Incinerate

Chapter 8

Knox

IT DOESN’T escape my attention that Dr. B and Charlie are looking at each other like they don’t know what to say. It’s weird to say the least.

“Hi, Charlotte. I’m not sure if you remember me, but we met at the Christmas party last winter.” She walks over and extends her hand, and Charlie stands and takes it, shaking it softly.

“Hi, Dr. Branch. Yes, I remember you. Nice to see you again,” she tells her before returning to her seat.

“You two know each other?” I ask, remembering the argument we had where she’d mentioned her father was a doctor.

Dr. B looks at me and then back at Charlie. “I work with her father here at the hospital.”

Charlie raises her eyebrows and looks towards me, avoiding eye contact with the doc. “Yes, and I believe she and Dad just had dinner together the other night. They apparently know each other very well,” she says with a teasing hint in her voice. I notice that she’s being playful, not condescending, but I kinda feel for the doc when a pink blush falls on her face.

She clears her throat. “Well, umm, yes, we’ve become pretty good friends over the past year. Dinner was delightful. I didn’t know he told you.”

Waving her off, Charlie laughs. “Oh, Dad tells me nothing. I just happened to stop by before he was heading out. I’m glad to hear you had a good time. He definitely doesn’t get out enough.”

Interrupting them because I couldn’t care less about hearing about the doc’s or Charlie’s dad’s dating life, I speak over them. “Umm, excuse me ladies, but can we continue this tea party at a later date? I’d really like to get this show on the road.”

Dr. B comes over and gingerly touches my spine, going to town as she checks me over, asking about pain and discomfort. I answer as honestly as I can, although I want to lie and say I have no more pain. The truth is, I am beginning to feel less sore every day that passes, but certain movements or tweaks still send sharp pains in my lower back and my ribs. I wince as she checks out my ribs, and she frowns when she notices the sharp intake of breath.

“Your ribs should start healing any day now, Knox. They’ll be tender for a while, so you still need to take it easy.”

Right in that moment, an orderly knocks on the door and enters, handing the doc an envelope.

“Ah, the moment of truth. Let’s see how those ribs and vertebrae are healing,” she tells me, taking the images out of the envelope and putting them up to the lit screen on the wall opposite me.

She studies the images in silence before turning to face me with a tight smile. “You’re healing very well, Knox, and I’m happy with how the bones are fusing together. However, I think I’d still like you to stick it out with the brace for at least two more weeks to ensure that there isn’t any accidental movement as they continue to heal.”

Groaning, I run my fingers through my short hair and catch the sympathetic look that crosses over Charlie’s face. “Come on, Doc. It’s killing me not to shower. Charlie here was just telling me that I smelled on the way over here. Sponge baths blow.”

“Knox, let’s just give it two more weeks. But I will give you clearance to shower. You can take it off to sleep and shower, but the rest of the time, I want you in it. In two weeks, we’ll revisit the thought of you taking it off permanently, okay?”

Sighing, I nod. At least I can shower, but I’m still going to need Charlie’s help, and suddenly keeping the brace doesn’t seem so bad. The thought of her helping me undress turns me on almost as much as her fingers grazing my skin when she helped me dress earlier did.

“I’m going to keep you in your cast for a few more weeks as well. I want to make sure your bones are fully healed before we start you on physical therapy. That being said, I think it’s safe to start doing lower body exercises and static stretches, given that there aren’t any twisting movements. It might be a good idea to get you on a stationary bike so you can start trying to build up your cardio again.”

I can see the grin on Charlie’s face and I know she’s patting herself on the back for her boat paddling idea. I won’t lie. I’m intrigued by the idea of working out with her, and being on the water alone together could help us find common ground. You know, maybe be civil for more than five minutes and finally get to know each other on some kind of personal level.

Dr. Branch spends the next five or so minutes telling me—and Charlie—about the static stretching exercises she wants me to do until the next appointment and advises us on the things I can and can’t do. Hell, I’m just glad I can finally shower with permission. She finishes up and promises to see me in two weeks, with hopes that we can say goodbye to the brace at that time.

