Better (The Change Series Book 2)

by Melanie Jayne

  “My basement smells musty, like standing water. I must have absorbed the odor when I was down there. I can smell it all around me.”

  He moved closer and sniffed. “I don’t know, babe.”

  I could feel the pills kick in. “I might be nuts. I have this thing about fresh sheets.” I tried to wave my hand in the air but was too tired.

  “Fresh sheets, huh?” I could hear the teasing in his voice as he sat beside me.

  “It started when we got married. I changed the sheets every morning. I loved knowing I’d go to sleep on fresh sheets every night.” It had to be the pills. I was telling him silly things.

  “I’ll change the sheets later, after you wake up.”

  This time my hand did move, and I gripped his wrist. “I don’t want to make more work for you, honey.” That last part just slipped out.

  He smiled. “If it makes you happy, it isn’t work.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “Now, close your eyes and rest.”

  “’Kay.” Now wasn’t the time to ponder what the hell I was doing. I could feel myself drifting away. My eyes slid closed, and I fell asleep knowing that I was avoiding this, this thing with Forde, and I was okay with that.

  When I next opened my eyes, it was dark outside, and there were two nightlights burning, illuminating the room so that I could make out the doors to the hall and bath. I knew Forde had done this for me. He didn’t seem like the nightlight kind of guy. In fact, it wouldn’t have surprised me to learn that he could see perfectly in the dark.

  I didn’t know what to do with this—me being here. How the hell had I let that happen? And why did it feel so good, so natural? I started the process of scooting to the edge of the bed and rolling to my side. I gingerly sat up as my shoulder and ribs screamed. I waited until my breathing calmed then flexed my “bad” knee a few times. Slowly, I stood and made my way to the bathroom.

  The condo was quiet as I walked to the entrance of the living room. I was thirsty and a little hungry. I took that as a good sign. I wanted a shower so I made sure I moved as gracefully as my body would allow. Forde was sitting at the end of his giant sofa with his legs propped on his coffee table, working on his laptop. When I neared, he looked up and scanned my body from head to toe.

  “Hey.” I stayed still as he studied me.

  He smiled and moved to put his laptop onto the table. I noted that he logged out before he got up. Very thorough, my Forde.

  “Hungry, thirsty?”

  “No, don’t get up.” I limped into the room. “I don’t want to interrupt your work.” I stopped at the back of the two-seater. I leaned against it. Walking was easier this time, but the burning pain in knee increased every time I put weight on it.

  “It wasn’t anything too important, just checking some of my accounts.”

  “Is it all right if I make something to eat?” I watched him approach as my heart rate picked up.

  “Lay, I know you have cooking skills, but I’m not sure about you cooking with one hand.” He reached out and lightly stroked the arm that was secured to my side.

  I wanted to lean into his body. Fighting the urge, I asked, “Could I take off the brace and see?”

  He shook his head. “The doc said only when you bathe.”

  I stiffened, but there was no use arguing. “A shower sounds so good.” I knew I smelled like the basement and sweat. Plus, I was still wearing the stupid hospital gown with my ass on display.

  “How about this—you eat something, and then we see about a shower?” This was a different side of Forde, caring and so gentle.

  “Deal,” I smiled.

  He returned my smile. “So what sounds good, food-wise? Say whatever pops into your head.”

  “A McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries,” I said without even pausing to think.

  His lips twitched. “I didn’t see that coming. I thought that was a hangover remedy. I’ll put out a call. Do you want anything else?”

  “No, but you don’t have to do all of that. I’m fine with more toast.” I didn’t want to be any more of a bother. It made me feel a little weird; he was being so thoughtful and patient. I didn’t know what to do with this side of Forde.

  “Sit.” He lightly grasped my good arm and urged me to sit on the chair. He helped me lift my leg onto the ottoman. Then he sat next to my leg and ran his hand up and down it. “Still swollen.” He wrapped both of his warm palms so very carefully around my knee.

