Page 18 of Wicked Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 2)

CHAPTERFIVE

Stella

I’ve never been one to shy away from pain. I usually love it. I push myself as hard as I can with my training sessions with Calvin and in my gym and cheer practice. But getting out of that damn hospital bed is like nothing I’ve experienced before. And it’s not something I want to repeat any time soon.

My legs were like jelly and my muscles, screaming in their attempt to hold me up. My stomach burned like a motherfucker. I might not remember the moment of that knife sliding into my belly, but I can imagine exactly what it felt like, because if it weren’t for seeing the baggage attached to my skin then I’d think it was still impaled in me.

I was forced to sit as Carla the nurse cleaned me up. I’ve never felt more useless in my entire life. I could barely even lift my arms after the journey from the bed to the bathroom mere feet away.

It was pathetic.

I was pathetic, and it only solidified what I already knew.

I’m not getting out of here anytime soon.

The second Carla damn near lifted me back into bed, I almost immediately passed out. The exhaustion from just that small bit of movement was too much to fight.

When I open my eyes once more, the late summer sun is streaming through the windows. The sight makes me feel a little better.

My stomach rumbles loudly, pointing out exactly why I’m awake when I still feel like death. I only managed a couple of spoonfuls this morning, but I take the fact that I’m actually hungry now as a good sign.

I press the button for the nurse before looking back out of the window. There are the first signs that fall is approaching, the leaves just starting to look that little bit old with a hint of orange hitting some of the trees.

A bang from the other side of the room startles me, and I cry out when I twist too quickly, pulling my wound when I try to see what it was.

The door to my bathroom opens in a rush, and a concerned and very wet Seb rushes from the room, straight to my side.

“Are you okay?” he asks, a deep frown forming between his brows as his hair drips, soaking into the sheet covering me.

My eyes hold his for a second, any kind of response stuck in my throat before they drop to his chest, and then lower.

Water droplets cling to every inch of him, making his skin glisten in the most delicious way under the electric lights.

Something I shouldn’t be feeling stirs in my lower belly despite the pain.

It’s when I get to the towel that he’s barely covering himself up with that I realise I’ve never actually seen him naked.

“Hellion?” he growls, effectively dragging my eyes back up to his.

Ignoring the fact that my breaths are coming out in short gasps, I force words out of my mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“I just needed to…” He nods his head in the direction of the bathroom.

I guess it was a pretty stupid question.

“Run out of water at home or something?” I snap.

“Or something,” he mutters, running his fingers through his dripping hair and pushing it back from his brow.

His stomach and chest muscles ripple with the move, and my mouth waters.

Damn him for looking so good.

He knows it too, if the smirk on his face tells me anything.

“Put some fucking clothes on and get out.”