Page 75 of Stolen Voices

“She’s lying. Her neck hurts,” he grits out. He hinges forward and places his fists beside my feet, daring me to challenge him. “She needs pain meds.”

“No, I don’t,” I grind out. If he wants a fight, then that’s what he’s going to get. “I’d like to go home now.”

From the corner of my eye, I watch Taylor cover her mouth with her papers, hiding her smile.

“No,” Eli snaps.

Who the hell does he think he is? He’s getting ready to jet off to who knows where. Why the hell can’t I go home?

“No?” I scoff.

“That’s what I said, princess.” His snotty attitude returns, fortifying my resolve.

“Too. Bad.” I don’t know what it is about Eli, but when I’m with him, I want to fight. I want to prove that I’m strong and won’t back down to a challenge.

“Wow,” Taylor interrupts, fanning her face. “While this is really fun, and hot as hell to watch, let’s all just calm down. Callie?” I turn my attention to her. “I’m guessing you don’t like the strong stuff because it makes you groggy, so I’m going to prescribe you some extra-strong Tylenol and some muscle relaxers. Take them as needed.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. At least someone is listening to me.

Taylor turns to Eli and shoves the stack of papers in her hand into his face. “These are her discharge papers, prescription, and some notes on care in case she experiences any other symptoms. She needs lots of rest, so chill out. Got it?”

He snatches the papers from her hand and stands up. Even though he’s no longer looming over me, his cold, hard attitude is taking up all the space in the room. “Got it.”

Taylor angles her body away from Eli so only I can see her. She wiggles her brows at me and mouths,Wow.

I fight a smile. She’s not wrong. Eli might be a bigger pain than the bruises currently on my ass, but he’s a sexy pain. A pain I would gladly experience. Repeatedly.

“Will you please go get a wheelchair?” Taylor asks the nurse then turns to me, stopping me mid-protest. “Hospital policy.”

“Fine.” I nod, too tired to fight with her or anyone else.

She walks around the bed to where the IV is inserted into my hand and gently removes the needle, and leaves the ball of gauze and medical tape covering the small wound.

Eli watches, crossing his arms over his chest with a smug smile. I stick my tongue out at him.

He mumbles, “Brat,” under his breath, but I hear him just fine.

“Ass.”

His eyebrows lift to his hairline.

We glare at one another until Doctor Taylor speaks, breaking the moment. “You two?” She fans her face. “Hot, hot, hot. But I need you to take that somewhere else, and I need to call my husband.” She hustles out of the room, talking to herself about a video call during lunch as the nurse enters with the wheelchair.

“Here we go, Miss Wright. Would you like me to help you get dressed, or can you manage on your own?” the nurse asks.

I look at Eli, who—without even saying it—demands I let her help me.

“Help would be great, thank you.” I look down at my gown with a frown. The last thing I was wearing was that stupid leotard and leggings. “Wait.”

“There are clothes for you in your bag.” Eli points at the lavender duffle bag sitting on the small guest chair on my other side. “I just grabbed whatever I could from your dressing room. You can buy whatever else you need when we get to Portland.”

Portland?

I don’t have time to ask when the nurse grabs my bag and pulls out a pair of sweats, a bralette, and a T-shirt. She asks Eli to leave the room, but he refuses and turns his back, giving me privacy.

My heart beats wildly in my chest at his reluctance to let me out of his sight. I sit on the edge of the bed and let the nurse help me get dressed. I have to admit it was harder than I thought to put the clothes on—with help. I have no idea what I’m going to do later when I need to shower.

When I’m ready, I turn to Eli, taking in his strong back, tapered waist, and firm butt. I’m not the only one appreciating his backside when I turn to find the nurse ogling him too.