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“You think we’re not prepared?” he shoots me a grin. “We’re detectives, baby. We’re always prepared. And we did our research. You’re not going to go through this alone, including the negative parts.”
They did their research.
My head spins with the knowledge.
River returns, pressing a cool water bottle to my lips. I gulp it down greedily, feeling the icy liquid course through me.
“I need to get out of these clothes,” I gasp. “They’re too hot.”
“I know,” he says patiently. “I’ve got you, Skylar.”
It’s as if I’ve caught the flu. My head aches and chills wrack my body as River leads me to the bedroom, where I collapse into my nest.
He undresses me quickly and methodically, instructing me to lift my hips and arms when necessary.
Once I’m naked, he leaves me only to return with a cool cloth, wiping away the sweat from my body.
Tears fill my eyes. Jason never did this for me.
River’s scent is more peppery than ever, and his eyes smolder as he runs the cloth up my body.
But I’m not aroused. I’m in pain.
“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him. “I’m not going to be able to reciprocate right now.”
He stops washing me. “Do you think that’s why I’m doing this?” he asks quietly. “Just so I can fuck you?”
I don’t answer him, and he closes his eyes and sighs.
“I’m going to kill him, Skylar, I swear to fucking God—” he stops himself and runs a hand through his hair. “I’m doing this because I want to, and it’s what you deserve. I love you. And to me, that means taking care of you in every possible way. Not just during sex. But in life.”
“Okay,” I whisper as cramps assault me.
“This is the first stage,” River says, resuming washing me. “You’re going to feel sick, and you might have a small fever. But afterwards, it’s less painful, but still intense. And that’s when we can all enjoy ourselves.”
I catch his smirk and chuckle weakly. “Pervert.”
“Remember what I told you about kink shaming? It’s not very nice.” The cloth finally reaches my core, and he’s careful as he wipes away the slick. I’m overly sensitive, so the slightest touch makes me cry out in discomfort. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “Almost done.”
Once he finishes, he brings me an ice pack and wraps me in my nesting blankets.
“Thank you,” I whisper, peeking up at him through the bundle he’s wrapped me in. “For everything.”
He sits on the edge of the bed and runs his fingers through my hair, sending tingles through my scalp. “Thank you for loving me,” he says simply. “Thank you for being the one to see through my shit and accept me.”
“It wasn’t very hard,” I say. “You’re easy to love.”
He snorts. “That’s the fever talking.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my hair. “But it’s still nice to hear.”
“Will you stay with me?” I ask. “Just until I fall asleep? I just don’t want to be alone.”
“You’re not alone, baby,” he promises me. “Never again.”
My skin literally burns. Sweat drips down my forehead, sticking to my hair as I struggle through the cramps. But the weighted blanket helps, along with River holding my hand.
“The others will be here soon,” he says.
“Do they already know?” I ask tentatively, as River interlaces our fingers together.
