Armored Hearts (The Town of Pearl 7)

“You’ll be fine with our help. Grey will get the tub started now. When we saw your injuries we grabbed some bath salts and things so you could just soak. That should be sufficient.”

“But, how the heck are you supposed to…

India cringed and immediately felt her heart racing. She went to shake her head and tightened up.

“Don’t worry, we’re professionals,” he said and then stood up straighter.

“The tub is filling up. I grabbed a robe and the extra-large towels,” Grey informed Fisher. She looked at both men. Grey, with his brown crew-cut hair, thick muscles, and hazel eyes. He looked kind of nervous right now. Then she glanced at Fisher. He was a tall man, at least six foot four, muscular with dark brown hair and brown eyes, and appeared very intense at the moment.

He reached for the comforter and pulled it down and off of her.

“Okay, this is how we’re going to do this. I want you to just let me carry you into the bathroom. I’ll hold up a towel so you can strip and if you can’t then Grey will help you.”

She shook her head.

“Darling, it’s got to happen.” She had never been so embarrassed in her entire life.

“Fenton and Flynn know first aid and how to rewrap broken ribs. They’ll re-wrap them for you after the bath.”

“Let’s go.”

She was going to protest but as he lifted her up, feeling the pain but then smelling her stench she changed her mind. She felt sick and stupid. She had no choice. She had to suck up this embarrassment and let them help her. These men she didn’t know at all were about to see her naked, and covered in bruises and welts. Could this situation get any worse?

Fisher set her feet down as Flynn tossed him the towel.

She stood there, feeling helpless and incapable of the simple task of undressing. But she wouldn’t let these men she didn’t even know see her naked. It wasn’t right. Not that she was some virgin or anything, but she still was particular about the men who saw her naked. She had a small heart tattoo a little below her hip bone toward her groin that could only be seen if she were naked. It wasn’t even noticeable in a string bikini.

“Okay, now take your time and if need be, I’ll help you,” Flynn told her.

Fisher opened the towel, but despite how large it was, she felt like a huge blanket or comforter would give her more confidence to change behind.

As she released an annoyed breath, she started with her lounge pants. The moment she lifted her arms slightly she felt the ache but it wasn’t terrible. Then she moved to push down her pants and gasped.

“Slowly, India,” Fisher reprimanded.

Flynn cleared his throat and she started with her top, the tears rolling down her cheeks as she fought to ask for any help. Then came the exhaustion. She would never make it into the damn tub if she didn’t get help.

“India?” She heard Flynn’s voice and then felt him remove the shirt and lift her up.

She gasped and held his gaze as he slowly set her into the tub.

She was glad that it wasn’t very hot as she sunk down into the water, almost instantly feeling better. She moaned and hissed and made all sorts of noises.

“Are you going to pass out?” Flynn asked her.

Eyes closed, she leaned back against the back of the tub and instantly felt herself feeling better. But mostly she wanted that horrid stench to go away. How had they handled that? They had to be disgusted. Now she knew why they looked so angry and uncomfortable around her. She smelled badly.

“Who cares if I do? I need this bath. I’ll be fine,” she told him.

They didn’t move. They both just stood there. She wouldn’t open her eyes. She just lay there motionless hoping that the water would ease her pain enough that she could wash her hair.

Then she jerked and popped her eyes open when she felt a hand touch her hair.

She locked gazes with Flynn.

“I’ll wash your hair. It will definitely make you feel better.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she replied.