Page 43 of Demetri
My father's words shock me. My dad is the most easy-going and even-tempered man I know. It warms my heart to see the way he is going to bat for my man right now. I can see he's having the same effect on Demetri. Once my dad has finished giving the doctor an ass-chewing, he and Demetri share a silent look of respect.
When my father turns his attention to me, I smile. "Hi, Dad."
"Hi, baby girl." Dad strides toward me with my mom and Grace trailing behind him. The nurse steps out of the way or more like she is knocked out of the way when my mom steps up to the bed and starts fussing over me.
"Oh, my sweet girl. I was so worried." She kisses my forehead.
"Come on, Karen. Let's go wait outside so she can get fixed up."
My mom gives me one last kiss before she reluctantly lets my dad pull her away. As they are about to exit the room, Demetri steps up to my father. "Mr. Keller, I'd like to invite you and your wife to stay at my home. I'm sure you both would like to be with your daughter during this time."
My mom bobs her head up and down as she silently cries. "Thank you so much, Demetri We'd like very much to accept your invitation."
Demetri and my father shake hands. "I'll alert the staff. Someone will be there to greet you when you arrive. Your daughter and I won't be far behind."
"If Grace doesn't mind catching a ride with Emerson, I can take Glory's parent back to the clubhouse for their things, then take them to your place, Dad," Logan cuts in.
"I'd appreciate that, Son."
When my parents walk out of the room behind Logan, I turn to the doctor. "Alright, Doc, let's get the show on the road so I can go home."
Thirty minutes later, I've had an x-ray, and I'm now back in the exam room where a nurse preps my shoulder with iodine. "Miss Keller." The doctor snaps on a pair of gloves and steps forward. "I'm going to inject the shoulder joint with twenty cc of one percent lidocaine; it will numb your shoulder. Then we're going to reduce it with external rotation." When I look at the huge-ass needle coming toward me, I begin to feel nauseous. I'm not good with needles. Never have been. Thankfully, Demetri senses my distress. Pulling up a chair, he takes a seat on the opposite side of the bed and takes my hand in his. Looking into Demetri's eyes, I pour all my focus on him and not the needle currently being inserted into my shoulder. "Alright, Miss Keller; you're going to feel a pinch. I want you to take a deep breath, then blow it out."
I do as the doctor instructs while not taking my eyes off Demetri. The lazy circles he's rubbing on the inside of my palm soothes me.
"All done," the doctor announces. "Let's give that a minute to kick in."
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. I'm ready to get this over with and go home. The room goes silent as we wait for the lidocaine to do its job. Demetri continues to hold my hand. His touch relaxes me to the point of drowsiness. Just as I'm about to drift off to sleep, the doctor touching my shoulder brings me back. "How about we get this show on the road so you can go home and rest." He gives me a warm smile. Demetri glares. It's obvious he's not a fan.
It takes less than fifteen minutes for the doctor to reset my shoulder and put it in a sling. The nurse helped me into a scrub top since she had to cut the shirt I was wearing off me. Lastly, my wrists are bandaged up, and the doctor gives me a prescription for some ointment for my wrists and pain medicine for my shoulder. Just as the doctor hands Demetri the piece of paper with my prescription written on it, Grace and Emerson walk into the room. Grace immediately rushes to my side and gently puts her arm around me. Her tears mirror my own. "I was so scared. I came close to losing you again, Glory."
"You're never going to lose me, Grace."
My best friend and I hold each other for a minute before we are interrupted by Andrei stepping into the room. "Are you ready, Mr. Volkov?" he asks Demetri. It's also then I let out an audible yawn. I'm completely exhausted. All I want to do is go home, get some sleep, then wake up in Demetri's arms because being with him is what makes me feel safe.
"Yes, Andrei, we are ready." Demetri turns to Grace. "Why don't you come to my house around noon tomorrow. You can check on Glory then. For now, I want to take her home so she can rest."
Grace smiles. "Thank you, Demetri. And yes, I'll come by tomorrow. I'll bring Glory's things from the clubhouse too."
Demetri nods, strides up to me and scoops me into his arms. A nurse walks into the room, pushing a wheelchair. She goes to open her mouth, but when she takes in the look on Demetri's face, she thinks better of it. I lay my head against his chest, close my eyes, breathe in his scent, and shut out the world around me.
Later that night, we are back at Demetri's house where I'm tucked into his bed. He has yet to leave my side. It's like he fears something will happen to me or I'll disappear if he turns his back for one second. He even carried me into the shower with him. I stood there while he washed my hair and body with such tenderness. Not once in the time it took him to wash my hair and lather my body did he take his eyes off mine: every touch and every stroke of his hands was done with love. There was nothing sexual or erotic about the moment. It was merely a man taking care of his woman. It was by far the most monumental moment of my life. Demetri Volkov saved me; literally and figuratively.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I snuggle into the crook of Demetri's arm, careful not to jostle my shoulder. "I want to thank you for what you did back at the hospital with my parents and for inviting them to come to stay here."
"What have I told you about thanking me for taking care of you and giving you what you need, Glory?"
I smile. "That you are my man and you'll always give me what I need."
"Always,Krasivaya." Demetri kisses the top of my head. "I am a father, Glory. I knew your mom and dad would want to be close to you after what happened.
"Speaking of, shouldn't you be with Nikolai right now?" I ask.
"I want nothing more than to be with my son, but he is not here."
Lifting my head, I peer up at Demetri to see an anguished look cross his face. "What?"
"He took off almost as soon as we arrived home." Demetri shakes his head. "I know my son. He will come to me when he is ready."
