Chapter 6 - Ease Her Pain

Two days after the attack, indigo blue eyes fluttered open as they looked around the room. Nyla moved around a little and immediately regretted it as a pain shot through her ribs and sucked in a breath as she tried to breathe through the pain slowly.

Paul's ears perked up when he heard a sharp intake of breath come from his bed. Paul jumped up as he carefully sat on the bed and leaned over Nyla. He smiled softly when her eyes locked with his. "How are you feeling?"

Nyla groaned a little. "Like someone shoved their fist through my ribcage."

Paul frowned. "What can I do to help ease your pain? Dr. Cullen wrapped you up and left you some pain pills. He said a couple of warm baths would help relax you. I'll do anything to help you feel better."

Nyla caressed Paul's cheek as she smiled softly. "I'll be okay. That bath does sound good though."

Paul leaned over careful not to put any pressure on her body or move her anyway that would hurt her more as he brushed his lips across her forehead. "I'll go get the water started."

Nyla watched as Paul disappeared and heard the water start. "Hey Paul…"

"Yea…" His muffled voice came from the other room.

"Where the hell am I?" Nyla couldn't recognize the room she was in.

Nyla watched as Paul walked back in and stood in the doorway as he shoved his hands in his short pockets. "Uh – You're at my house. I pretty much made it my responsibility to take care of you until you're feeling better. I don't care what is going on with us, you're still my imprint. You know how I feel about you…about us."

Nyla slowly sat up as she turned towards Paul. "I know. Well talk about it when I'm better and not hopped up on pain pills or in excruciating pain."

Paul nodded as he grabbed Nyla's hands and helped her stand up slowly and walked her into the bathroom. He stopped the water as he turned towards her. "There are a couple of towels and some clean clothes for you when you finish. Carlisle said to make sure you take the bandages off so they don't get wet. I'll be outside the door if you need me."

Nyla watched as Paul turned and closed the door behind him to let her have her privacy. She gingerly gripped the hem of her shirt and started to pull it up when she sucked in a sharp breath again. "Damn it!"

The bathroom door flew open as Paul stood in front of her. "What's wrong? Are you ok?" He watched as she shook her head negatively. Paul sighed softly. "Do you need some help?" Nyla chewed her bottom lip. Paul helped up his hands. "I swear no funny business. You're in pain and I'd rather you not be. Let me help you please." Nyla finally nodded reluctantly.

Paul nodded. "Okay, turn around and lift your arms." He watched as Nyla did as he asked. He carefully grabbed the hem of her t-shirt and slid it up her torso and dropped the shirt on the sink counter. He inhaled a shaky breath as he carefully unsnapped her bra and slid it down her arms and dropped it on her shirt. He could feel her starting to shake a little. He wasn't sure if it was from the pain or the physical contact. Clearly he was hoping it wasn't from the pain.

She could feel the warmth of his hands on her as he started to unwrap her torso. Once he unwrapped the bandages and placed them on the counter as well. His warm hands touched the bare skin of her torso as they slid around to the front of her waist, she leaned into his warmth and her bare back came in contact with his bare chest and they both let out a shuddering breath. His overly large hands caressed her naked sides as he gently ran his fingertips over the bruises on her torso.

"I'm sorry you got hurt so badly." His voice was barely above a whisper. He wasn't staring at her naked chest he was staring at the bruises. While beating himself up mentally about not being able to prevent her from being hurt.

Nyla's hands came up and covered his as their eyes locked in the mirror. "I don't blame you Paul. I would never blame you. It's so not your fault." She felt him quiver slightly as she was still leaned against his chest.

Paul couldn't help himself as he leaned his head down and placed a soft kiss on her bare shoulder as his hands went to the front of her jeans.

Nyla could feel him as he unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. She watched as he squatted down behind her and carefully peeled her jeans, panties and socks off. It wasn't like he'd never seen her naked before.

Paul stood up and noticed her eyes were closed. Her naked body didn't fascinate him. Oh don't get it twisted it did things to him like it always did, but what really got his attention was the small one inch red heart that was tattooed on her right hip with the letter P in the middle. He knew it was for him, years ago he'd gone to the tribal tattoo artist who'd given him and the pack their tattoos, hid her name in the workings of the tattoo on his upper bicep. The pack didn't know and couldn't tell it was there, but Nyla could find it with ease. Even if her eyes were closed she knew where it was.

