I was always down for a movie marathon with Anurak, no matter what we might be watching. There were always snacks and blankets and relaxation involved. And sometimes, Alfonzo would even join us and cuddle me in some of his rare, soft moments. And I fuckinglovedcuddles.
“Yeah, I’ll join,” I said just as the front door opened. A moment later, Alfonzo appeared in the doorway with Niran. My heart skipped a beat in my chest when Alfonzo immediately erased the distance between us, gripped my hair that I was growing out, and tilted my head back so he could kiss me.
“Good boy,” he murmured. “You worked out yet?”
I shook my head. “Not feeling up to it,” I admitted. “I’m going to watch movies with Anurak instead.”
He sighed but nodded, kissed me again, then released me. “I’m going to be training the new recruit today, but if I finish in time, I’ll come sit with you.” He tapped the tip of my nose. “Be good. Come find me if you need me.”
With that, he disappeared from the kitchen. I finished eating my sandwich, then pulled out my phone and shot off a text to him.
Maksim:
And if I need you now?
Alfonzo:
Say the word, mouse, and I’ll drop all my responsibilities.
I smiled and set my phone back down.
I jerked awake when someone began moving me. My eyes snapped open, meeting Alfonzo’s. He gentlyshhed me and settled behind me on the couch, tugging me between his spread thighs. “Easy, mouse,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around me.
“You scared me.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Anurak said you’d been sleeping most of the time. Missed almost two whole movies.”
My cheeks heated. I sank back into him, letting him support me. He was warm and strong beneath my back, and my shoulder was particularly sore still, even after taking some pain meds. “Not sleeping good,” I admitted.
“Shoulder?” he asked. When I nodded, he grunted. “I’ll take you to see Nicholas first thing in the morning.” Turning his head, he looked at Drew, who was sitting in one of the armchairs, playing a game on his phone. Feeling Alfonzo’s eyes on him, he locked his phone and looked up. “Can you get an ice pack for Maksim?”
Drew nodded once, then stood, heading for the kitchen. I groaned. “I hate ice packs,” I muttered. “I’mwarm.”
“Your ass will be warm from my palm if you don’t let me take care of you, mouse.” I still didn’t have full mobility back in my shoulder—at least not without damn near excruciating pain. Nicholas had referred me to a specialist, who told me I probably never would again, which meant I was officially off field work. Rico had given me the job of taking care of all of Alfonzo’s paperwork though, so I was still earning a paycheck and wasn’tentirely relying on Alfonzo… even if the man never let me spend a fucking dime of my money.
Drew came back with the ice pack, and he draped it over my shoulder. Alfonzo tucked the blanket back around me. “In about fifteen minutes, you can take it off,” Alfonzo told me. “Now try to go back to sleep.”
I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder, focusing on the movie. He grunted, displeased I wasn’t obeying him, but it didn’t matter anyway because I began dozing off ten minutes later.
“Love you, mouse,” he whispered into my hair before I passed out completely.
A sleepy smile pulled at my lips. “Love you, too,” I slurred before falling asleep in the comfort and safety of his arms.
