Chapter 7 Wounded
The next morning he woke up from Jane’s loud shriek. She was surprised when she finds Ian in the same bed as hers, causing her to fall to the lush carpet under her with a loud thump.
“Damn it, Jane, you’re going to break more bones. You need to stop falling, the sun isn’t even up yet.” Ian was quick to aide her, getting her up to her feet.
“What are you doing in my room?” she asked looking up at him.
“Well, this is my room too.”
“Okay, then I should get going.” She was about to walk when she realized that she had sprained her ankle from the fall.
“My luck just keeps on getting better and better.” She said wincing from the pain. He was checking her ankle immediately. She was used to sprain limbs, the pain was a bit uncomfortable but she did try to walk on it slowly.
“Jane! just don’t move… you probably sprained it.” He gently pushed her shoulder making her sit on the bed.
“I’ll live detective. I just need to walk it off.”
She was sleeping in her thick trousers and oversize t-shirt, she didn’t like wearing those but she packed for practicality, and for the last few days it had protected her from the cold.
“You should rest your feet. Don’t go anywhere.”
“But I need to leave, you said I could leave today. Wait… why am I being held against my will? There’s something wrong about this arrangement.”
She was being smart with her comebacks and he was liking her attitude, more so than her fragile state last night.
“Are you seriously questioning my intention towards you? Just moments after you mentioned about your luck? Maybe this is me trying to change your luck?”
“You’re one weird detective.”
“It’s Ian, only my captain called me detective.”
“Okay, look Ian. Why?”
“It’s too early, still dark outside. I need coffee. You sit. I’ll be right back with some ice for your ankle.”
He was ignoring her question when in actuality he didn’t even know why he was keeping her in his house. He glanced at her, then leave her to the guest bedroom. He needed to do his morning stuff while waiting for the coffee to be ready.
She finally found her ankle wraps in her bag, she had stashed a couple of straps and an emergency kit in her bag. She was prepared for any kind of emergency.
Just not from people stealing the getaway car and money.
She thought to herself, as she was putting on her ankle straps.
Not wanting to dwell on her stupid mistake, she was trying to continue her day. She tried to walk it off, then let out a small smile as she felt that it wasn’t that bad. She went to the kitchen and mindlessly tried to return his kind favor for putting a roof over her head last night.
Though she still wasn’t sure why he was in her bed, but her thick and oversize clothes were still intact and she was the one who was clinging onto his naked upper body.
Damn.
She was cursing on the inside, but her hands were busy with her pancake batter. And she was juggling her task with preparing their coffee. She wasn’t sure how he takes his, so she just leaves his coffee black with sugar on the side.
He had just finished putting on his t-shirt, last night he was in such a hurry to her room that he was only wearing his pajama pants. And it has been a while since he sleeps through the night with a woman by his side, and he didn’t realize that he was liking it. He liked the feel of her soft slender body to his own.
God! I should really get laid.
His mind was wandering aimlessly when the smell of pancake reached his senses. He smiled and took his phone, then go to the kitchen. But seconds later his anger was simmering when he remembered that she had just sprained her ankle, and he didn’t like seeing her walking back and forth in the kitchen preparing breakfast. He had checked her ankle earlier, it was swollen and he had specifically said that she should stay in bed.
“Jane! what do you think you’re doing?!”
He snapped at her, he was upset that she didn’t listen to her. But his raised voice must’ve triggered something inside her as she dropped the milk bottle shattering it to pieces. And her reaction was a sheer terror as if he reminded her of someone else.
“Damn it, Jane! stay don’t move!”
He cursed some more on the inside, he should’ve known better not to snap at her. Quickening his steps, he finally reached her just before she took another step. Then he put his arms under her legs and carry her to the couch.
Analyzing her feet, he was satisfied when he sees her injured foot was clear of any shattered glass. Then he inspected the ankle wrap, which she expertly put on herself. He looked at her while she was still biting her lip, her eyes were watery and she was looking at him with her blank expression.
“I’m sorry for yelling, but I told you to stay put. Your ankle is still swollen and now your pants are wet. Do you still have a clean pair? you need to change.”
But she was still shocked, her heart still races a thousand miles per hour. The thumping sound was loud on her eardrums. She couldn’t even hear what he was saying. But she could feel the sharp pain in her other foot.
“Hey, Jane… look at me, you’re safe. I’m not him. I’m sorry…” he knelt in front of her, his hand stroked her cheek slowly taking her attention to him, and finally focusing on his words.
“Pain, right foot… hurts…” her words were weak, but he had heard her clearly. He was quiet, but he clenched his jaw as he blamed himself for not inspecting her other foot carefully.
“Come on…” he picked her up to his bathroom and putting down the toilet seat cover and seated her there, where he cleaned and patched her wound. The cut didn’t need stitches, but it was big enough that it would take a couple of days to heal.
“Here, change to my pajamas pants. Wait, just use my shorts. I don’t want you to slip and fall from the length. I’ll put your pants in the washer.” He handed her the shorts, which looked too big for her. But she was taking it, her shock had slowly faded and she was able to think and thanked him for patching her foot.
“I need my privacy.” She stated looking at him.
“Seriously? your left foot is sprained and your right is still hurting from the cut. And you’d think I’ll leave you to fall and what… break your hip?”
She was getting irritated by his too attentive attitude, she rolled her eyes but start taking off her pants. She was getting cold and sticky from the milk already, and she couldn’t care less about him seeing her in her panties.This is from NôvelDrama.Org.
But she was surprised when she heard him cursing while looking at her.
Oh.. oh…