Free Blood Moon by A.D. Ryan Page B

move slowly so
I didn’t pull any stitches or disturb David, who still slept
soundly behind me. Walking on my tiptoes, I walked down the hall to
my bathroom so I could attempt to look at my shoulder to rule out
an infection. The medical tape was difficult to peel back without
tugging a little on my wound, but I managed to release the top
strip and pull the bandage down to inspect it. The reddened area
around the stitches was slightly swollen, and even the gentlest
touch sent white-hot pain shooting down my arm and torso.
    “That looks awful,” David said from the
doorway, startling me.
    I had been so focused on my shoulder that I
didn’t see him appear in the reflection of the mirror. He stepped
into the bathroom in nothing more than his flannel pants, but
before he could get a closer look, I quickly pulled the bandage
back up and turned to face him. “It’s fine.” He arched a brow,
silently calling my bluff, and I rolled my eyes while pulling the
bandage away again. “Okay, it’ll be fine,” I amended.
    His fingers were cold against my feverish
skin, and I tried not to recoil from his touch when another stab of
pain moved down my arm quickly, making my fingers tingle and seize.
“We should try to clean it, but if it doesn’t look any better by
the end of the day, I want to take you back to the hospital.”
    While I understood his concern, I really
thought he was worrying over nothing. “David, I was attacked by a
wild dog less than thirteen hours ago,” I reminded him with a smile
I hoped wasn’t coming across as forced as it felt. “We have to give
it time to heal.”
    “But—”
    Shaking my head, I refused to let him
finish. “Look, if it’s still bothering me or looks worse than this, then I’ll go to the hospital without a fight.” This
appeased him for the moment, so I continued. “But other than a
little pain, I’m fine. I promise.” He nodded but still didn’t seem
convinced. “Look, it probably just needs to be cleaned. Why don’t
you go put a pot of coffee on, and I’ll be out in a minute.”
    “Do you need a hand with the back of your
shoulder?”
    I considered his offer for a second before
deciding I couldn’t risk letting him know it hurt more than I was
letting on. “I don’t think so, but if I change my mind, I’ll come
get you, okay?”
    Seeming somewhat uncertain if he should take
me at my word, David remained in the bathroom for a moment before
conceding and heading to the kitchen. After closing the bathroom
door, I removed both bandages entirely and set to work cleaning my
shoulder. Turning the faucet on, I waited until the water ran warm,
and then I soaked a washcloth and gently cleaned the area around my
stitches. The pain in some areas was almost blinding, and I had to
bite my bottom lip to keep from whimpering too loudly and alarming
David.
    With my wound clean, I applied a new bandage
to the front of my shoulder, but had trouble with the back, so I
opened the door and called for David. In a flash, he was at my
side, a fresh cup of coffee in his hand for me.
    “What’s up?”
    I took a small sip of the rich brew, smiling
when I tasted the copious amounts of sugar he’d added, and then set
the cup down on the vanity. “I can’t get the bandage on the back.
Would you mind giving me a hand?”
    Smiling, he slowly turned me around and
reached for the pre-taped patch of gauze. “Not at all, sweetheart.”
Once the bandage was in place, he leaned forward and pressed a soft
kiss to the unmarred skin of my neck, sending a shiver of desire
through me. “There you go.”
    With my shoulder all patched up, I finished
getting ready for work. Once my hair and teeth were brushed, I
picked up my coffee and headed to my bedroom to find something to
wear.
    The minute I pulled on a button-up blouse,
the constricting fabric rubbed against my bandages and exacerbated
the throb in my shoulder. I took the blouse off, trading it for a
sage green ribbed tank top that wouldn’t tug on my