Page 39 of Learning to Trust

David shot to his feet. “Let me help you, Sir.”

He pulled back the sheet and the instant he saw my injured body, his eyes widened and filled with tears. “Oh, Andrew, you’re a mess.”

David placed a hand against my back to assist me in rolling over and when I shouted, he released his hold.

“I’m sorry, Sir. How can I help without making the pain worse?”

“Let me do it myself, Baby.”

After a lot of huffing and puffing and copious tears, I finally managed to pull myself up onto the pillows and my side. I was breathing like someone who had just run a marathon.

“I have Advil and water, Sir. Do you want me to make you something to eat?”

“No thank you. Can you hold my head while I take the medication?”

David wrapped one arm around my neck and lifted me enough so I wouldn’t choke while taking the pills and gulping down the entire glass of water. He topped up the glass from a jug he’d set on a small portable table nearby.

I sank back against the pillows, exhausted. “What’s the time?”

“Two in the afternoon, you slept for quite a while, Sir.”

“How long have you been here?”

"Leon came for me just before ten. He said someone needed to stay with you for a few days and Kyle thought it best that I came over. Kyle gave me instructions on your care and said I was to ensure you soaked in a bath this afternoon. He told me which oils to use in the water. He said you're a stubborn bastard and if you refused the bath call him and he'd come over and give you further punishment."

“There is no fucking way I’m allowing water to touch my body.”

A fat tear rolled over David’s cheek. “Sir, Kyle said I was to remind you of aftercare with subs. Please don’t refuse, Sir, I couldn’t bear to have you punished further.”

“You could just tell Kyle I complied.

David shook his head. “I won’t lie, Sir.”

Fuck. The last thing I needed was a soak in the tub and Kyle was right, if David had been the one flogged as my sub, I would not have given him the option to refuse. The range of oils I used in a bath after a sub had been flogged, whipped, or spanked, were both soothing and healing.

“Go and prepare a bath so I can get it over with and rest.”

David jumped to his feet and pressed his lips to mine. “Thank you, Sir.”

Moments later, I heard the sound of water running in the bathroom.

I dreaded having to move since my body was one giant ball of pain, but I would bite the bullet and get it done.

Chapter Thirteen

DAVID

I was angry with Kyle after seeing Andrew hurt but it was what the two men had agreed to and I had to respect their decision.

A combination of oils were added to the bath water, which was warm, not hot, as Kyle had instructed. When the water reached the required level and heat, I turned off the faucet, stripped, and padded back to the bedroom to help Andrew. My heart broke knowing how much he was going to suffer.

I stood looking at Andrew for a few moments while he lay dozing. His face was etched with pain, so I suspected he wasn’t sleeping. I lowered one hand to his shoulder, hoping not to startle him, and his eyes flickered open.

“Sir, come on, you’ll feel better after a bath and then you can come back to bed and sleep.”

When I offered my hands to help Andrew, he reluctantly accepted. It took a lot of effort to get him onto his feet. Andrew was a big man and at least thirty pounds heavier than I was.

"Give me a minute," he requested.