Charlie stands, moves over to the bed, and picks up my brace. She moves to put it on me, and I notice that she’s careful not to touch me, her fingers only gracing the brace. Finishing up, she looks at me sweetly. “Ready to go?”

She’s so close to me that I can’t help but lean in and give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Her eyes widen with surprise, and she backs away from me quickly. “Let’s get goin’,” I tell her, and she follows me silently out to the parking lot. I don’t miss the moment where I see her placing her hand on her cheek where my lips just grazed her skin. I have no idea why the hell I did that, but something about her being so close to me had me wanting to touch her, and that felt like it was the safest way.

We both get in her car, and there’s an uncomfortable silence as she heads back towards my house. When she pulls into the driveway, she doesn’t cut off the ignition. Turning towards me, she asks, “Is there anything you need me to do? I had a really long day at work and just want to get home and crash if you don’t need anything.”

Even though I told myself I want to distance myself from her, I’m fighting the urge to find a reason for her to come inside. The truth is, with the freezer-ready meals she’s made for me, I really don’t need her around other than to help with the lotion on my back, but I’m hesitant to ask her to do that.

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll just heat up something for dinner and crash on the couch. No big deal. “

She gives me a tight smile. “Okay, well, you have my number, so give me a call if you need anything, okay?”

“Sure thing, Charlie. Uhh…have a good night,” I tell her before I start to exit the car. At the last minute, I turn back towards her. “Actually, would you mind coming in for about twenty minutes?”

Raising her eyebrows at me, she asks why. I grin as I pull my shirt away from my chest and air it out a little.

“Hey, you’re the one who said I smell, and you heard Dr. B give the go-ahead to use the shower. I promise not to make you uncomfortable, but I just need a little help with my shorts.”

Sighing, she puts the car in park and turns off the engine. “You know, this is pretty unorthodox when it comes to my volunteering duties, but I guess it wouldn’t be fair for me to insult you and then not help you out when you ask for it. But I’m warning you. No funny business. This is strictly professional, got it?”

I give her a mock salute. “Loud and clear, Charlie. I just want to get clean. No ulterior motives here. Besides, you’re not my type anyways,” I tell her as I climb out of the car. I’m not exactly lying when I say that, but I can see her becoming my type pretty damn quickly.

She follows me as I unlock the house and we go inside. “Yeah, you made that perfectly clear last week. Let me guess, you usually go for petite, perky, beautiful blondes with huge boobs and an affinity for wearing mini-skirts and belly tops.”

I chuckle, knowing that once upon a time she’d be right, but over the past year I’ve started getting annoyed by all the college girls and Army clingers. “I’m insulted. I’d never discriminate over such a silly thing as hair color. They don’t all have to be blonde.”

She shoots me a look of mock disgust and just shakes her head. She’s right behind me as I go into the bathroom and adjust the knob so that the water is just hot enough. Grabbing the robe off the back of the door, I set it on the sink next to me. She’s leaning against the door, watching me with a nervous look in her eye.

“First, why don’t you help me take the brace off?” I ask her. She walks over to me in silence and goes to town on undoing all the straps. She gingerly slides it off of me, and with my good hand, I take it from her and place it on the sink next to my robe.

“All right, sweetheart, you were oh so good at putting my shirt on for me. Let’s see how good you are at removing it.”

Rolling her eyes, she shoves my shoulder, hard enough that I move back a step. “Knock it off with the innuendo.”

I give her my most innocent look. “What? I’m serious. You didn’t even tug my arm or hurt my ribs when you dressed me. I’m just curious to see if you can do the same when you take it off.”

She pulls me by the hem of my shirt out of the bathroom and into my room. Stopping at the foot of the bed, she climbs up on it. I know what she’s doing, but I can’t help continuing to push her buttons.

