Page 52 of Broken Beyond Repair

Sydney’s head peered around it as it opened. “I’m heading to bed; do you need anything before I go up?”

“A double amputation?” Beatrice replied as she scratched at the top of her cast, knowing full well the itch was coming from underneath it yet hoping psychologically it would have some effect lower down.

Sydney entered the room. “That I can’t do. There is something I could try to distract you.”

A breath caught in Beatrice’s throat, making her cough. Part of her was relieved to see Sydney unplug her hairdryer from beside the dressing table and plug it in beside the bed. The other part was disappointed she hadn’t meant something else.

“You okay?” Sydney asked, passing her a bottle of water from beside the bed.

Beatrice nodded as she cleared her throat and took a sip.

Sitting beside her on the bed, Sydney directed cool air from the dryer down her cast. Her hands pushed the skin down around the rim to allow greater access to the covered skin beneath the fibreglass.

Her touch sent the same ripple through Beatrice as it had when Sydney touched her arm earlier. The cool air filled her cast and brought such relief she accidentally let out a groan, bringing a smile to Sydney’s face.

“Thank you. That’s done the trick.”

“How’s this one doing?” Sydney asked, nodding at her unbroken leg as she placed the hairdryer on the floor.

“Sore.”

Sydney climbed onto the bottom of the bed and sat with her legs parted on either side of Beatrice’s good leg. Her hands reached out and massaged her foot and ankle, her touch melting away the ache. Beatrice refrained from groaning this time, instead allowing her head to fall back against the headboard. The lids of her eyes dropped as Sydney worked her way up her calf, then above her knee. She felt her foot pressed between Sydney’s breasts as the woman reached further… as far as her thigh. Her eyes opened, eager to see Sydney touch her, wondering how high she would go; knowing it wouldn’t be high enough to satisfy her.

“That’s enough. Thank you,” Beatrice said, almost snapping as she realised where her thoughts were leading.

“Of course.” Sydney leapt from the bed. “Have you considered physical therapy? It would help you to stick to a schedule with assigned exercises.”

“I don’t think so. I don’t want to deal with strangers.”

“My best friend is a physiotherapist. The one I went out with the other night.”

So it wasn’t a date.

“And you discussed me?” Beatrice asked.

“We discussed the recovery of a broken fibula, amongst other things. She could see you. The hairdryer was her trick.”

“I’ll think about it.”

She noticed Sydney’s gaze lower to the ground at her reply, so she added, “Thank you for the suggestion.”

Sydney left the room with a smile on her face, a smile that Beatrice realised was surprisingly easy and satisfying to have put there. Her own face had a smile etched on it too. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had that much physical contact with someone in one day, let alone someone who made her feel like it would never be enough.

CHAPTER21

“Sydney, would you help me with this zip please?” Beatrice’s voice drifted through from the dressing room.

A shiver rushed over Sydney as every hair on her body stood to attention at the sight of Beatrice in front of a full-length mirror in a red, strapless A-line satin dress. The material glistened in the sun as it shone through the large Victorian window.

The woman was simply divine.

“I can’t reach it,” Beatrice continued, sweeping her shimmering curls to one side.

Sydney stood behind her, her eyes wandering over her bare shoulders and neck. She paused as she reached out to the zip. Instead of grasping it, she lifted her hand higher to the base of Beatrice’s neck, where she allowed her fingertips to lightly brush the soft skin.

Beatrice’s torso lifted as she inhaled, and then held her breath. Her shoulders twitched and her head tilted as Sydney’s fingers zigzagged slowly down to the top of the dress. Beatrice’s shoulders dropped as she let out her breath.

Finding the zip, Sydney pulled it down to reveal Beatrice’s bare back. She gasped as she realised there was no bra hiding behind it. The front of the dress gave way as it finally lost its hold on Beatrice’s breasts.