Chapter Sixty Nine
Camilla POV
"Okay," I nod slowly. "Do I have clothes?"
"Yes, your Nonna sent a bag. She will be here tomorrow. She's been very worried," he adds.
"Can you get me some clothes then and help me into the bathroom. Seems an odd way to meet your mother, so you can help me this once," I tell him. I've never been super shy, but it does seem awkward. I doubt this man has ever helped anyone bathe before. He's a billionaire with servants and probably would pay someone, I mean really, he has already. He hired these nurses. But damn if that nurse doesn't put me on edge with her attitude.
Nicholas opens the dresser drawers in front of me, where I can now see there are clothes. He pulls out a pair of black leggings and a soft t-shirt. He then opens the top drawer and grabs some underwear. I feel myself blushing as he lifts out a red lace thong and then stuffs it back in the drawer. He pulls out some cotton underwear and nods like he's decided that's the one and turns around to me, holding them out with a smirk. "I think these will be more comfortable for the time being, don't you?"
I shrug, "Nicholas, it's underwear. But that's not my shirt you have in your hand," I tell him.
"No, it's mine. It’s soft and loose and easier to get over your head without hurting you." He turns back and closes the dresser. Turning back to me, he points to the bathroom. "I'm going to put these in the bathroom and then come back and help you. The doctor said you might get lightheaded the first few times you walk, so I will make sure you don't fall."
Nicholas returns a moment later and holds out his hand. "Let's go, princess," he says softly as he takes my hand, and I stand slowly. I feel the room tilt a little and I close my eyes and then open them again. Nicholas has moved closer and is staring at me. "You okay?" he whispers. I nod slowly and take a deep breath.
We slowly make our way to the bathroom and I'm grateful that he's here as I cling to his arm. I feel slightly off and weak, and it makes me mad that I'm feeling like I can't even walk to the bathroom on my own. As we enter the bathroom, I realize I really need to pee. "I need to use the toilet," I say softly. "Can you just deposit me near it and step out?"
Nicholas walks me over to the little closet-like room where the toilet sits, opening the door and helping me inside. "How about I stand outside the door, just in case," he says. I nod, and he backs out and closes the door. I look down and realize I'm wearing a hospital gown and no underwear, which makes things easy. I slowly sit and handle my business. I stand up and feel just slightly dizzy, but make it to flushing the toilet and opening the door. Nicholas is right there waiting.
"You okay?" he asks.
"Yes, now can we get this over with?"
Nicholas walks me to the garden tub, sits me on the side of it, then goes to the huge walk-in shower and turns on the water. I watch as he starts to undress. "What are you doing?" I ask quickly.
"I don't want to soak my clothes, I'm just going to strip down to my boxers if that's okay with you," he says with a slight frown.
"Oh," I realize he's right. "Okay."
I watch as he takes off his clothes, neatly folds them, and puts them on the long granite counter. He's down to nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs. I look him up and down and can't help but admire the man in front of me. He's incredibly toned, muscles everywhere, but not in an over-exaggerated kind of way. He has thick, muscular thighs and dark hair scattered on them. His chest is broad and toned, his arms bulky, with defined triceps and muscular forearms. Nothing about this man's body is unsightly. As he turns to check the water temperature, I see a large scar that comes down across his back from his shoulder, but even that isn't ugly. It just adds to the strength he gives off. I wonder what the scar is from, but I don't ask. I seem to be in a trance as I stare at him, because I'm jolted out of my thoughts when he places a hand on my shoulder.
"Camilla?" he says my name like he's been talking to me, and I haven't heard any of it. "You good? You spaced out on me."
"Yeah, sorry, I don't know where my head went."
"Let's get you undressed and in the shower," he says as he helps me stand. It turns out there isn't much to undressing me with this hospital gown on. He reaches around and unties it at my neck and then pulls it down over my shoulders. I feel the air hit my nipples, and they are instantly hard. Nicholas sucks in a breath, and I look up into his face. What I see there is not what I expected to see; anger lights up his face.
"What's wrong?" I ask, bringing my arms up to cover my breasts.
"Look what they did to you," he says. "I didn't see it before because you were covered up all the time." I look down and see that my body is covered in black and blue and some yellowing bruises. My ankles have some faded bruises and raw places from the zip ties that had bound me in the back of that SUV. My ribs are bruised and tender. Both wrists have faded bruising, and my arms are covered in bruises from the IVs and the blood draws. I feel a tear slip down my cheek and then brush it away. I'm alive and in one piece, that's what matters right now.
"It's fine," I tell him. "I want a shower." More than ever, as I remember everything that I had been through and realize I haven't showered since Iowa, I want to scrub every inch of my body, and I want to do it now.