Chapter 6

Chapter Six

“Sweetheart, let’s get you inside.” Rocky had met her in the driveway as soon as she pulled in.

“How’d you know I needed help?” she asked.

“The last client called Tami. Tami called me. Archer found my number using the information on my driver’s license.”

“I should just go to bed. I probably need to get cleaned up first,” she said as she let him help her out of the car. Melissa plucked her shirt away from her body and saw the bloodstains. “Crap. I’ll have to soak those. I hope they come out.”

“Let’s not worry about that now. Come on, Little girl. Let’s get you inside.”

The path to the front door seemed really long even with his supportive arm wrapped around her. All her normal energy was gone. “Sorry. I’m wiped out.”

“It’s okay, Lissy.” He scooped Melissa up off her feet and carried her to the door and inside. Rocky didn’t stop until he reached the large bathroom off the main bedroom.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.”

He set her feet gently down on the floor. “You are so hot, little girl. I think you’re running a fever,” he suggested. “Did you take your antibiotic at lunch?”

“I—I think so,” she mumbled.

“We’ll worry about that later,” Rocky told her as he pulled her shirt up and over her head before easing it over her arm. “When did this start bleeding?”

“Petey knocked me over and some before then,” she admitted, shivering in the cool air. She’d been cold all day.

Swearing, Rocky turned and flipped on the water to fill the tub. “We’re going to let you soak in the tub and warm up. How does that sound?”

“Good.” She turned her head to focus on him. He looked so concerned—with the cutest vertical line between his eyebrows. She reached forward to rub that away and yelped.

“Little girl,” he warned with a shake of his head.

“I keep using the wrong arm. Stupid, Melissa. Stupid, Melissa.”

Whack.

She stared at him in disbelief. “Did you just spank me?”

“No talking about yourself poorly. I won’t allow it. Of course, you reach with your right arm. It’s your dominant one. We’ll check with the doctor to see if you need a sling.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. That would be easier,” she said, stepping out of her jeans when he pushed them down to her ankles. Somewhere in her brain, she realized he was undressing her. “I can do this.”

“I know you can, little girl, but it’s easier if I help.” Rocky helped her balance as he took off her shoe and sock before easing off the denim pant leg.

“But you’re going to see me naked,” she protested.

“I won’t look,” he promised and efficiently repeated the process on the other side.

“Oh, okay,” she agreed as he stripped off her panties.

He rose to unfasten her bra. After tossing it away, he ran a hand over her shoulder. “Let’s get that bandage off and seal off that area so we can wash everything else.”

Rocky winced as he pulled off the adhesive to reveal the bandage. “Little girl, this doesn’t look good.”

“Did I bust some of the stitches?” she asked, keeping her eyes away from the exposed boo boos. She didn’t want to see them. Melissa definitely hadn’t watched as they sewed it up.

“Yes. We’ll have to go to the doctor’s after your bath.”

“Maybe we could wait until after work tomorrow?” she suggested.

“No, Lissy. Sit here on the edge of the tub. Be careful. Let me clean that arm before we rebandage it.”

He was quick and almost pain-free. He’d just finished taping some plastic around her arm when the water reached a good place for her to get in. Rocky picked her up and gently lowered Melissa to sit in the tub.

She sighed with delight as he arranged her injured arm safely on a towel. Closing her eyes, she almost drifted to sleep as he washed her body. Almost. Even sick, she was aware of the washcloth moving over her body. She kept her eyes closed so he wouldn’t see that his touch excited her. Melissa also didn’t want to see any disappointment in his eyes at her less than perfect body.

“All clean, sweetheart. Do you feel better?”

She nodded and allowed herself to smile. Peeking up at him, she whispered, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I enjoy taking care of you. Now, five minutes to soak and then we head for the doctor’s office.”

“Oh, I don’t use my insurance. I just went to urgent care because Tami insisted. She actually told me she’d fire me if I didn’t go.”

“She sent that same message tonight when she heard you’d injured your arm again. She’s also given you the rest of this week to heal. Archer and Tim are covering your jobs.”

“That’s not fair,” Melissa said weakly. She tried to protest vigorously, but didn’t have the energy.

“Fair or not, she’s your boss and that’s what she decided.”

“I don’t even have a doctor.”

“You do now. Evidently, all the Littles go to Dr. Richards in this town. I’m very glad to know he takes care of everyone so well. Everyone recommended him on the group chat,” Rocky stated.

“Group chat?”