  I watched his hands on my leg. They were large, callused, and I knew they were strong— but dear God, they could be so gentle, just a whisper over my skin. “It’ll be fine.”

  The corners of his mouth raised a little. “I get it that you aren’t used to letting someone do for you. You’ve taken care of yourself since you were a kid. Can we make another deal? For the next forty-eight hours, will you let me take care of you?”

  I opened my mouth to immediately refuse.

  He shook his head. “Just until you get over the worst of the pain.” He continued holding his palms against my knee and said no more.

  I liked that he gave me time to consider what he’d said, and I hated it, because he knew I was a thinker. It was like he understood me and knew my internal rhythm. That made me feel warm inside and scared as hell. If he already knew this about me, then he could break down my walls. I didn’t want that. My mom used me to take care of her, and my ex used my love to make me blind to his addiction and failings. I didn’t trust myself. I couldn’t screw up again and survive.

  He leaned closer and lightly captured my chin. “Layla, I can feel you thinking, and wherever your brains going, it’s upsetting you.” He gave me another searching look. “Don’t. I’m only offering you time to rest, eat, shower, and do nothing if you want, without feeling like you need to be helping out. That’s it.” He nodded once.

  I hoped I was doing the right thing by believing him. “Thank you. That sounds really good,” I whispered. I felt like there was a rock in my throat.

  Relief flashed in his eyes. He stood, leaned closer, and kissed my lips lightly.

  I raised my good arm and rested my hand on his shoulder.

  He deepened the kiss as I held onto him. I liked how the man kissed. He was in control yet gentle, an amazing combination.

  He slowly eased back. “I’ll make the call and then get those peas back on your knee.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Forde,” I teased.

  I heard him chuckle as he moved away and pulled his phone from his pocket.

  ***

  I’d finished the best-tasting cheeseburger in the history of fast food and was relaxing in Forde’s living room. “I know you looked busy when I came in, but I’d really like to take a shower. I need it.” I leaned my head closer to my shoulder and wrinkled my nose.

  “I was updating my investments. Nothing pressing.” He took a drink of his beer.

  “Am I taking you away from your, uh, other work? Patrolling the streets like Batman.”

  His eyes turned a deeper blue. “Things are calm for now. That is, until I speak to Vador. I don’t have to go out tonight.”

  I didn’t know what to think about Forde meeting with the gang leader. He travelled in very different circles than I did. He was a badass, no doubt, but I didn’t want him to take on trouble on my behalf.

  His gaze locked with mine. “You look worried. Don’t be.”

  Damn, I needed to practice having a poker face. “How can I not be?” My words came out shaky. I shifted my body to buy some time. “I know you’re very good at what you do, although I don’t know everything that you can do.” I smiled and then stopped it. “I also know you own a business, and I can’t pay you for all of the time and manpower you’re spending on me.”

  “Not going over this again.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his strong chest.

  “So you’ve told me.” I sighed so loud that my throat hurt. “Forde, you know about how I was brought up and about my marriage. I’m
still getting my footing—and now all of this.” I had to stop and take a deep breath because I felt like I was going to start sobbing. “You’re a strong man.” I gave my head a quick shake. “That isn’t what I want to say. You’re somebody I don’t know what to do with, and I find myself in the position of being dependent on you.”

  He stayed perfectly still, but I knew that he was taking in my body’s language, the words I was saying, and what I couldn’t verbalize.

  “I find myself trusting you, and I don’t know if it that’s a good thing.” I swallowed hard. “You have a plan, and I’m overwhelmed.” I paused, I didn’t know how I got on this track, but it was time to change direction. “I do know that what you took on as a little job has turned into a bigger mess with me staying with you and your people picking up food for me.”

  He leaned forward and grinned. “I love that your biggest concern is the business’s bottom line, and if I’m being inconvenienced.” He chuckled. “It’s been a while since someone has cared about my schedule.”

