Rock Me Deeper (Licks of Leather #5) - Jenna Jacob Page 0,21

me in a little bit on the elevator. Since you’re a friend of Caris’s, how do you think she’s doing?”

“Physically, she’s in a lot of pain. Emotionally…” I shrugged. “We drifted apart for a long time. She still has the fire of her youth.” She just served my balls to me on a silver platter. “But I’m not sure if it’s real or a façade to keep me at arm’s length.”

“I see. While I treat her visible injuries, I’ll stress the importance of seeking a professional to help with the emotional ones.”

“I’ll stress it, too.” If she’ll ever talk to me again. “Come on in. I’ll take you to her.”

“Thank you.”

“We’ll wait here,” Darren announced as Burk eyed the stack of envelopes I’d placed on the coffee table.

Yeah, that was another can of shit I needed to open tonight.

Biting back a growl, I led Callahan down the hall to Caris’s room and rapped on her door.

“Come in,” she said with a sniff.

Fuck. She’s in there crying because of me.

I opened the door and stuck my head inside. The sight of her red-rimmed eyes and nose eviscerated me all over again. “The doctor’s here. Is it okay if he comes in?”

Caris didn’t answer, simply nodded.

I pushed the door open, and Callahan stepped inside. I watched her intently as the doctor moved in close to the bed.

Gripping the knob so tight my knuckles turned white, I stayed silent as they exchanged introductions. Her body remained tense for several long seconds before her shoulders relaxed. Callahan cupped her tiny hand and promised he’d be gentle, further putting Caris at ease.

“I’ll be right down the hall if you need me,” I blurted.

She wouldn’t, and even if she did, my sorry ass was last on her list.

Mentally berating myself for the umpteenth time, I joined the guys in the sitting room.

“You look like hell had a yard sale,” Burk jabbed.

“I feel like it, too.”

The singer narrowed his eyes. “Whoa, that’s not the smart-assed answer I was expecting. What the fuck is going on? You haven’t been yourself since…since you discovered Caris was the woman in that bed.”

“If you’d found Sofia there, you wouldn’t be yourself either.”

“No, because I’m in love with…” Burk cocked his head and studied me even more intently. “You’re in love with Caris, aren’t you?”

Chapter 4

Caris

While the doctor inspected and treated my wounds, I continued mentally cursing myself for tearing into Syd on the balcony.

When we’d arrived at the hotel, I’d vowed to keep the scathing speech I’d practiced the last fifteen years locked inside me. But like an idiot, I’d opened my mouth and spewed the gory details to what…? Exact revenge? Yep. That was mistake one. Mistake two was never considering how Syd would react, or the ensuing fallout. And mistake three was foolishly thinking I wouldn’t have to struggle with the crippling guilt and shame I’d burdened Syd with on the balcony.

Not only was I swamped with remorse for spilling my guts, I’d also completely shredded the only man I’d ever loved. But I didn’t stop there…oh, no. Instead of forgiving him when he pulled me to his chest and tried to inundate me with apologies, I slid on my ice-princess mask, ordered him to let me go, then ran away so he wouldn’t see me fall apart…again.

They say revenge is best served cold. But nobody ever said if you toss it in the wind, it all flies back in your face. It’s not revenge, then; it’s nothing but stupidity.

I was completely confident that if Syd Googled ungrateful bitch, my face would be the first to pop up on his computer screen.

Oh, god. Why? Why did I have to open my big mouth?

I wanted to scrub the oppressive guilt off us both. I simply didn’t know how.

“I’m going to leave this tube of cream with you,” the doctor stated, dragging me from my grim dilemma. “Apply it twice a day to your cuts and burns.”

As he began driving home the importance of finding a therapist, I nodded at all the appropriately but mentally blocked him out. After packing gauze and tape back in his bag, he strode to the bathroom and returned with a glass of water before shoving a pill at me.

“What’s that?”

“A sedative. It will help you sleep.”

“I-I don’t—”

“You need it,” he insisted.

He watched me like a hawk as I placed the pill on my tongue. But as I took the glass, I slid the tablet against my cheek and gulped the water down. When he strode