“Archer, Tami, Tim, Tim’s Daddies—Santiago and Clark. I’ll go get you some clean clothes.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, so she just closed her eyes to rest. A light kiss landed on her lips before she felt him leave the room. How did she get so lucky?

The house was decorated with flowers, lights, tinsel, and ornaments everywhere. Melissa had already lost count of the number of casually adorned trees. Nothing looked professional except for the lights strewn across the fences and the outside of the house. Everything else was hand done and perfectly charming. This felt like Christmas.

Rocky carried her into the impressive mansion before lowering her to her feet. Melissa inhaled deeply as she looked around. Even the inside of the house smelled like cinnamon, ginger, and pine. She loved taking everything in. “What a beautiful place,” Melissa whispered to Rocky.

“Thank you!”

Melissa turned her head to see a petite figure now standing in the front reception area. “You’re welcome. Are you one of Dr. Richard’s patients?”

“All the time,” the woman answered, rolling her eyes.

“Be good, Zoey,” a deep voice warned from behind her. “I think you wanted to offer Melissa a cookie.”

Melissa looked up to see a handsome blond man watching the woman with a fond expression. She loved that she could feel the love zinging between them. Her attention ricocheted back to the woman when she spoke again.

“Yes. We just made snickerdoodles. Well, Jillian made them. She allowed me to smash them gently with the bottom of a sugar glass. That’s my favorite part. They’re still warm. Would you like one?” The stress on that one word was obviously important.

Suddenly, Melissa wanted a cookie more than anything else in the world. She gingerly reached out with her left hand to grab a cookie and somehow took two. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Your hand was hungry. I bet your tummy is, too. I’ll have two as well. We’ll start a new trend.” Zoey stacked two cookies on top of each other and plucked them up to take a big bite. She waved her prize toward Melissa, who lifted the ones in her hand.

“These are amazing. The sugar is the best part,” Melissa said when she could talk again. She loved the happy grin Zoey sent her after the compliment.

“I know, right?”

“Melissa, I’m glad to meet you. I’m Dr. Richards, and this cookie monster is my Little girl, Zoey,” the man with the deep voice explained.

“Nice to meet you,” Melissa said politely.

“I’m not glad to meet you tonight, though. I understand you injured yourself after getting stitches. I’m sorry you’re hurt,” Dr. Richards said kindly.

The doctor looked up at Melissa’s Daddy and said, “You shared that Tami and Tim’s Daddies had shared my contact information, but you look very familiar.”

“Thank you for seeing us, Dr. Richards. I’m Rocky Harrison. You helped one of my boxers with a broken leg.”

“Of course, Rocky. I’m glad to see you again.”

The two men shook hands before Rocky added, “PLAYTIME just matched Melissa and I together.”

“I’ve seen you on a sign outside your boxing gym. You’ve got massive biceps and big gloves!” Zoey exclaimed. “I’d like to learn to box.”

“No boxing, little girl,” Dr. Richards said gently and stepped forward to take her hand when she lifted her fists into position.

“Yeah. You’re right, Daddy. I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Zoey said good-heartedly.

“Rocky, bring Melissa into exam room one. I want to look at that arm,” Dr. Richards instructed. When Melissa looked around, trying to figure out where to put her cookies, he added, “Bring your cookies. It’s okay.”

She took another bite as she followed him. The bath had revived her a bit, but she still felt lousy.

“So, you work with Tami and a dog bit you?” Dr. Richards asked when they got into the room.

“It wasn’t his fault. There was an unsupervised five-year-old who pulled the dog’s tail, causing him to lash out. I was just in the way.” Melissa rushed to defend the dog.

“I see. Did the dog have all his shots?”

“Yes. Tami makes sure of that,” Melissa assured him. The urgent care had also been concerned about this. She knew that was the right answer.

“You’ve double-checked on that?” Dr. Richards asked, looking at Rocky.

“I have not, but I will today,” he assured the doctor, looking serious.

Melissa knew there was nothing she could say to dissuade that conversation from happening. She took another bite of cookie and smiled. They were fantastic.

“Step up on the scale, Melissa,” Dr. Richards instructed.

When she hesitated, Rocky plucked the last bites of the cookies from her hand and placed them on the paper towel Dr. Richards provided for him. “Come on, Lissy. You don’t weigh as much as my left leg does.”

Laughing at the image of sitting on a scale balanced with one of Rocky’s muscular limbs, Melissa followed the directions and allowed Dr. Richards to weigh and measure her height. He paused for a minute as he lowered the lever down to her head and then pressed his hand against her forehead.