  I bit my lip. I wasn’t sure what was so funny.

  “Let me educate you a little about my businesses. Note that I made that plural.”

  I wanted very much to hear what he had to say. I tilted my head a little to the side to signal that I was waiting and paying attention.

  “When I got out of the Army, I went to college. It was there I figured out I knew how to make money. Tye calls me a savant; I know how to play the market. I’ve made a lot of money, Lay. Enough to live good for the rest of my life. Actually, there’s enough for us and our kids to live good.”

  I felt my body tense at that statement. Like I said, he was way ahead of me, and I was now totally freaking out.

  “Deep breath, Layla,” he said, his manner was easy going. “I own properties all over the city. Hell, I own this building.”

  I know my eyes got huge. I couldn’t fathom that. I didn’t run in the types of circles where people owned a building, let alone multiple.

  “I run Forde Limited because I like it. There’s a part of me, a darker part, that needs the street and to be in touch with that life.” He shrugged. “Plus I promised Tye’s dad that I’d help his son. So we do investigative work for his law firm, usually the messy stuff, and then I can pick and choose what cases we take independently.”

  “So, you do it because a part of you loves it,” I summarized.

  “That’s why the people who work for me do it. We need it, the balancing on the edge. We aren’t lily white. Sometimes we cross the line, but I like to think that, in general, we are more good than not.”

  That wasn’t a surprise. I’d grown-up with people who straddled the line.

  He was staring at me intently. “I’m not going to apologize for who I am, Lay. You get that?”

  “You don’t have to. I won’t ever ask you to,” I promised.

  His body relaxed a little. I felt it more than I saw it.

  I needed to be sure. “You’ll be careful, right?”

  Now, his smile was sweet. He knew that I got it, all of it. “Always, and now that I have you, I’ll be more vigilant.”

  I couldn’t meet his gaze. I felt really shy. Like something had shifted between us. Well it had. I’d taken a step closer to him, to what he wanted for us. I looked around his place. “So, you’re rich?”

  “Yeah.” He sighed the word.

  “I don’t know what to say to that. I can’t even begin to understand it,” I said honestly.

  “Don’t think about it. It’s there for us, so we don’t have to worry about keeping the lights on or getting kicked out of our place.” He smiled because we’d both grown up with the fear that we’d have no place to sleep at night. “If you want to work, that’s cool. I’d like you to do it at Limited. I’ve got a receptionist position opening up, but I know you were taking some legal courses. If you want to go to Tye’s, that’s cool, too. Just know, I have better benefits.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  I couldn’t help it. I barked out a laugh that made my ribs throb. “How about this? I don’t know how well I can handle all your receptionist duties, but I think I can figure out how to do it better than that girl who was there when we met.”

  “When you get a little better, I’ll bring you in and you can check it out.”

  “Deal,” I said softly.

  “Give me a couple of minutes to get things ready, and then you can have that shower.”

  Like I said, he knew me. “That would be awesome.” I relaxed back into the settee, for the minute, accepting that I was getting everything that I wanted. Well for now and maybe if things worked out, for the rest of my life. A little voice in my head told me I should be freaking out. It couldn’t be this easy. But for now, I told that voice to shut up, and I enjoyed this feeling of security.

  Chapter Ten

  I moved towards the chair Layla was currently looking very comfortable in. “Ready?”

  I’d quickly stripped and remade the bed. She was correct; there was a faint, musty smell lingering on the sheets. If my woman wanted fresh sheets every day, I could give her that. Right now, I was still recovering from seeing her in the hospital bed bruised and battered.

  She slowly leaned over to untie the elastic bandage from her knee. She fumbled with one hand, but slowly unknotted the fabric.

  “I think you should take one of your pain pills now, and then another after the shower.” I stood by her side waiting for her decision. I wanted to help, but I could tell she was determined to do it herself.

