“Thank you, Sunshine,” he gets out. “Please, I need some water.”
I nod and unlock the door, ordering the flabbergasted men to bring up some food and drinks. They blanche at the sight of the room, and once I turn around and inspect the damage, I’m horrified by what I see, too.
Heath has destroyed this room. The metal railing of the bed is broken and dented in several places. Pillows have been ripped open and there are feathers everywhere. Broken glass litters the floor. The curtains are askew on the rod they’re hanging from. Heath has trashed this place in his state.
But now, he’s only the shadow of the man who did all this. He can’t even move from the floor.
Gently, I help him up to the mattress that half-hangs off the frame. I strip off his sweat-soaked shirt and softly kiss his forehead. After the food and water arrive and he snarls at a maid, I tell them to leave us alone. The door locks again, sending chills down my spine. I’m afraid. But Heath won’t hurt me again... He wouldn’t.
I guide his hand to a glass of water, and he drinks in greedy, long gulps. Heath manages a grateful, broken smile as I refill his glass. He downs that one too.
“Let’s get you in the shower,” I suggest. “Come on, I’ll join you.”
He’s much heavier than me and it’s a struggle to get him to the bathroom, but I don’t ask anyone to help. I strip him naked myself and force him into the walk-in shower where he’s blasted from all sides by warm water. I’m in there with him too, my gray dress instantly soaked. I never got the chance to take it off.
“Too hot,” Heath grunts. “Need cold water.”
I change the temperature. Goosebumps erupt all over my skin as we’re blasted by icy cold water. But I accept it, because it seems to do wonders for Heath. He grunts underneath the spray of the water, letting it soak him. I strip off my dress and join him again when we’re both naked. Lathering up his muscular body with soap, I wash off all the evidence of what’s happened in the room. I only hope the men are cleaning up the bedroom while we’re in here. I have a feeling Heath’s fight is far from over.
“I’m sorry,” he mutters, his voice breaking over the words. “I hurt you... I never want to hurt you.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper, washing off the last suds from his muscular body. “It wasn’t you. It was the drugs. But I’m going to make sure you’re okay. I’ll do anything and everything I can to make you whole again, Heath. Don’t worry. You have me forever.”
“Forever,” he repeats brokenly, rubbing his temples. “Fuck, Rain, I’m dizzy. I need to sit down.”
I help him sit in the shower. The water pools around us and beats down our backs. When Heath opens his eyes again, they’re even redder than before.
“Are you hungry?” I ask softly, wanting to shift his attention. “You should eat something.”
“No,” he roars, groaning as he picks himself up and exits the shower. I rush after him, shutting off the water and wrapping him in a fluffy towel. But he lets it drop to the ground, not bothering to pick it up as he roars to life and runs his fingers through his dripping wet dark hair. “I just need to get the fuck out of here. I need some fresh air.”
I don’t respond, knowing there’s no chance in hell the guards will let us go outside with Heath in this state. Instead, I hand him some gray sweatpants and use one of his shirts for myself. We enter the bedroom again and several maids scurry in fear once we return. At least the room looks marginally better—they’ve swept up the feathers, and the windows are wide open, filling the place with fresh air.
Without saying another word to me, Heath walks over to the trolley filled with food and hungrily wolfs down everything he can get his hands on. I busy myself by tidying up a bit more, and when I look at him again, he looks paler than before.
“I don’t feel good,” he mutters. “You need to help me.”
“How, Heath? I’ll do anything.”
“In my desk,” he mutters. “In the study. There’s some powder left under a fake bottom to the drawer. Please bring it to me, Rain.”
My breath catches in my throat, and I reach for him. “Please, Heath. I can’t do that. I can’t let you start again.”
“I’ll die if I don’t,” he mutters darkly. “This is no way to live. It’s too much. It fucking hurts me, Rain. Do you want me in pain?”
Tears prickle the back of my eyes and I whisper, “Of course not...”
“Then help me.”
His pleading eyes turn to mine and break me. I’m eager to give him what he wants, but I know it’s the wrong thing to do. Instead of worrying about what to do next, I throw myself at him, my lips touching his to sate him the only way I know how.