Page 17 of Ice Around the Edges

“What’s all this?”

“So you’re comfortable.”

I smiled at him. “I was okay before.”

“You’re hurt, Evan. You need to take it easy.”

I looked at him.

“Sit,” he said quickly, passing me a game controller.

I looked at it as I sat down on the bed. “Why do I have a cordless controller?”

“So you can lie down and play video games.”

“I see.” I smiled at him. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

“Thanks,” he said softly. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Nothing.”

“You wanna watch a movie?”

“No.”

“Okay,” he said, and then he left the room.

I put the controller on the night table and watched him go. He got very busy coming in and out, carrying stuff, and asking me if I wanted or needed anything each and every time. I understood then that I wasn’t the only one who was a little weirded out. Over the next hour it made me tired just watching him hustle around the apartment. I reached out and took his hand the hundredth time he passed by me.

“Yes.” He smiled down at me expectantly. “What can I get you?”

“Nothing,” I said, looking up at him. “I just wanna lie down.”

“Oh.” His brows furrowed slightly, like he was worried. “You need help?”

“No. I want you to lie down with me.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“’Cause you’d end up getting attacked, and you’re not up for that,” he said firmly, squeezing my hand before he let it go, turning to leave the room.

I held him there. “I’m not?”

“No.”

“How do you know?” I asked. I was actually feeling pretty good. My orgasm the night before had pretty much sealed the deal on my need to bed the man. I was more than ready. And even though I was concerned that my body and my heart were still a little too closely entwined where he was concerned, I wanted him too much to worry about it.

“Ev,” he sighed, “I haven’t slept with you in forever, and all I wanna do when I look at you is….” He trailed off, and I saw his jaw clench hard.

“What?”

“Never mind,” he snapped out, forcing a smile even though his voice was full of sand. “Quit buggin’ me. Lay the fuck down.”

“I’d rather lay down with you.”

He took a step away from me. “Ev, you’re hurt, and I already feel crappy enough about what I did to you yesterday, and you’ve been through this huge ordeal that I don’t even know how to… I’m so lucky that you––”