  “I’m starting to have second thoughts,” she said, her voice strained. She looked up at me, her lips were in a tight line. “This is going to hurt a lot, isn’t it?” She bit her bottom lip, waiting for me to answer.

  “Probably. When your shoulder and ribs get fucked up, it sucks because every movement hurts.” I reached out and lightly stroked her “bad shoulder”.

  She sighed. “I feel dirty, and I hate that I smell, especially around you, in your home.” She paused, and closed her eyes as if she was trying to control her emotions. Then she slowly opened her eyes and nodded twice. “Give me the damn pill and let’s do this.”

  I started to move away.

  “One problem, I don’t have anything to change into.”

  I chuckled. “You mean, you don’t want to walk around naked?”

  She acted like she was considering it. “I’m sure you aren’t going to want to look at my bruises. Can I wear one of your T-shirts?”

  I liked the idea of her in my tee, especially with nothing on under it. “Sure, Lay.”

  I gave her a pain pill and hurried to my bathroom to start the shower. I was turning to go get her when she shuffled into the bedroom. I motioned with my hand for her to join me in the bathroom.

  She moved to the shower area, passing the separate tub against the far wall that was big enough for two.

  “Can I just say that I love your bathroom?” She pulled the shower door open and looked inside. “Holy shit, you can fit like six people in here,” she said, her voice full of awe.

  “There’s also a built-in bench along the wall.” I moved to her side. “There are shower heads on both ends, and also handheld attachments.”

  “I want to live in this room.” She turned her head to smile at me.

  As much as she wanted to shower, her body language screamed that she was apprehensive. I moved behind her and spoke softly. “I’m going to unhook this harness so hold onto the shower door.” To help offset those nerves, I’d talk her through everything I was going to do. “If you feel like you’re getting light-headed or shaky, you tell me immediately.”

  She shifted her weight and stood still as I started to remove the harness. “Okay, I don’t want to do any more damage to my poor body.”

  “Try to keep your arm still.”

  She nodded.

  I laid the brace on the vanity, and then moved to untie the hospital gown. “I’m going to take this gown off now.”
<
br />   “I hope you burn it. I’m tired of walking around with my ass hanging out.”

  I gently moved the gown from her sore shoulder and let it fall to the floor. “Now, I’m gonna pull down your panties, and you just walk into the shower and sit on the bench, or do you want me to hold onto you while you walk in?” I was going to be right behind her, it was just a question of me touching her or not.

  I dropped to a knee and eased my fingers into the sides of her blue cotton panties. I felt her body tense. “Easy.” I dragged them down until they joined the gown.

  “I, uh, feel a little shaky,” Her voice sounded anxious.

  I stopped looking at her naked back and pulled my T-shirt over my head, then hurried out of my jeans, kicking them to the side. “I gotcha.” I placed my hand on her elbow and my other on her left hip. “Just head to the opposite wall, slow and easy.”

  I helped her sit down. God, her side and part of her back were covered in purple and red bruises.

  She was panting from the exertion and to some extent, nerves. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Eventually, she whispered. “I’m okay.” Her knuckles were white and pushed against her skin as she held onto the edge of the bench.

  “I’m going to move the nozzles so that you stay under the water. Tell me if any of the jets hurt you.” I tried not to think about her nakedness. I felt my cock stir in my boxer briefs. This most definitely wasn’t the right time.

  She sighed. “It feels so good.”

  My cock responded. “I’m going to wash your hair first. Remember, if we need to stop, just say the word.”

  “Yes sir, Mr. Forde,” she said with a little bit of attitude. Her eyes were still closed as she shifted on the bench so that more water was falling onto her body.

  I shampooed and conditioned her hair. It was a first for me, but she didn’t complain. I was rolling the bar of soap in my hand as she eyed me warily.

  She rolled her bottom lip with her teeth. “Where do you want to start?”

  “Your neck, and then I’ll work my way lower. Why don’t you try to wash your face? I don’t want to hurt you.” I worried about my big, rough hands scraping her fragile skin.