Chapter Twelve. Kat dashed through the bedroom door when she heard the cry.

Kat dashed through the bedroom door when she heard the cry.

Jake moaned in her sleep, thrashing about, heedless of her injuries. She cried, "No! Stop!" then let out an agonized wail of pain.

Kat gently held Jake’s shoulders to the bed, trying to calm her and keep her from injuring herself further, all the while calling to her in a soft, soothing voice. "It’s all right. Everything’s fine. You’re safe. It’s just a nightmare." What are you dreaming about, Jake? Whose face haunts you?

She stroked Jake’s upper arms, trying to gently wake her. She noted Jake was now wearing a sweatshirt and wondered how she’d gotten out of bed to get it.

Jake’s eyes shot open. She looked terrified. She was sweating, breathing heavily, and still caught in the grip of her nightmare.

Kat continued to absently caress her arms, looking down at her with concerned eyes. "You’re all right. It was just a bad dream. I have them, too." Why did you just volunteer that? "Want to talk about it?"

Jake’s eyes focused on Kat, and relief replaced the fear coursing through her. She tried to recall what the dream was about, but it was already hazy. The rush of adrenaline it had triggered was waning, and it left her feeling groggy, almost hung-over. "I...I can’t remember."

Kat felt a rush of relief. "Well, you’re fine now," she said. She pulled her hands away from Jake and nodded toward the sweatshirt. "So someone got out of bed?" she said with a smirk.

Kat’s expression chased away the remnants of Jake’s anxiety. "Yes," she admitted. She blushed at the recollection of discovering Kat’s silk bras and panties. "Nature called, and I had to answer," she said. "And I was kind of chilly. Hope you don’t mind."

"I don’t. I just can’t believe you made it there and back yourself." Kat pushed aside the alarm bells going off in her head at the realization that Jake had been going through her things. She wasn’t snooping. She was just cold.

"That may not have been real smart, in retrospect," Jake said. "Think it aggravated my knee some."

"Let’s have a look." Kat moved to the left side of the bed. "It’s time for me to check your bandages anyway, though I must say you’re looking better otherwise. The swelling on your face has gone down." She peeled back the blanket and examined Jake’s knee, which had swollen again. "Doesn’t look too bad, but it needs some ice. And you shouldn’t try that again," she scolded gently. "Sorry I wasn’t here to help you."

Kat loosened the bandage and left the room to make up an ice bag. After that was done, she checked Jake’s splint.

"I’d like to examine your ribs now. Can I help you sit up?"

Jake nodded, and Kat slid her arm beneath Jake’s shoulders, supporting her and helping her to lean back on some pillows placed against the headboard. Once she was settled, Kat moved in front of her so they were facing each other. Jake shifted her weight and lifted the T-shirt and sweatshirt with her good hand, exposing her bandaged abdomen. She held the material so that it would cover her breasts. The blanket covered her from the waist down.

Without a word, Kat reached out to remove the long strips of material wrapped around Jake’s midsection as Jake leaned slightly forward. In order to unwrap the bandage, Kat leaned toward Jake as well, her arms around and behind her. Their faces were only inches apart. Neither looked at the other, their nervousness palpable.

Kat tried to keep her hands from shaking. Her palms were sweating. The proximity to Jake was exquisitely excruciating.

Each experience that brought them close together was more difficult than the last.

Finally Kat got to bare flesh. As Kat’s nimble fingers gently probed Jake’s rib cage, her hand brushed up against the bottom swell of Jake’s breast.

Both women froze.

Kat looked into Jake’s eyes, just inches from hers. Then her gaze dropped a few inches to Jake’s lips. She longed to close the distance and claim those lips. She hungered for it. She couldn’t stop herself. She didn’t want to.

Jake held her breath. The touch against her breast had electrified her, and she saw something different in Kat’s eyes. A yearning that matched her own. The pupils were enlarged, the lids hooded with desire. Kat’s eyes were fixed on her lips, and the smoldering eroticism of her gaze shot through Jake and pinned her in place.

Kat moistened her lips.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30