Daniel places the gun on the nightstand and sleeps on the couch in case she needs him. Delta opens her eyes and sees him sleeping on the couch and sits up in shock. Of course, she didn't think to ask where he would sleep. Vaguely, she remembers him holding her last night. Her blue eyes fly open, and she is stunned. She pushes to a sitting position and swings her legs carefully over the side of the bed.
Grabbing the crutches, she slips quietly into the bathroom to change her clothes, which are hung up on the door. Daniel brought her a green satin chemise to sleep in. Delta smiles, ‘very funny' she thinks as she leans against the two-person tub and pulls off her top. Putting the weight on her uninjured leg, she drops the long skirt and sits back on the side of the bathtub. Wearing only a wine-colored lace bra and panties, she carefully removes the bandage to look at her leg. It is bruised and discolored from the force of the pole ripping through her skin. They had to use stitches to close the wound because of the jagged nature of the tear. She runs some warm water and uses a washcloth to wash off the iodine and dried blood around the wound.
As she glances at the wound, a chill settles over her. Delta realizes for the first time that she could have been seriously hurt or worse. Her hands are shaking, and she is not surprised when Daniel opens the door. “Are you okay?”
“Daniel!” Delta tries to stand and cover her body, but he is grinning like a fool. He moves towards her and runs a finger down her cheek and traces his fingertips over the swell of her breasts. Slowly he pulls off the T-shirt he's wearing, revealing sculpted muscles and her mouth goes dry.
“Hands up, Delta,” he whispers. She obeys slowly, and he slides his T-shirt over her head. Delta smiles and inhales his scent. “It's a shame to cover up that beautiful body, but I don't want you catching a cold.”
“Thank you, Daniel,” she whispers. Daniel squats down to look at her thigh. The muscle of her leg jumps when he touches her.
“I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” He jerks his hand back. Delta shakes her head and looks up at the ceiling while he looks at the wound and grabs a new bandage, quickly covering the wound. Before he can move, Delta strokes a hand through his dark hair. He leans into her touch and closes his eyes as her hand strokes down the side of his face.
Delta shifts her body, placing him between her thighs and his eyes shift. Passion floats on the air heavily between them. Tired of waiting, Delta pulls him forward until he is pressed against her, “Delta,” he warns her, but she places a finger over his lips.
“You know how they say laughter is the best medicine, it’s not true.” Daniel grips the sides of the tub on either side of her to keep from touching her. Delta nibbles on his ear and neck before nipping at his shoulder. She touches his body the way she has dreamt of doing and smiles when the muscles jump beneath her hands.
“You would tempt the Saints, Delta, and I'm trying to do the right thing,” he says as he wraps his arms around her and his hands grip her bottom, “but I never said I was a saint.” Delta meets his hot kiss and wraps her legs around his waist as he stands with her.
All rational thought disappears, and for one moment, nothing else matters. Delta tears her mouth from his and throws her head back, giving him access to her throat and neck. Pain flutters in the background, causing her to frown, but his mouth is so hot and demanding. When he swings around with her clamped on him, she bumps her leg and gasps.
“Damnit.” Daniel moves through the bathroom back to the bedroom, while Delta giggles and buries her face in his neck. “I knew this was a bad idea.” He sets her gently on the bed, leaning back and stares at her with a stern look. “You need to keep your hands to yourself until you're healed.”
“I know you're right, but I can't seem to help myself around you.” Leaning forward, she presses a hot kiss to his stomach and runs her hands up his chest, only to laugh out loud when he leaps away from her and rushes into the bathroom. She laughs even harder when the shower turns on, and he gasps.
Delta snuggles into his bed and dozes while she waits for him to return. “Daniel, I'm cold, won't you warm me up?”
“You don’t know cold woman, that water was freezing,” he grumbles and pulls a blanket around his shoulders. Guilt fills her soul. He's been so kind to her, and she is embarrassed by her actions. What if he isn't attracted to her and she is throwing herself at him like a harlot? She rolls away to face the wall and murmurs.
“Daniel, I'm sorry, you've been so kind to me. I'll be out of your hair soon.” His sigh is mighty, and he runs a hand through his hair.
A minute after she feels the weight of his body hit the mattress, and a second later his freezing cold skin is against her.
