“C-cold,” I stutter. He grunts, but doesn’t stop me when I huddle into the warmth of his chest. He smells like sweat, but underneath that, his cologne is rich and potent. I breathe him in, zeroing in on that scent instead of the pain wracking my body.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.
“If you throw up on me, you’re walking the rest of the way,” he murmurs.
“You’d deserve it,” I whisper back without bothering to open my eyes. I don’t know how much time passes when he opens another door, and warmth slowly begins to thaw my frozen limbs as he walks through a large hallway, footsteps echoing off the wall. I must pass out for a moment, because when I next open my eyes, I’m no longer cradled in his strong arms but lying on some kind of exam bed.
“What happened?” a female voice asks as cool hands begin to palpate my neck.
“Took a dirty hit,” he says from my left. “Knee’s fucked and she her head hit the floor hard.” Those cool hands gently pry open my eyes again, but I groan as pain lances through my head.
“Get the lights. Thane, and bring me an ice pack,” she orders.
Thane’s here?
The same Thane that called me a “social climbing whore”?
Well now it’s a fucking party.
“Stabilize her head while I get her leg.” Large, warm hands cradle my skull, careful to avoid the still-bleeding cut on the side of my head just as the ice pack is placed on my knee.
“You got this?” Luther murmurs to his friend, and I open my eyes enough to see them standing shoulder to shoulder. The sight of them looming over me—with Luther’s arms crossed so tightly I can see the veins in his arms through his shirt and Thane leaning close enough that I can feel the warmth from his skin—makes my breath hitch.
Fucking Christ, this is not the time.
Or place.
Orpeople, for that matter.
But I’m in too much pain to argue with myself, so instead, I steal whatever twisted comfort I can get from their presence.
“Yeah man, see you tonight?” Thane’s rasping voice so close to my ear makes my skin prickle. Luther grunts and my eyes shift to him, locking with his for half a heartbeat.
Something sparks between us.
Something unspoken.
Somethingmore.
He turns, but I can’t help following him with my eyes until he’s out of sight.
“I’m Dr. Araminta Mercer. Can you tell me your full name?” Her calm voice draws my gaze.
She’s pretty.
I’m delirious.
“Nyx Byrke,” I murmur.
“Thank you, Nyx. Do I have your permission for my intern to examine you with my supervision?” I wince when my eyes find his, looking down from where he stands above me. There’s no trace of the arrogant asshole from the stairwell, or the entitled bastard by the lake. I haven’t met this Thane before. He’s entirely focused me, close enough that I see the striations in his different-colored eyes. The blue one flashes so quickly I almost miss it, and his throat bobs when he swallows.
“Okay,” I whisper, holding his gaze. He clears his throat, then starts going through concussion protocol.
“Do you remember what happened, Nyx?”
