JAMES
“It hurts, Grace,” I croak, the words splitting on my lips. “Hurts so f*****g much.”
Palming my cheeks, she twists my face until I’m looking at her. “Where?” she asks, her expression contorted with concern and confusion. “Are you injured?”
“My head, my chest…it hurts.” I’m not sure if I’ve said the words aloud and part of me hopes I haven’t. I don’t want her to know. She shouldn’t be here, see me like this…but I can’t seem to pull myself together and move.
She uncurls herself from my n***d body, my towel is missing, and my skin mourns the loss of her warmth by shivering.
Linking my arm at her elbow, she tugs gently. “Can you stand?”
In my head, I nod, but the action doesn’t materialise. Using her arm for support, I pull myself up until I’m standing, head down, eyes fixed on t
