wake from general anesthetic and we have very good drugs here. We told her she wasn’t alone, she squeezed your hand, then we hit her with a shot of morphine. Sleep is the best thing for her now.”
He cleared his throat again. “Would you wake me if I’m asleep next time?”
“Of course. Get some more rest; you look like you belong in one of these beds.” She hurried off to her next patient, quietly closing the door behind her.
Well, wasn’t that a kick in the teeth? Seething at his stupidity, Braun growled under his breath. Determined not to make the same mistake again, he rested his head back and stared at Bodie’s face, thinking of all the ways he’d make his failures up to her when he got her home.
Flowers. She’d like flowers, wouldn’t she? Something colorful and vibrant to chase away the depression that was sure to come on the heels of her recovery. He’d fill the house with wildflowers and violets and daffodils, whatever he could find. Blossoms with pretty scents to cleanse the odor of hospital from her senses.
Chocolate. She all but inhaled chocolate.
He’d have to consider giving Liam a raise and asking him to take over Avalon for the considerable future. There was some paperwork and a few things the boy didn’t know how to do, but that was easily remedied. Liam was a fast and efficient learner; it shouldn’t take him too long to get the hang of things.
Braun’s time and sole focus would be on Bodie from today onwards, at least until she was back on her feet. Even then, he couldn’t imagine leaving her for longer than ten or fifteen minutes. His protective instincts were on overdrive, driven into a frenzy by what happened.
With thoughts of improving the security systems at the house and club circling his head, Braun did what he swore he wouldn’t do again, and fell asleep.
*
“Blood pressure seems to be holding steady. I think you can unhook the blood once that bag has finished. I want her BP testing every twenty minutes for the next couple of hours, then every hour after that if she continues to improve. Push fluids, keep them ticking through.”
Braun blinked slowly, processing the familiar voice before his eyes found the doctor conferring with the kind nurse on the opposite side of Bodie. His head rolled before he could stop it, on the verge of turning his head back into the pillow and going back to sleep before he shook himself awake.
“Mr. Fitzpatrick, welcome back. You sleep like the dead.” Faraday peered at him, obviously wondering if he needed her services.
Truth be told, he felt that way. His goddamn body was too big to be scrunched up in a small space, and it told him so in no uncertain terms as he pushed himself back into a sitting position. Apparently, he’d slid down the damn chair as he slept. “Bodie?”
“Sleeping. She’s showing signs of improvement every hour, but we’ll continue to monitor her for some time. While she’s not out of the woods yet, I’m pleased with her progress. Depending on how she manages over the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours, I’ll consider moving her to a normal ward.”
He scrubbed his face. “That’s good, right?”
“Yes, Mr. Fitzpatrick, that’s very good. She hasn’t given up, and that’s always a good sign.”
Braun sucked in a breath, nodded. “Thank you. I needed to hear something good today.” The blood on Bodie’s fingers caught his attention. “Could I possibly ask a favor?”
“You can ask,” she agreed.
Something switched inside him, sending the Dominant roaring to the forefront. Reminding him he wasn’t just a man bogged down in guilt and worry. He was a goddamn Dom, the Master of Avalon, and the broken woman on the bed wasn’t just his woman, she was his submissive.
His to take care of. His to tend.
Motherfucking his.
They may be on Faraday’s territory with Bodie’s physical health in the doctor’s clever hands, but by God, that didn’t mean he had to stand back and act like a pansy. “She’s a bit of a mess. Would it be too much of an imposition to ask for a cloth and hot water?”
Faraday pursed her lips. “The nurses are in charge of bed baths, Mr. Fitzpatrick. Lisa?”
Lisa lifted her eyebrow at him. “Ever done this before?”
“In one capacity or another, yes.”
“Well, it would save me a job this afternoon, if Mr. Fitzpatrick is sure he’s happy with doing it. I’ll get you what you need.” She walked off quickly.
Faraday