“You’re running a fever, little girl. I’ll need to check your temperature. Lean over the exam table,” the doctor said with a concerned look at Rocky.

“I thought so as well. I don’t have a thermometer at home. Do you recommend one for Littles?” Rocky asked.

“I’ll start a pile of supplies for you. Just the basics now. I’ll want to see Melissa for a full physical when her arm is better. I have a feeling it’s been a while since she’s had one.”

“I don’t use my insurance. Tami’s so good to me. I don’t want to cost her money,” Melissa whispered.

“She needs her employees to be in good shape. You have a physical job. That’s why she gives you health insurance, right? So you can use it if you need it?” Dr. Richards asked as he opened a cabinet to pull down a tray and started loading it with supplies.

Melissa looked at the thick thermometer and knew her eyes widened. That was bigger than she’d ever seen. The next thing he grabbed was a tube of lubricant and he squeezed a dollop out on a gauze square. What’s that for?

“Rocky, if you’ll help pull down Melissa’s leggings and panties.”

“What?” She looked at the big thermometer Dr. Richards now applied lubricant to and tried to back away from the exam table. He didn’t mean to…

“None of that, little girl.” Rocky quickly lowered her garments to her ankles before easily lifting her to dangle over the padded table. He held her in place with one hand on the middle of her back as he brushed her hair out of her eyes. “We’re here to get you well. Dr. Richards needs to get the most accurate reading.”

“You’ll feel me touch you now, Melissa,” Dr. Richards warned as he smoothed a gloved hand over her bottom before spreading her buttocks and applying a dab of cold lubricant to that small opening hidden there. “Good girl. Now the thermometer.”

Melissa dropped her forehead down to the cool surface below her. She shivered at the feel of the cold instrument inside her and the feel of the air-conditioned air wafting over her bare skin. Embarrassed, but feeling so bad nothing really mattered. She trusted her friends, and Rocky and Zoey wouldn’t steer her wrong.

“Okay, Rocky. Let’s get her redressed and Melissa can take a seat on the exam table.”

A few minutes later, she leaned against her Daddy’s broad chest as Dr. Richards looked at her arm. She closed her eyes at the sight of his concerned face. She’d really screwed everything up.

“Little girl, I’m worried about this arm. You have an infection setting in and some stitches tore when you fell. I’m going to deaden your arm and clean everything up. Rocky, do you know what antibiotics she’s taking?”

She felt Rocky shift to pull his phone out of his pocket. Peeking from under her lashes, she watched him pull up a picture and show Dr. Richards. He was so smart. She wouldn’t have thought of that.

“Perfect. Thank you.” Dr. Richards paused and looked at Melissa. “Little girl, I’m going to make this as pain-free as possible, but it’s going to hurt in a few places. Would you like some medicine to distract your brain?”

Melissa nodded immediately. Now that she’d seen what was under the bandage, she knew why it was bleeding. “I get panicky when things are tough,” she admitted.

“Many people do. It’s normal.”

Dr. Richards turned and opened a drawer. He pulled out something wrapped in plastic and tore it open to reveal a pacifier that was candy on the part that fit into your mouth. “This medicine will absorb into your body as you suck on it. Zoey says it tastes like vanilla ice cream. See what you think.” He held it to her mouth and waited for her to open and accept it.

“Mmm!” Melissa said around the medicated candy. It did taste like vanilla ice cream. Or maybe whipped cream. The good kind that was made from scratch.

She settled against Rocky’s body to decide. Her tongue ran over the bulb to appreciate its flavor. Melissa realized Dr. Richards was preparing a shot, but for some reason, it really didn’t matter.

Popping the pacifier out of her mouth, she reported, “This is good. Are you going to fix my arm now?”

“Yes, Melissa. How do you feel?” Dr. Richards asked.

“I’m here with Daddy.”

Rocky pressed a kiss on the top of her head as if he understood exactly what she meant.

Dr. Richards gave them a second before saying, “Melissa, I want you to look at the wall over there and tell me what you see.”

She looked to the opposite side of the room. There was a big picture hanging there. It looked like a big finger painting. The colors were bright and beautiful. Studying it, she considered all the possibilities.

There were a few pokes at her arm that stung, but she didn’t look. Dr. Richards had given her a job. Pulling the pacifier from her mouth, she shared, “I think it looks like a big park or a field. Something out in nature. In the corner, that might be a flutterby.”

