Page 9 of Crave Me

“Your wish is my command,” Simon said, laughing again. “Which isn’t something I say very often.”

My back tightened at the sound of his laughter, so beautiful and free and genuine. Pain shot down my spine at the movement and I cringed, crying out in pain. “Oh, God. It hurts.”

His hand curved around my shoulder and squeezed. “Sorry. I’ll get back to work. Take a deep breath, let it out slowly. It might hurt until I get you patched up.”

As the first breath left my lips, he pressed the ointment to my lash marks.

“Ouch,” I hissed, squeezing my eyes closed. “Please hurry.”

“Now, that’s not something I hear often.”

Another shot of pain rolled across my flesh as he continued cleaning my wounds and covering them. The snip of scissors sounded as he cut gauze and covered me.

“These aren’t so deep,” he said. A knock hit the door. “That should be the doctor. Would you like me to stay?”

“You don’t have to. I’m sure you’re busy.”

“I was bored, not finding what I wanted tonight. But I’m still curious why you chose my name as your safe word.”

He stepped back and moved toward the door.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I whispered, hating the scratchy tone in my voice. I was pathetic. Hanging on to a crush from a man who never wanted me, and even if he did, would never have me. What I’d done six months ago was a mistake. Not only was it humiliating, but it cemented the fact I would never have a chance at him. I should have given up the idea long ago but now, after our kiss it was so much worse.

Him being so nice to me, taking care of me, hurt almost as much as the pain in my back.

For months, I’d tried to erase the memory of our kiss, the moment he held me tightly to his chest, but it was futile. For five years, I’d wanted him, enamored by his confidence and rich voice, and the way he laughed easily, joked with my dad about football and hockey. He could listen to me discuss politics with my family, me the lone liberal surrounded by a group of wildly stuffy conservatives. When my dad would roll his eyes, Simon always smiled indulgently as my dad said, “That girl of mine. I have no idea where I went wrong.”

The more serious Cassie and Simon became, the more I stayed away. But his smiles, the way he’d bring me to his side and hug me, let me rest my head on his chest a moment too long when he greeted me, those I remembered the most.

Until that kiss.

Now, memories of the taste of him and the feel of him haunted me in my dreams and fantasies. Regardless of how often I tried to brush them away, envision someone totally different like actor Taylor Kinney or quarterback Jimmy Garropolo, Simon’s glasses appeared in my mind, his full lips, his gray-blue eyes.

“Hi Simon,” a woman said. “I hear we’ve had an incident.”

“Yes. Chloe, this is Dr. Marie Stanton. Marie, this is Chloe.”

Marie stepped toward me, her gaze sweeping my exposed back as she did so. She flashed a kind smile toward Simon before settling her hand on my shoulder. “Looks like Simon’s been taking care of you.”

“Yes,” I mumbled. Embarrassment seared my cheeks. How could I have been so stupid as to get mixed up in this? This wasn’t my first time at Luminous. Until Simon wrapped me in his arms, I had no idea he was a member. When Jared, approached me earlier, I’d gone over a quick list of my preferences. I hadn’t gotten an inkling of fear from the burly Dom until he’d slashed me with a cane without warming me up properly. “You can go, Simon.”

I couldn’t handle him near me. While the doctor moved her hand down my back, lifting and checking beneath the gauze, the room became stifling.

“I’ll stay.” He crossed his arms over his chest and arched a brow.

I didn’t have strength left to argue with him. I turned my head so I didn’t have to see the pity in his eyes. “Whatever.”

“You have small, open wounds. They’re not deep enough to stitch, but they might scar. In addition to the pain, you’re most likely experiencing an adrenaline crash which is heightening sensations. You’ll have some bruising, and you’ll need to take it easy for a few days.”

“Okay.” I was barely paying attention. Hard to focus on her when I could feel Simon glaring at me.

She held up a bottle of oil. “This is arnica oil. It’ll soothe the pain from the caning and prevent bruises where you skin isn’t cut. For the rest of the week, take warm baths and soak your back. Do you have someone to help you put this on your back until you heal?”

Hell no, I didn’t. I lived alone and besides Tyra, I didn’t have many friends in town. Plus, I couldn’t exactly call my family to help.

“I’ll do it,” Simon said. “Every day, until you’re better.”

I cringed at the authoritative tone in his voice. “You don’t have to.”

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