Blackbird's Fall - Jenika Snow Page 0,12
she focused on the tray of alcohol, gauzes, and ointment.
“How long have I been out?”
“Three days, but you’ve been in and out of it. Thank God, because during those times I was able to get you to drink some broth and water.”
Three fucking days? Shit.
“I honestly didn’t think you’d make it.” She held no emotion in her voice. It was more clinical, as if this was a job she was performing. “But I stitched up your wound, gave you some of the antibiotics I had on hand, which in all honesty helped in saving your life, and just waited to see if you’d wake.”
He looked down at his abdomen, pushed the sheet lower, and saw she had stitched him up. “You saved my life.” Looking back at her, he saw she was looking at him again. “Thank you. I almost lost hope in humanity.”
She blushed, and it was the prettiest shade of pink that covered her cheeks.
“I’m Marius Blackbird. What’s your name?”
“Maya Pointe,” she said softly, and he heard her swallow. “I brought in some more gauze and peroxide to clean your wounds.” She swallowed again, and he could tell she was nervous. “You must be hungry.”
He shifted on the bed until he was sitting upright. He pushed through the pain, because he didn’t want to look weak in front of this woman. He wanted her to know, for some inexplicable reason, that if it came down to it, he could protect them.
“We’ll start out slow, with more broth and water, to get your body used to solid food again.”
“Thank you again.”
She nodded and started getting the supplies on the bedside table. “I removed your dressing to let it get some air, but it’s starting to bleed again because you’re moving, so I think another bandage is probably best.” She grabbed the ointment and dipped a strip of gauze in the peroxide.
“Where am I?”
“You’re at my grandfather’s farm, or what used to be my grandfather’s farm.” She had a soft, gentle touch.
“I’ll leave as soon as I’m able.” Although he wanted to stay here, obviously, he needed to make her know he wouldn’t be any trouble.
She nodded. “We’ll worry about that once you’re strong enough to actually get out of bed.” She then started cleaning his wound, dabbing the peroxide-soaked gauze on it, and then smoothing ointment over it. She covered it with a clean bandage, and for a second, she just sat there staring at him. Finally, she stood, and the dog started to get anxious.
“If you need anything, just let me know.”
He nodded.
“I can hear you on the lower level if you need me. Don’t try getting out of bed just yet, not unless you want your stitches to open up.”
“Thank you again, seriously.”
She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ll bring in some broth and water, maybe a little bread to help your stomach.”
He also didn’t mention the fact that she’d given it away that she was alone in this big house. If he had been a bastard, one of those motherfuckers out there trolling for women, wanting them as their personal toys, she would most definitely be in danger.
He wanted to protect her though, wanted to keep those bad people away, and Marius wasn’t sure why exactly he felt that strongly about her.
It’s because you’ve been alone for months, having no actual contact with someone who remotely cared about making you well.
She might not “care” about him, but she cared if he lived or died, even if for the sole purpose of being a decent human. It also didn’t help that he found her utterly gorgeous, with her sweet face, her gentle voice, and the fact that she put on a strong front.
Threatening to shoot him didn’t piss him off or put him on edge.
It made him proud that in the face of all the ugly shit they faced, she could be a little warrior.
9
As soon as Maya closed Marius’s door behind her, she leaned against it and breathed out. She played a part in there, acting like she was stronger than she really was. He was the first person she talked to in far too long, and she couldn’t help but feel warmth at that.
Sherman started whining, and she pulled her thoughts away from the man currently laid up in the bed, his half-naked body something that had her thinking pretty inappropriate thoughts.
“I know, boy,” she whispered to Sherman and pushed away from the door. As she watched the dog run around for