“I’ve thought that, too, Melissa. It’s a perfect flutterby. Do you see anything else?” Dr. Richards asked, completely unfazed by her cute alternative term for a butterfly.

Again, she popped the medicine back into her mouth and considered the painting. A few minutes later, she reported, “In the middle, I think there’s an enormous bunch of purple hydrangeas. I love those. They are my favorite flower. They don’t smell very much, but that’s okay.”

When she popped the device back into her mouth, the candy part snapped off. There wasn’t much more of it. Melissa crunched it up and swallowed. “I finished this. Can I have another?”

“Let’s try something a bit different. Rocky, can you open that top drawer in the exam table? Grab one of those pink packets and open it.”

Melissa watched carefully, wondering what other incredible things Dr. Richards had. As Rocky ripped the plastic off, she saw it was another pacifier, but this just had a rubber tip instead. Rocky turned it to show her that written on the outside was the phrase, Good Girl .

“This is perfect for you, little girl. Let’s see what you think?” Rocky held it to her lips, and she opened her mouth.

It didn’t taste as good as the other one, but it was soothing. Melissa laid her head on her Daddy’s shoulder and just zoned out. She might have taken a bit of a nap because she was surprised when Dr. Richards announced he’d finished with her arm.

She looked over to see the previously tortured looking skin covered with a clean white dressing. “It feels better.”

“It is much better. So, here’s how you’re going to help it heal. No work for at least three days. You must be fever-free or your Daddy is going to add on the rest of the week.”

When she opened her mouth to complain, Dr. Richards shook his head. “There are no negotiations here. In addition, I’m going to give you a shot of an antibiotic that will work with the pills you are taking to supercharge them and ward off this infection. I’m also going to send home three days of medicine to keep the pain away. It will make you a bit groggy, but that’s okay. You need to rest and let yourself heal. I’ll give you the first dose, along with your antibiotic.”

“I don’t like shots. I don’t swallow pills well. Those capsules are huge.”

“I don’t blame you for not liking shots. You’ll still get one. The rest of the medicine you won’t have to swallow. It will go in your bottom when your Daddy checks your temperature.”

Melissa stared at the doctor as her brain tried to understand all that information. Her Daddy was going to take her temperature in her bottom just like Dr. Richards had? Medicine was going into her bottom?

“I can take pills. I won’t complain,” she told him.

“I know. You’re not a complainer. You’ll still have to swallow the antibiotic. The other medicine, you won’t.”

Dr. Richards looked at Rocky. “We need to pull her pants down again. Let’s have you sit on the table with her over your lap so we don’t jar that arm.”

In seconds, her leggings and panties hung around her ankles, and she hung over her Daddy’s lap with her bottom pointed to Dr. Richards. Melissa listened to the doctor’s instructions.

“Always lubricate Melissa’s bottom fully to take her temperature. Then, it should only take a bit more on the tip of the suppository.”

Before she could protest, he pressed a thick cylinder deep into her bottom. Rocky held her solidly in place.

“No wiggles, Little girl. We have to protect your arm.”

“But… he’s putting something in my butt.”

“Bottom. It’s medicine, Lissy. I think you need to feel better, don’t you?”

“Yes, but…”

“No butts,” Rocky told her firmly. “Dr. Richards knows how to treat Littles. We will follow his directions.”

A pinch followed. “Ouch!” Melissa yelped.

“All done. You were very good,” Dr. Richards complimented as Rocky lifted her to sit on his lap.

“Promise?”

“I promise, Melissa. I want you to promise me something,” he requested. “Listen to your Daddy and give yourself time to heal,” Dr. Richards told her.

“I can do that,” she agreed. Looking down at the pacifier in her hand, Melissa held it back out to him. “Here. This is yours.”

“No way. That belongs to a good girl. I think you’re the only one in the room who fits that description. It’s yours now,” Dr. Richards assured her.

“Thank you,” she whispered and looked up at Rocky to make sure he was okay with her having it.

“The best of all good girls,” he echoed.

“Go ahead and dress Melissa. I’ll adjust a sling for her. I want her to wear it when she’s up and walking. While she’s relaxing, it’s best to take it off and let her muscles move around. Let me know in two days if the redness hasn’t disappeared.”

“Yes, Doctor. Thank you for taking care of my Little girl,” Rocky told him.

Melissa could feel the emotion in that sentence. He cared for her. She loved how he wrapped around her, as if he would protect her from the world.