His thumb gently rubbed across the perfectly shaped heart and heard her suck in a breath. "When did you get this?" His voice was low and husky. Clearly seeing the P in the middle effected him as much as it had her for him to touch it.

"A couple of weeks after I got to California." She tried keeping her voice steady and even and knew she was failing miserably. His small intimate touch over the tattoo that represented their unconditional love was almost more than she could stand. She begged him mentally to touch her more in various spots of her naked body, but knew he was being a complete gentleman about it.

Paul held her hand as she stepped into the warm water and carefully sat down as the water covered her entire body. Half lidded indigo blue eyes looked up at him as her head lulled back and enjoyed the warmth of the water as it enveloped her entire body relaxing her muscles and her senses.

Paul squatted down next to the tub as he grabbed a wash cloth and soaked it and started with her feet as he let the cloth sweep across her feet, ankles, up her calves and knees and only allowed his hand to go to mid-thigh. He looked up and saw her head relax back with her bottom lip pinned between her front teeth. He heard a slight moan escape her lips and couldn't stop his signature cocky smirk from adorning his lips.

"You're enjoying this too much." Nyla's words snapped him out of his personal dirty thoughts.

Paul smirked again. "Oh I know I am...But can you admit you are enjoying it as well?"

Nyla let out a shaky sigh when Paul's soft finger tips grazed the skin behind her knee. "Yea I can admit it."

Nyla watched as Paul started running the wash cloth up her arms from fingers to shoulders, when he moved to the inside of her upper arms, his fingers brushed against the side of her breasts causing her to gasp at the personal contact.

Paul looked down and saw what she was reacting to as his eye widened, he wasn't trying to make this be sexual he was just trying to help relax her and help with the pain management. He knew she relaxed best when he would touch her. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean...to...ya know."

Nyla couldn't help laugh his cocky attitude just minutes earlier was suddenly one of embarrassment as she watched his tan cheeks tinge a nice pinkish red color. "Um You're blushing."

"Shit." Paul cussed out as he leaned over and rested his forehead on the side of the tub. A few minutes later, Paul felt Nyla fingers as they lightly combed through his hair. She knew how to make him weak. Of course he was weak to begin with once he saw that tattoo. Her scent and her soft supple skin did nothing but make him even weaker. But he knew this couldn't be about his wants and needs even though he could smell her arousal even with her body submerged in water.

Paul looked up as he smiled softly at her. "Lean up, I'll wash your hair for you."

And he did just that, once she was thoroughly washed from head to toe and completely relaxed he made sure to carefully lift her out of the bathtub and wrapped a towel around her before setting her on the sink counter and turning to drain the tub as he let out a heavy sigh. Thank God bath time was over he wouldn't have been able to take much more.

Nyla had dried herself off for the most part and he helped her re-dress in clean clothes her brothers had left for her there, she held her t-shirt up and watched intently as Paul very carefully re-wrapped her torso to help support the three broken ribs and the three hairline fractured ribs. Paul then gently lifted her into his arms and she completely melted into his arms because of his warmth.

Paul could tell she was still very tired as he took her back to the bedroom and laid her on the bed again. Paul had turned to leave when she reached out and grabbed his forearm which stopped him in his place he watched as her small hand slid down and they caught each other's hand as he looked back up into her eyes. "You want me to stay." It was more of a statement than a question, he knew she'd been through hell and he also knew she didn't have to ask, he would stay no matter what.

He watched as she blinked a couple of times and then nodded. Paul smiled. "It's nice to be wanted."

Nyla watched as he pulled the curtains closed to darken the room and then shut the lights off. She felt the bed dip and soon his body heat was consuming her as she moved around carefully and before she laid her head on his chest, she placed a small soft kiss over the center of his chest, her lips lingering a bit longer than expected and she felt his heart thump against her lips.

"I've never not wanted you." As she rested her head against his chest, her ear pressed firmly to his warm skin as his heartbeat played a tune only she could understand.

That small five word sentence that passed through her lips gave him hope that all was not lost between them. He kissed the top of her head as his arm went around her waist being mindful of her ribs.

They would talk later. He had eased her physical pain, later he'd ease her mental pain.

For now they both needed to let sleep take over their bodies.

And it did.