“Whoa, Charlie. I kind of figured you were a rule breaker, but I didn’t know you’d break your own. What was it you were saying about no funny business?”

“Shut up and lift your arms, Knox,” she says as she stands in front me on the bed. I do as she asks, and she quickly pulls my shirt up over my head.

“Ouch! Dammit, woman, are you trying to rip my ears off?!” I growl when my ear gets stuck and she yanks hard, making me flinch, the same way she did when she put it on me.

“Oh, sorry. Guess I’m not as good as you remember. My bad. Now can we get this over with?” she asks, walking back towards the bathroom without looking back at me. I follow and find her leaning her ass against the sink, waiting for me in the steamy room. She has the plastic bag in her hands to wrap around my arm so I don’t get my cast wet, and she quickly covers my arm with the material. There’s only one thing standing between me and that shower, and part of me is hoping she gets an eyeful.

“Okay, here’s the thing. I don’t have anything on under my basketball shorts,” I say, pausing when she raises her eyebrows at me. “It’s just easier. Trust me on that. I could put this robe on and you could just reach up under them and pull them off. Or we can be adults, I can turn around, and if you see my ass, you see my ass. It’s a rather nice one, so I don’t mind if you do.”

She’s staring at me as my words digest. Letting out a long breath, she shrugs her shoulders. “Fine. If you don’t mind, then whatever. It’ll probably be nearly impossible to help you get dressed without seeing anything, so if you’re not shy, then neither am I. It’s not like this will be the first ass I’ve ever seen.”

Turning me around, she checks my arm one more time to make sure that the bag is secure over my cast. She then runs her fingers down my back, her touch lightly grazing my skin until she reaches the waistband of my shorts. I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine, and my dick grows a semi just at the thought of her taking them off. Clearing my throat, I’m hoping she’ll be too distracted to realize how her touch is affecting me. It’s not her, I tell myself, instead chocking it up to the fact that I haven’t been with anyone in a while. Yeah, definitely not her.

Charlie

HE’S BEEN flirting with me off and on since I picked him up earlier, and I’m not sure where the broody jack-off went. Like Dad advised, I’ve tried to be more patient with him over the last few days, and maybe it’s finally paying off. Today’s the first time we haven’t fought about anything, and I find myself wishing his playful side would come out more often.

I won’t lie and say it didn’t sting when he said I wasn’t his type, but I wasn’t surprised. It just solidified the fact that I need to keep him at a distance and not respond to his flirting or sexy, cocky smiles. It’s just that I’ve never been one to not give as good as I take, so when I feel his shiver as my fingers run down his back, I can’t help but grin and do a mental fist pump. Damn you, Jersey Shore.

Not his type my ass. Either he was lying or he just really needs to get laid. Which, now that I think of it, could definitely be the problem. For this and his grumpy mood. Well, too bad for him, because my amusement park is closed for the season. Like I said, I don’t do roller coasters, and while I think this guy could be the best ride of my life, I know I’ll end up feeling sick to my stomach with regret afterwards.

“Jesus, Knox, how hard did you hit the pavement over there? I can still see the faded bruising on your skin and it’s been weeks,” I ask him, noticing the yellowing of his skin, along with several pink scars from what I’m guessing were burns from the explosion.

“Pretty damn bad, I’d say. You know, broken back and all that shit. I don’t remember most of it. Just what the guys on the perimeter told me. I don’t really like to talk about it.” A dark shadow clouds his face, and I can tell he really doesn’t want to discuss it, so I back off, leaving the issue alone.

I nod, and he turns back around, my fingers sliding around his waist with his movements. Closing my eyes, I hook my fingers around the waistband of his shorts and swiftly push them down. I can feel him move away from me, and I just can’t help myself. I slightly open my right eye, because come on, his ass looked killer in his jeans, and my curiosity has gotten the better of me.

“I’d say no peeking, but for you, I’ll allow it. After all, you’re just being helpful. It’s only fair that you get a reward.”

