“Tell my dad that. Or my mom. Any parent would do.”
“Have you always been this screwed up?”
I couldn’t tell if he was trying to insult me or genuinely curious. He seemed on the fence. Honestly, I didn’t mind the question.“I dunno.” I twisted to wash my hands before taking the ointment.“I don’t remember. Ask Ari, she’d probably know.”
He leaned against the wall, watching while I dried my ankle and rubbed ointment across the mangled skin. His eyes were still a darker shade than usual, but they were nothing like when he’d almost snapped in the alley.
“I didn’t‘almost snap.’I probably wouldn’t have even killed you.”
“Probably? That is not a good enough answer. And stop reading my mind.”
“Then—”
“Stop thinking about me,” I finished, making a face.“I wasn’t. I was thinking about your eyes.” I screwed the lid on and washed the extra cream from my hands. The Vicodin was kicking in more and more. I started swinging my goodleg,but it stopped when he placed a hand on my thigh.“What’s your problem?” I asked.
“You.” He made sure I stopped before letting go.“I don’t think you get it.”
“Get what?” I leaned back as he set a layer of gauze against my injury and began wrapping it up. “Tell me. I wanna know.”
“I have regular self-control, but bloodlust is a different thing. Hold these.” He waited for me to hold a metal contraption on either side of my ankle before starting on the next bandage wrap.
“This is really stiff.” I tried to move my ankle while he wrapped, but it was impossible.
“That’s the point, since you’re stubborn and won’t get a cast. Don’t move. I’m trying to set it.”
“Do we really need another one?” I asked as he began wrapping the third. This seemed excessive.
“Yeah. Unless you want the bone to pop out so I can push it back again. I wouldn’t mind the screams.” He smiled when I shivered at the memory.
“No, thanks.”
“Didn’t think so.” He sealed the final wrap with clips along its seam.“I’ll be back. Don’t move.”
I looked around once he’d left the room, finally taking in my surroundings. Their condo was nicer than I’d expected for a bunch of guys. Decent, at least. A minute passed before I decided to unlace my lone boot and wiggle it off. If I was going half shoeless, I may as well go the distance. At least it wouldn’t feel so weird.
“What’re you doing?”Denniswas in the doorway with my boxers and a pair of crutches.
“Taking my shoe off.Success!” I cheered as it finally dropped. He offered the crutches and I gladly took them, eager to have some way of getting around on my own. I wobbled as he helped me slide off the counter and get balanced between them. “Thanks. I think I’m good now.” I made to leave, but he stopped me partway. “What?”
“You should change first.”
“Then go away so I can.” I tried to take the boxers, but he pulled them away.
“You probably need help,” he said, taking in the way I was trying to balance on my good leg. It wasn’t working too well.
“So get Ari,” I said. He smiled and pressed a hand on the door, causing it to fall shut.“Really?”
“Really.”
“So you can’t handle meinthe skirt, but you can handle taking me out of it?” I rolledmy eyes and tried to crutch past, then yelped when I tripped over air. He caught me, holding tight until I regained balance. “Go away.” I shook him off. “I can change by myself.”
“Go ahead.” He gave me the boxers and I set to work.
Only it was impossible while standing on one foot. I couldn’t even get the skirt off. “Fine. Just shut up and help me.” I gripped the crutches while he took hold of my skirt and slid it down. Slowly.Soslowly. My breath caught as it eased past my hips—he was moving like a fucking snail. “What is wrong with you?”
“What do you mean?” He looked up with a sly smirk. “I don’t see a problem.”
“Hurry up!”
