Page 37 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
“Thanks,” I put my hand out.
“I’ll do it.”
“I can manage Jaxson, now give it to me,” I rip it out of his hands and go into the bathroom. I barely manage getting the saran wrap on. My ribs are so tender that I get dizzy from the pain. I get in the shower and moan when the hot water pounds on my sore body. Every muscle aches from my fall. Once the bruising goes down I’m going to need to see Kayla for a massage. I wash quickly knowing I don’t have much time before I need to be at Grams and reluctantly get out. I throw on a clean pair of underwear and bra then my robe again. Walking out of the bathroom I see Jaxson sitting on my freshly made bed. He has gauze, bandages and ointment sitting beside him.
“Can’t a girl get some privacy?” I ask annoyed.
“Quit your grumbling and get over here.”
“Jaxson, I’ll try and do it myself.”
“No! I know what to do, you don’t.”
“You can’t expect me to stand in front of you half naked.”
“It’s not a big deal, just come here and we’ll get it over with.” I stand where I am, not moving any closer to him. “Now Julia!” he demands firmly.
To be honest, I probably will have trouble and I wasn’t paying attention to what the nurse said last night. I walk over to him knowing I don’t have much choice but I glare at him to let him know I’m not happy about it. I’m a pretty private person, I don’t even change in front of a mirror. Jaxson and Justin are the only two guys that have seen me naked, both were a long time ago.
When I reach him I turn to my injured side and try opening the spot to my damaged ribs without having to open my robe. It’s not working well.
“I can’t get to it like this. Open your robe,” he says gruffly.
“No!”
“Jesus Julia, I won’t look anywhere else but your ribs ok? You’re wasting time. Don’t you need to get to Grams soon?”
Damn it he’s right. “Fine! But I mean it Jaxson, don’t look anywhere else!” I really shouldn’t be so paranoid. The guy has stayed the hell away from me for 6 years, it’s not like he’s going to jump at the first opportunity to see me naked.
I turn to face him a little more. When I start to pull my robe open he says, “Jesus that’s nice.”
“That’s it!” I quickly shut my robe and I turn around to storm off when he grabs my arm laughing.
“I’m kidding Julia.”
“It’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. I won’t do it again I promise,” he’s trying to hold back his laugh but there’s a stupid smirk in its place that makes me just as irritated.
Fine two can play at this game… “You promise?” I ask seriously.
“Yes I promise,” he says trying to hide his smile. I turn to him fully and undo my robe dropping it down my arms so it pools at my feet. He sucks in a sharp breath as I stand before him in my black satin bra and panties. My irritation vanishes when the smirk he had moments ago is gone. His jaw is clenched as he stares at my stomach, completely frozen.
Ha! Not so funny now, is it buddy? “Hello? Are you going to start anytime soon? I’m a little cold here,” I say impatiently as I enjoy his torment.
“Fuck me,” he mumbles under his breath. Finally he moves and gets to work on my ribs.
When he goes to pull the bandage off I suck in a sharp breath and grab his shoulders digging my nails into them. “Ow, ow, ow,” I close my eyes and wanna cry it hurts so bad. The sticky tape holding the gauze pulls painfully at my raw skin, add that to the tenderness of the bruising and it’s a painful combination.
“I’m sorry, I’m trying to be careful,” he says gruffly.
My pain vanishes when his hot breath hits my bare stomach. I suddenly become aware of how close my body is to his as I stand between his legs and how strong his shoulders feel under my tight grip. Crap! This is not so funny anymore. It takes every ounce of my will not to squeeze my legs together to stop the ache that’s happening between them.
“Do you want to take some more pain medication?”
Jaxson’s question snaps me out of my sexual fog and I keep a tight hold on his shoulders, worried if I don’t my legs will give out from the need coursing through me.
I clear my throat and try not to let my voice betray what I’m really feeling. “No, maybe after Grams. I don’t want to be drowsy at her brunch.”
When he gets the bandage removed he starts applying the ointment gently. The coolness is a welcome relief to my over-heated body. I feel Jaxson tense under my grip as he applies it.
“I’m seriously going to kill that fucker.”
“It was kind-of both our faults,” I whisper anxiously.
“Julia, none of this was your fucking fault.”
I don’t respond because I don’t want to talk about Wyatt right now, especially with Jaxson.
“Cooper is coming by today to talk to you about last night.”
“Ok, but it will have to wait till after Gram’s brunch.” Jaxson nods in agreement.
When he finishes the last of the bandaging I go to walk away when he grabs my good hip pulling me close to him. It catches me off balance and I grab back onto his shoulders to steady myself. His heated gaze roams up my body to my face.
“Next time you pull something like that Julia, sore ribs or not, I won’t let you off the hook so easily.”
Oh the man is infuriating! Sexy… but infuriating. I stare into his fiercely heated gaze while need escalates between us. I pull myself together and lean in close with a confidence I don’t feel, “Then next time, Jaxson, don’t start something you won’t finish.”
