“I’m staying with Marlen,” I say again, more forcefully.
“I guess that answers it then,” Jaro huffs. “Let’s get this mess cleaned up. Marlen, do you need someone to drive you back to your place?”
“I’ll drive him. Let me take one of your cars,” I say.
Zakhar throws me his keys, and I guide Marlen to the car, helping him into the passenger seat. He groans, then chuckles. “I’m not used to being on this side of the car,” he muses.
“Let’s go home,” I say, starting the car.
“Actually, let’s go to my penthouse. I assume the mansion is a bit of a mess after they attacked?”
I bite my lip, remembering what I saw there. “Yes, and your guards…” I whisper sadly.
“I’ll make sure their families are taken care of. They knew the job when they signed up for it, and I know they did their best to keep you safe,” Marlen says, reaching for me. He rests his hand on my leg as he directs me to his penthouse.
On the top floor with beautiful views of the city around us, Marlen is sitting on a wooden chair, complaining about how much the disinfectant stings, while I kneel between his legs and nurse his wound.
I laugh, shaking my head at how dramatic he’s being.
I’m so happy to be here with him. To be safe. To be together. I know he’s in pain, but the relief is overwhelming everything else.
“You’re being a giant baby. You didn’t kick up such a stink last time I cleaned your wound, and it was almost identical.”
“Last time it wasn’t as deep as this. I didn’t need stitches,andwe had that numbing spray,” he sighs, squeezing his eyesshut and looking away as I dab more disinfectant on his skin, cleaning around the wound.
“The offer still stands. I can take you to the hospital,” I say, glancing at him.
He rolls his eyes. “I’ll hate hospitals.”
“Then sit still and let me work,” I demand, biting the tip of my tongue as I peel open the emergency stitches bandage. “How in the world does this thing work?” I ask, reading the instructions out loud. “Place one strip on either side of the wound, yes, ok, oh my word, I see now. You pull the little tabs, and they knit the wound closed. This is so clever,” I exclaim excitedly.
“Told you, you would have toactuallysew me up.” He laughs, but then stops and groans in pain again.
“OK, but the deal is that if this comes undone or you start bleeding again, then you are going to the hospital, right?”
He nods. “Yes, mam,” he smirks.
“Don’t smile at me like that. It’s distracting,” I blush.
Dragging my eyes off his gorgeous face, I press the bandage down as per the instructions and yelp with excitement when it works exactly as it’s meant to.
I’m biting the tip of my tongue with intense focus as I carefully stick bandages over everything.
Marlen has been quiet the entire time, letting me get this done.
I’m about to declare him fully nursed to perfection when he cups his hand beneath my chin and pulls my face up toward his.
I rest my hands on his thighs, still kneeling between his legs.
“You are amazing, Stef,” he mutters, his voice husky and low, sending a shiver through my entire body.
“I… I don’t think it’ll come off,” I murmur, unable to look away from him.
“I wasn’t talking about that. Not just that. I meanyou. You’re beautiful and smart. You’re kind and caring and compassionate even when the people around you don’t deserve it…” He pauses, taking a deep breath.
“Who doesn’t deserve it?” I ask, confused.
“Me,” he sighs. “I don’t deserve it.”
