Read Online Victoria's Challenge by M. K. Eidem - Free Book Online Page B

think you’d remember.” Lucas watches Victoria closely.
    “Remember what? ” She walks over to his plate. “You need to eat more.” She reprimands him.
    “I’m fine . Tanner, him.”
    “Why wouldn’t I remember? ” Giving up, she cleans up the plates, putting them on the tray.
    “I think it was more hoping you wouldn’t, wouldn’t remember him reaming you. ”
    “He just needed to vent, it didn’t mean anything. ” Turning she looks at him. “So are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
    “Why didn’t you tell me? ” Moving he stops inches from her.
    “Tell you what? ” Victoria’s breath catches, she can barely think when he is this close.
    “That I’m talking in my sleep. ” If he hadn’t been watching so closely, he’d have missed it, the flash of intense pain.
    “It’s common, the mind…”
    “Is dealing with the pain,” he interrupts. “Yeah Dodge told me. Why didn’t you?” Raising a braced hand, he touches her cheek with his knuckles. Her green eyes widen, before she steps away.
    “There was no reason too . You have the right to say whatever you want.” Her throat tightens at his touch.
    “Not when it hurts you.”
    “I’m fine, Major.” Stepping away, she takes a deep breath. He’s gotten her stirred up she needs to settle, to keep her mind clear and focused.
    “ Stop calling me fucking Major! You know my name!”
    “So you had a good night without additional meds ?” She ignores him.
    “ Victoria…”
    “Let it go, let me do what needs done. Please.”
    It’s the please that stops him, letting him know she’s more upset then she’s letting on.
    “For now, but we ’ll talk about it again.”
    Not if she can help it, she thinks, she’s not sure she can take him ‘talking’ to her again . Not after the other night.
    “Fine, sit. ” Pointing to the couch, she gathers her supplies.
    Sitting on the table, pillow in her lap , she takes one of his arms. Carefully cutting through the bandages, she removes the splints.
    “How are you doing? ” Serious eyes meet his.
    “It’s fine. ” He watches as she carefully removes the dressings, with gloved hands she cups his, lifting it up to scrutinize each wound.
    “Bend your index finger. ” She orders.
    “What? ” Confusion colors his reply.
    “Bend. ” She keeps her eyes locked on his finger. When it moves, she nods. “Now from here.” She touches the middle knuckle. Sweating just a little, he complies.
    “ How does it feel?” Victoria raises her eyes to him.
    “Tight. ”
    “Just tight? ” She wants clarification. “No pain?”
    “Not really . It just feels tight, like I’ve never used it before.”
    “You haven’t . You have a lot of newly healed tendon and muscle. It needs to be shown what it needs to do.” She repeated the procedure with his remaining fingers and thumb.
    “Good, now try and do this.” Victoria touches her thumb and little finger together. Watching as he tries and can only get them half way. She gives him a brilliant smile, her eyes sparkling.
    “That’s great Lucas.”
    “What’s so fucking great about it?” He watches her smile disappear. Her eyes go flat. “Victoria…”
    “You have movement in every muscle and tendon.” Carefully, she puts his hand down. “Let’s check the other one.”
    Lifting his unbound hand, he reaches out to touch her.
    “Don’t! ” She jerks away. Taking his other hand, she repeats the procedures.
    Watching her , Lucas does what she asks, finding he can’t speak. Having her jerk away from him, from his touch, hurts. Hurts more than the treatments she’s giving him, something he never thought possible. She is the only person he will ever love, and she’s pulling away from him.
    “You’re progressing well, Major.” With his hands resting back in his lap, she rises putting away the supplies. Looking at the time, she sees it’s already 1200. “Are you ready for second meal? I can wrap your hands and fingers so you can try to feed