"It's time to dry you off." I open my eyes to see him reaching behind me to shut the water off. He grabs a thick white towel from a shelf above the showerhead. I feel the softness swathe me as he wraps it around my body. He quickly wraps another around his waist. His hair dripping onto his face, he pulls his hand over it, pushing it back. "I'll take care of that nasty cut on your head and the one on your foot."
***
"You're ticklish, aren’t you?" Jax, now clad in sweatpants is trying desperately to apply antiseptic cream to the cut on my right heel. My giggling isn't helping matters.
"A little, yes." I smile at him from my spot on his bed where he laid me after dressing me in one of his t-shirts and a pair of navy boxers.
"Hold still or I'll tie you down." He throws me a wicked grin.
"Promise?"
He shoots me a glance and a wide smile before going back to work on my foot. "All done," he announces as he places the box of bandages down on the bedside table. "Now I'll find a brush for your hair."
As he leaves the room I reach up to feel my hair and my fingers lightly skim the cut and now good-sized bump near the back of my head. My mind instantly forms an image of the anger in Liz's eyes before she pushed me. I tear up, my heart beating faster thinking about the depth of her betrayal and my naivety.
"What's happened?" Jax's hand cradles my face as his thumb reaches to push away a tear that has fallen down my cheek. "You were thinking about earlier?"
"Yes." I sob now, thinking about how terrified I was of Liz and how overwhelmed I was learning that she was one of the women Mark had been unfaithful with.
Jax motions for me to move forward. He settles in behind me on the bed, his back resting against the black headboard, his legs around me. He pulls my back to his chest, his arms circling me.
"I didn't know where else to go." I feel a need to explain how I ended up on his doorstep. I'm not sure of it myself. It was an inner drive to be near him after hearing him tell me earlier that he'd protect me.
"You're exactly where you need to be." I feel him gently pull a brush through my now damp hair.
I nod silently enjoying the feeling of him taking care of me.
"I think you should talk to the police tomorrow," he says very matter-of-factly. "I'll take you there to file a report."
"No." I turn my head to look at him. "I don't want that."
"Ivy." He stops brushing my hair. "You were badly hurt."
"I fell." I turn back around, pulling my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. "I stumbled when Liz came running at me."
"She pushed you." His tone is more serious. "I know that she pushed you."
"She was so angry. I've never seen her that angry."
"Was it because you went to the party with Brighton tonight?"
"No." I feel the tears rising to the surface again. I take a deep breath trying to steady my emotions. "Mark came and she heard him and she lost it."
"Did Mark threaten you?" I feel Jax's body tighten.
"No. It wasn't like that." I hold my head in my hands wanting to forget that tonight ever happened.
"We don't need to talk about it." He stands now. I look up to see him towering over me. "It's time for you to sleep."
He hops off the bed. I move slightly as he pulls back the covers, revealing tan sheets. "Get in, beautiful."
I shift my body so I'm now under the covers. I look at him expectantly, not certain of what his next move will be.
He leans down, brushes his moist lips against my forehead before he whispers, "sleep well. I'm in the next room if you need me."
I stare silently as he closes the door behind him, my eyelids suddenly feeling very heavy.
***
"Do you want coffee?" Jax's voice greets me as a walk into the kitchen.
"I think I overslept and yes, please." I sit in one of the chairs next to the small dining set.
"Cream, sugar?" He smiles as he hands me a ceramic mug filled to the brim with rich smelling coffee.
"No, thank you."
"Does your hair always look this way when you wake up?"
"What way?" I reach to touch it, quickly realizing that the natural curl I so desperately dislike took control when I went to sleep with damp hair. "Not always, no."
"I love it."
I see that he's already dressed in navy trousers and a light blue dress shirt. "You're dressed," I say under my breath, feeling very out of place.
"I've been out. I needed to take care of some things."
"Things?"
"Ivy things." He winks at me before walking out of the room.
"Ivy things?" I repeat quietly.