Eventually, I forced myself up and went into the bathroom for a shower. The warm water hit my skin and brought a sharp sting to the sore areas, making me wince slightly as I adjusted under the stream. After standing there for a short while, I turned off the water, wrapped myself up, and walked back to the bed, where I dropped down without another thought.
By the time Ashton came out of the bathroom after his own shower, I had already fallen into a deep sleep. I vaguely felt his arms around me for a moment, steady and familiar, before he stepped away again.
When I woke, the room was already dark. Night had settled in quietly, and the long sleep left me feeling heavy, like my body hadn't fully caught up yet. I sat up slowly, giving myself time to shake off the dull feeling.
Ashton was in the study, his voice low as he handled phone calls. Downstairs, Mrs. Eriksen noticed me right away and went to prepare something to eat.