The sound of his voice catches me off guard and both my eyes pop open, only to see him grinning at me as my eyes wander down his muscular chest, his washboard abs, and those amazing obliques that are pointing a direct arrow straight to his…towel-covered cock. Seriously? Now he tries to be a gentleman?

He must see the way I’m looking at him because his voice interrupts my thoughts, drawing my eyes up to his face. “What’s the matter, Charlie? I’m just trying to stick to your ‘no funny business’ rule,” he tells me, shooting me a sexy wink.

He turns around and drops the towel, and I’m greeted with the sight of the sexiest naked ass I’ve ever seen. It’s so firm, even with his physical inactivity. I have to stop myself from reaching out and touching it. I start to back out of the bathroom, because if I see any more of his naked skin, I’m going to go all Katniss on him and start screaming “I volunteer!” when he decides he needs his back washed.

Right before I exit the room, Knox sticks his head out of the glass door in his shower. “Not sticking around for the show?” he asks as he rubs shampoo into his hair one-handed.

I try to look as indifferent as possible, but the sight of his wet skin has me fighting the urge to lick my lips. “There’s nothing special in here that I haven’t seen before. I’ll be in the kitchen heating up dinner for you. Just shout when you need me,” I tell him.

I start to walk down the hallway when I hear him yell my name. I head back towards the bathroom, wondering what he could possibly want now.

“You yelled?” I ask. He mumbles something from behind the glass door, and I ask him to repeat himself, but I still can’t hear him. Moving closer, I knock on the glass, expecting him to peek his head out. Instead, the door swings open, and there stands Knox, naked, wet, and mouth-wateringly gorgeous. And when I say there stands Knox, I mean it. All of him. My eyes can’t help but be drawn to the huge erection he’s sporting, and oh my god, I’m happy to learn that I was right. He’s definitely more than a mouthful.

“Uhh, Charlie, eyes up here,” he teases, interrupting the stare down I’m having with his cock. My eyes slowly wander up his drenched skin, taking in every naked inch. It’s only been three months since I last was intimate with Drew, but the way my panties get soaked as I take in the sight of him makes me feel like I haven’t gotten laid in a decade. Although I got pissed at his initial assessment of my wanting to go home with him that night at the bar, if I had known this body was hiding under those clothes, I might have actually been willing. Reaching his eyes, I notice that the playful look in them from earlier has darkened, and he’s watching me intently.

“Like I said, nothing I’ve never seen before,” I tell him, shrugging with indifference when really I want to strip down and join him.

“Mmmhmm. I saw you checking me out, sweetheart. You don’t have to deny it.”

I’m not admitting shit to him, so I cross my arms and lean against the wall, my eyes not leaving his. As much as I’d like another peek, I’m not letting him win this round.

“What the hell do you want, Knox?” As much fun as it might be to flirt with him, I know better than to go there. For all I know, next time I stop by he’ll be a grump again, and after Drew, I have no desire to be with someone with mood swings.

“I’m out of soap. Can you grab me a bottle from under the sink, please?” he asks, looking innocent. I look around the shower to see if he’s just pulling a fast one on me, but I only see an empty bottle.

“Oh, wow. He does have manners,” I say to myself as I go to get him a new bottle. When I hand it to him, our hands touch and his fingers linger on my skin.

“Thank you, Charlie,” he tells me. “For everything. I know this probably sucks as much for you as it does for me. Well, let’s not go that far. It really sucks more for me, but still, I appreciate you doing this.”

I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. It’s what I signed up for.” I pause, looking around the bathroom. “Well, maybe not exactly what I signed up for, but I’m here to help and that’s what I’ll do. In a few weeks, your brother will be back and I’ll be out of your hair.”

With that, he takes the bottle out of my hand and gives me one last look, a strange shadow crossing over his face. “Yeah, right. Just doing your job. Got it.” And with that, he shuts the glass door in my face, leaving me, once again, baffled at how hot and cold he’s turning out to be.