Chapter 4

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After nearly a week of immersing himself into Rich’s quiet, peaceful existence and sleeping plastered to the man’s massive body, Chase was finally feeling better, more like himself. He didn’t really hurt anymore, his skin didn’t feel tight, and his bruises had faded to vibrant yellows and greens. The cuts and scrapes were still littering his flesh, but healing well if a tiny bit itchy.

Chase felt so good, in fact, that it wasn’t at all uncomfortable or painful to wander out to the huge tub thingy that Rich kept tucked against the back outside wall of his cabin for a bath. Washing up was refreshing. The handmade soap his host kept on the ledge of the bath glided easily over Chase’s dark skin, and he barely flinched as it glided over the last of his injuries.