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“I’ll leave them on the side while you shower.”
“Actually…do you mind getting them now? The sooner I take them, the faster they’ll kick in.”
“Sure.” Makes sense. I turn and climb back onto the mattress, crawling over to ‘my’ side of the bed and opening the drawer. I grab paracetamol and ibuprofen with the intention of asking what he wants, but when I spin around I find his gaze firmly on my ass, all traces of pain gone from his face and replaced with something that looks a lot like desire. The fire in his expression heats my skin – and not entirely out of embarrassment.
Memories of last night, or whatcouldhave been flood me, and my cheeks turn rosy. I can’t decide if I’m grateful for my self-sabotage or if I should hate myself. Right now, Lycus’ expression is making me regret putting the brakes on what was promising to be a night of fun, and the regret is bitter on my tongue.
I need to remember why I’m here.
“Here. Choose whichever you want. Or take both,” I say, thrusting the boxes at his chest as I scramble down off the bed. “There’s a glass beside the sink in the bathroom if you need a drink.”
Don’t know why I’m telling him that. He’s been in this room with me for three days now. He knows where the damn glasses are.
“Thanks. I’ll replace them.”
“Don’t be silly. They’re just painkillers.” I don’t meet his gaze, choosing instead to look out over the city. It’s still dark and the lights are twinkling, casting a spell over me.
“I won’t be long.”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask, just before he closes the bathroom door in my face. He shakes his head. “How am I supposed to know what to wear?”
“It’s pretty cool out there now, so I’d suggest layers. It’ll be a lot warmer by the time we return.”
He closes the door and I huff in frustration. I don’t like surprises. I don’t deal with disappointment well. Not that I think Lycus will disappoint me. It’s not like I’mexpectinganything. I just…I’ve always hated surprises. It’s probably down to the lack of control.
I stand in the bedroom, staring at the closed bathroom door. Lycus’s sudden vulnerability has thrown me off balance. It’s like the ground beneath my feet has shifted, and I’m struggling to find my footing. I’ve spent so much time pushing him away, keeping my emotions locked tight, that this unexpected concern for him feels foreign and unsettling.
As I wait for him to finish in the shower, my mind races with conflicting thoughts and emotions. There’s a part of me that wants to maintain my distance, to stick to our professional relationship at the club. But there’s another part that can’t ignore the way his touch sent electric shocks through me moments ago, or the way his eyes lingered on my body.
I shake my head, trying to clear those thoughts away. This is not the time or place for such distractions. We have a job to do tonight, and I need to focus on that.
Lycus emerges from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. The pain seems to have subsided, replaced by a determined look in his eyes. He walks over to me, handing back the painkillers.
“Thanks,” he says quietly.
I nod, avoiding his gaze. “No problem.”
He reaches out and gently touches my arm, causing me to flinch slightly.
I cut him off before he can say anything. “It was nothing. Forget it. I’m going to get ready, if you’ve finished in the bathroom?”
“I have. It’s all yours.”
I nod again and walk past him, heading into the bathroom. I close the door behind me and lean against it, taking a deep breath to steady myself. The steam from Lycus’s shower fills the room, making it feel almost suffocating.
I shake off my conflicting emotions and focus on the task at hand. As I undress and step into the shower, needing to slough off the remnants of sleep, the hot water cascades over me, washing away the tension in my muscles. I let my mind wander, trying to push aside thoughts of Lycus and whatever surprise he has planned for us today.
But no matter how hard I try, his presence lingers in my mind. The way his eyes softened when he called me ‘angel’, the electricity that sparked between us when our bodies touched…not to mention that kiss last night…it all feels impossible to ignore.
My body is tingling, in need of a release, and I have to deny myself knowing that he’s only on the other side of the door. That would be crossing a line, and I’m not prepared to, even for a bit of DIY.
I quickly finish showering and step out, wrapping myself in a towel. As I dry off, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and pause. My eyes meet their own reflection, filled with uncertainty and longing.
I take a deep breath and shake my head, trying to push those feelings aside. This isn’t the time for distractions or personal entanglements. We have a job tonight, and that needs to be my focus.
I finish getting ready, layering up as Lycus suggested. I emerge from the bathroom, ready but for my trainers, and see Lycus dressed in a simple black T-shirt and jeans. He looks refreshed, the pain seemingly forgotten. It annoys me how effortlessly he can bounce back while I’m left here, stewing in my own internal turmoil.
“Ready?” Lycus asks, his voice gentle yet filled with anticipation.
