Just A Man

Cara's POV

"Adonis," I called out softly. "Adonis, get up. You're bleeding."

The black shirt he had on was torn in several places, and his left cheek was a little swollen. He had a small but deep cut on the left side of his eyebrow. My eyes scanned his form in search of the main source of the excessive bleeding. 

"Adonis. Come on." I called again when he didn't reply the first time but got nothing again.

No way. He can't be dead, right?

I crawled over to his side of the bed, giving him a shake, desperately trying to wake him up.

"Adonis, are you dead? Please wake up. I'm getting scared." 

I roughly shook him until he released a groan, popping one eye open.

"What is it?" He rasped

"You're bleeding. We've got to get you to the hospital or call Dr. Bruno. I can't leave you bleeding out like this, please." 

My voice was heavy with worry and moisture glinting in my eyes.

Why was I pleading? The reason was unknown to me too. 

Adonis grumbled, stiffly dragging himself up the bed to get more comfortable.

"I'm tired. Later."

"No. You'll bleed out before then." 

"It's not that serious. I've been through worse."

"Well, I've not! Let me help you; it might get infected if you leave it for too long." I begged again, and he exhaled shakily before sitting upright. I had to hold onto him to prevent him from stumbling. His eyes were squinted like he couldn't see well, and his breathing was heavy. I could tell he was in pain but was choosing to ignore it.

He leaned on me as I assisted him to the bathroom, to rest on the toilet seat while I rushed around to get the first aid kit and a damp cloth.

Now that he was up, I could see the main injury located on his chest as it bled out through his torn clothing. He had his eyes closed as he sat stiffly.

"Take off your shirt." 

"Take it off."

He replied, and I didn't need to be told twice. I got in between his legs as I took off what was left of the torn clothes. My eyes met the work of art on his chest that I'd come to love. He still had some leftover bruises from the accident that were yet to heal, but this was different. 

A big gash ran from the bottom of his pecks to just above his abdomen.

What had he gotten himself into? 

Using the damp cloth in my hand, I wiped his chest, and he placed his hand on my hips in a tight grip.

There was nothing sensual about it. Each breath he took was laboured, and I knew he was holding back his pain. It took a while to get him thoroughly cleaned and bandaged up, and I was sure he had fallen asleep by the time I was done.

Dropping the last stained wool, I moved to pull out of his hold, but he tightened his grip. 

"Where are you going?" Adonis asked, his voice sounding rough.

"I want to get you some painkillers," I whispered back, my hand combing through his hair. He looked up, gazing into my eyes for the first time since he returned. His hand moved up to touch my face.

"Why are you crying?"

I touched my face to confirm. Truthfully, it was wet. I had been crying? Why?

I decided to go with the truth.

"I don't know. I don't know." I repeated. "You came back hurt. I was so worried. Do you know how worried I was? Where the hell have you been? You come back looking..." 

I couldn't finish my words as a sob raked through me. 

Why was I crying? Isn't this what I want?

Adonis stood to his feet, his grip still on my waist.

"I'm fine. Luca got off worse than me."

"Luca? Where is he? Does he need help?" I rushed out through my tears, and he hushed me.

"He's fine now. I sent Dr. Bruno over to his first." 

"What happened exactly? Were you attacked or something?"

Adonis remained silent. I knew he still didn't trust me, and so did I, but it still stung. Especially when I was crying my eyes out in worry for him.

I wiped my tears away.

"It's fine. You don't have to tell me. Just... just use some painkillers before you go to bed." I tried to move out of his hold again, but he didn't let me.

"Adonis?" My face held a questioning look and he took a step closer to me.

"Would you believe me if I said a painkiller would not help me right now? I just want to hold you." 

My eyes watered once again at the tone of his voice.

Why are my ears deceiving me? I refused to let myself think that Adonis had just spoken to me in a voice so soft it brought tears to my eyes. Using the same tone, I replied

"But you're injured. You might feel more pain if you sleep while taking a pill." 

That was also not my voice. I think I might've been possessed.

Adonis lovingly rubbed his thumb beneath my eyes.

"No. The only pain I feel right now cannot be cured. Let me hold you, Bel." He whispered into my ears, and I felt a shiver go through me.

In a daze, I nodded my head and let myself be pulled back into the bedroom.

I stood by the bed and watched him take off my clothes gently until I was bare before him, and then he proceeded to make love to me for the first time.

It wasn't the usual rough eye-rolling scene. He was so careful, I cried at his tenderness. At one point, I could've sworn I saw a tear slip from his eyes, but I was lost in the trolls of ecstasy, so I couldn't be sure.

It was the first time he was letting down his walls. Letting me see him as he truly was, and for the second time since we met, the strange feeling of fear overcame me again. 

I took in everything he gave and returned in kind. It was a one-of-a-kind night out of many, but it unknowingly prepared me for the next few nights when he decided to let me have a peek into his past.