Page 43 of Kiss Kiss Bang
“I should’ve fought back.”
“No! No, you did exactly the right thing.”
“I—I thought,” she swallowed. “I thought he was going to rape me or kill me or both.”
That had been his worry too, but he didn’t voice it. “But he didn’t, and he’ll never get that close to you again.”
She wiped under her eyes and walked into the bathroom. “D-do you think that . . . can you stay close?”
“Of course. Let me help you.”
“It stings when I lift my arms,” she said with a pained look, trying to take off the T-shirt she’d had in her gym bag.
“Sit down.” He closed the toilet seat lid and helped her down, then he got on his knees and took off her sneakers, then her socks. “Slowly lift your arms for me.”
“Joey . . .” She looked mortified.
“I won’t look, I promise.” The doctor had told her that she should avoid wearing a bra for a few days, since it would rub against the wound. A tear slid down her face and she closed her eyes and lifted her arm. “Hey, hey,” He softly pinched her chin with his index finger and thumb. “Please don’t cry. The worst of it is over and you’re here and you’re okay.”
“This is so embarrassing and I just . . . I can’t believe this even happened,” she sniffled.
“Would it make you feel any better if I tell you that I was eventually, probably in the very very near future, going to see you naked anyway?”
She gave a watery snort. “That’s very presumptuous, Joey.”
“I like you smiling.” He leaned in and kissed her lips softly. “And you know you want naked Joey time as much as I want naked Livie time, so really, it’s no big deal.”
She rolled her eyes and sniffled one last time before sitting upright and slowly lifting her arms. Joey pulled the shirt gently over her torso and then over her head trying to avoid looking at her tits. But fuck, they were nice tits. A little more than a handful, pink plump nipples on skin so pale it was almost translucent. He remembered exactly how she tasted. It was amazing that it had only been a couple of weeks. It felt like he’d known her for years. He swallowed and moved his eyes up to her face. As soon as the shirt was over her head she covered herself with her arms and then stood. “I can do the shorts myself. It only hurts when I stretch my abdomen.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. Thank you.”
“Okay, I’ll be right outside waiting. Holler if you need anything. When you finish, I’ll change your bandage to a dry one.” He closed the door behind himself and sat on the bed to wait for her, his mind wandering to what had happened. He needed to sit in front of his computer with all the account numbers she’d been given. He needed to find a motive. He needed to work. But she needed him, so he sat there and waited. Luckily, she didn’t take too long to finish.
When she emerged from the bathroom, steam billowing out, she was fully dressed and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed.
“I could’ve helped.”
“I managed.” She handed him the waterproof wrapping so he could help her change out the bandages.
“Lay down and lift your shirt.”
She followed his instructions, lifting the shirt right under her breast exposing her soft but flat abdomen. Carefully he removed the clear covering and then the bandages and gauze. He tried not to make a pained face when he saw the angry marks. Then he had to move higher to where the motherfucker had cut her actual breast, starting from right underneath her nipple. Gently he lifted the shirt, exposing her breast.
And what kind of sicko was he that he wanted to suck that nipple, which was mere inches from his face, right into his mouth?
But the desire was mixed with rage from how close the asshole had gotten to her and had inflicted pain. His face must have shown a full spectrum of emotion.
“It looks really bad doesn’t it?” she asked.
He almost laughed at the absurdity of the question. If she knew how he was just thinking completely inappropriate thoughts she’d probably smack him. Clearing his throat, he dabbed the area around the stitches, making sure it was all dry. “I won’t even respond to that question. There’s nothing not beautiful about you. I’m fucking furious that you’re hurt, though.”
Once he was finished, he pulled her shirt down and helped her up. “I don’t really know how to thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“I don’t need you to thank me. I need you to listen to me and do what I say when it comes to your safety. I need you to fire Tom immediately and I need to take over.”
“Okay. What happened to me—” She shook her head. “It can’t happen to Sophie, it can’t even come close. So, whatever you say, I’ll do. Just promise me you’ll keep her safe. No matter what, she comes first.”
