with it before lifting my shirt up over her head. The second I discard it on the floor and look back, I’m reminded of what happened tonight. Her own shirt and bra are ruined and hanging from her shoulders. She’s got red scratch marks running from her neck all the way down to her waistband.
My fingers clench with my need to go back and hurt him. It doesn’t matter that he’s already dead. No man should ever do this to a woman.
“Please… don’t look at me like that.” She twists her head to the side so I have no chance of making eye contact with her.
“I’m not looking at you like anything. I just want to make sure you’re not hurt anywhere else.”
“You are, you’re looking at me with pity, with disgust that I let him do that.”
“What? No.” Taking her chin gently between my fingers, I encourage her to look back at me. She resists for a moment but soon gives in.
“I’m in awe of you, Kas. Your strength, your ability to cope with this fucked-up situation. You blow my mind.”
“I’m nothing, Spike. I just do what I’ve got to do to survive.”
Anger swells in my belly that she doesn’t see even an ounce of how incredible she is.
“That’s bullshit. You’re… You’re…” Her eyes fill with water as I search for the right word. Lowering down, I press my forehead to hers and continue staring into her eyes. “Amazing, Kas.”
A sob rips from her throat, and I gather her up in my arms as her small body trembles with her cries.
“It’s okay, Tiny. I’ve got you, no one’s going to hurt you now.”
After long, agonizing minutes, she eventually pulls her tear-stained face from my chest. Her eyes hold so much pain when they meet mine that it makes my breath catch.
I cup her cheek, my fingers threading into her hair as our connection holds.
Every muscle in my body tenses with the need to lean down and kiss her, but I can’t. That’s the last thing she needs right now.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” She nods and takes a step back. I miss her warmth immediately, but I’m not the one who needs the support right now, and I remind myself that I have a job to do.
Pushing her ruined clothes from her shoulders, I drop to my knees and pull her ripped trousers and knickers down her legs. I run my fingers over the bandage I taped to her hip to ensure it’s still secure before leading her to the bath.
“Okay?” I ask, holding her hand as she steps into the warm, bubbly water.
I watch her until she’s submerged, and then I turn around to pick up her clothes. She doesn’t need to sit there staring at them as a reminder of what happened.
“Spike?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you…” She shakes her head. She’s trying to be strong and hates that she’s so vulnerable right now. I understand it must be a bit of a shock to the system after taking charge for so many years.
Dropping her clothes once more, I fall to my knees beside her and plunge my arm into the water to find her hand.
“Anything, Kas. Anything you need.”
She nods, accepting my words.
“Will you get in with me?”
My lips part, but no words make it past for a good few seconds.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
“No, no, it’s fine. I meant what I said, anything you need.”
Standing, I make quick work of shedding my clothes before stepping into the bath behind her.
“Shit, this water is hot,” I say, as it burns my skin.
She didn’t so much as wince when she got in. She shrugs, and I realise that she probably didn’t even feel it.
My
