"Leonard, take care of that," Jax calls to his driver who is still standing under the umbrella near the car.
"You're bleeding." He runs his hand over the back of my head. "Where are your shoes? Were you mugged?"
I shake my head back and forth, unable to form any words.
"We need to go to the hospital." He scoops me off the ground and into his arms.
"No. Please, no," I murmur against his chest. My hand clutching the front of his now drenched shirt.
"Leonard, the door. Help us."
The driver jumps into action, unlocking the door and leading the way up to Jax's apartment.
Jax places me gently on the couch before walking back to talk with Leonard. Jax's voice is hushed but I hear him say Mark's name, my apartment address and something about shoes. I hear the hushed click of the apartment door closing as Leonard takes his leave.
"Did Mark do this to you?" Jax is kneeling next to the couch now, his right hand stroking my forehead.
I feel my lips tremble as my eyes, once again, fill with tears. "Liz." I manage to say.
"Liz? Your friend, Liz?"
"Yes...her... she... and then Mark came to my place." My body starts to shake, the coldness overtaking me now.
"You're shivering. You need a shower." Jax picks me up again, taking me down the hallway to a bathroom.
He places me on my feet before reaching into a large, black marble shower stall to turn on the water. "Can you raise your arms?"
I nod. I cringe from a sharp pain in my left shoulder as I lift my arms above my head. I feel him pull the saturated t-shirt over my head, my breasts instantly visible. His eyes don't leave my face.
"Lean on my shoulder." His voice is gentle. He kneels to unfasten my jeans, sliding them and the pink panties I was wearing off.
"I can't believe anyone would hurt you." He embraces me, his arms locked around my mid-section, his head resting against my breasts. "You're so beautiful."
He stands and looks directly at me as he unbuttons his shirt. "I'll kill whoever did this to you."
"Please don't say that," I whisper, raising my hand to cradle his cheek.
He places his hand over mine. He closes his eyes, pulling my hand to his lips before placing a kiss on my palm. "I wish I had been there to protect you."
I nod silently, feeling my body trembling from the coldness in the air. I'm so overwrought. I feel as though the last few hours have been nothing but a nightmare. I don't know how I went from sitting in that limousine with Brighton to standing naked and shaking in his brother's apartment.
"What am I doing?" Jax swiftly finishes undressing. "We need to warm you up."
He walks past me to open the door of the shower. I scan his body, noticing how firm the muscles in his back are, how defined his legs are. My eyes linger on his round buttocks, wanting him to turn. He does as he reaches his hand out to me.
"Come."
I place my hand in his allowing him to lead me into the warmth of the shower.
"Thank you," I whisper through sobs as the water rushes over my body.
"Shhh." He takes my hands in his, placing them on his hips. "Hold onto me. I'll wash your hair. But first, let me look at that nasty cut."
I nod, leaning my head forward, my eyes now in a straight line with his groin. I breathe deeply seeing him naked and exposed for the first time. Even in a semi-hard state his cock is magnificent.
"I don't think you'll need stitches." His hand finds my chin, tilting my face up so our eyes meet.
"I'll take care of you, beautiful."
I stand silently as he takes his time gently washing and conditioning my hair. He turns my body slowly before soaping my back with a lavender fragranced wash. His hands lightly skim my buttocks then trail down as he washes my legs and feet.
"You cut your foot." There's disappointment in his voice. "Did you come all the way here in bare feet?"
"Yes."
He stands before turning me back around to face him. "I'll bandage that for you."
I catch my breath when I realize he's lathering his hands to continue his cleansing mission. He smiles gently before placing his warm hand on my chest above my breasts. We lock eyes as his hand moves lower, sliding over each of my breasts, stopping to circle my now hard nipples.
"I've wanted to take care of you for so long." His hand runs down my body, stopping to caress the subtle curve of my stomach.
I take a deep breath knowing that his journey isn't complete yet. I look down watching his hand disappear between my legs. He moves it slowly, separating the smooth folds, his finger just barely grazing my clitoris before his hand continues its path down my right leg.
"Step back so I can rinse you." He gently pushes me back so I'm under the flow of the warm water. I close my eyes, feeling him carefully rinsing the area that was cut again. His touch is light and gentle.