“Get to the sink,” Prentice ordered, hustling her to the sink, he shoved her hand under and turned on the cold tap.
She held her hand under the tap as Prentice went to get ice. He returned and, front to her back, he reached his arms around her and held the ice to the angry red marks on Bella’s hand under the tap.
Fiona hovered close.
With his head dipped so his cheek was close to hers, he moved the ice around her fingers and whispered, “The burn is still working through, baby, we need to stop it. The ice won’t feel good but we need to keep it on there.”
“Okay,” Bella whispered back, her voice pinched with pain.
It took awhile before he noticed. The angry red marks were taking his attention from the calloused white marks in her palms.
But he noticed.
And Fiona noticed when he noticed because she watched as his body grew completely still.
Bella, tired and mind fogged with the pain, didn’t notice. He had actually uncurled her fingers with his thumb and tipped her palm up before Bella realized what he was about.
When he saw the marks, Prentice’s inhalation was a sharp hiss.
Instantly, Bella curled her hand in a fist and her body jerked to the side, seeking escape.
She was in a disadvantageous position with his arms around her, his body close; she had no hope of getting away.
And she didn’t.
He stepped in, pinning her against the sink, his arms locking at her sides, his thumb worked her fingers to open her fist.
Her body gave in but her hand resisted. The burn meant this caused undue pain. When she emitted a muted whimper, Prentice stopped.
Fiona would have held her breath if she had any.
Instead, she did the only thing she could do.
She hovered.
His voice was soft when he ordered, “Show me.”
Bella’s reply was immediate, “Step back.”
“Show me, baby.”
Her hand still a fist, she said in a tone that, though it was firm, fear threaded through it, “Prentice… step… back!”
His other hand circled her other wrist, he pulled both her fisted hands in front of them and his voice was an absolute, wretched ache when he demanded, “Show me.”
Fiona watched the tears hit Bella’s eyes and tremble at their edges.
“I don’t want you to see,” she whispered, her tone just as heartbreaking.
“Show me.”
“You’ll think –”
“Show me, Elle.”
“But –”
His hands at her wrists gave hers a gentle shake and he whispered, “Show me, baby.”