Dark Chocolate Dreams
HENRY
“Another sleepover?” I asked, trying, and failing, to keep my voice steady as I took in Ri, hair glossy and loose, in yoga pants and an oversized sweater with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder.
“I promised Kat I’d be there for her. She has extremely painful, debilitating periods, and she needs someone to be with her.”
“What about her boyfriend?”
Ri frowned. “They aren’t quite at the period-care stage.” She glanced away, and I wondered what it took to get to the ‘period-care’ stage of a relationship.
“Aren’t they in an intimate relationship, though? Wouldn’t it be a normal next step for him to look after her when she’s menstruating?”
“Would you feel comfortable helping me if I was bleeding through a tampon and in too much pain to get up and change my sheets?” she asked archly, and the challenge in her tone made me straighten.
“Catnip, I would carry you to the bathroom, run the shower to the temperature you like—just shy of scalding—and I’d help you undress.”
I took a step towards her, eyes darting to her chest, which rose and fell faster as I approached. I tore my eyes from her breasts, locking my gaze with hers.
“You would?” she breathed.
I nodded. “And while you were showering, I would strip the bed, set the sheets and your pyjamas on to soak, and make it up fresh for you. I’d bring you clean pyjamas, and a dose of Advil, and a heat pack, and whatever sweet treat you demanded.”
“Dark chocolate,” she murmured. “It’s my favourite.” Pink spots appeared high on her cheekbones. I reached out one hand and brushed my knuckles across that pretty stain.
“I’ll make sure there is always dark chocolate in the pantry,” I promised.
She blinked, eyes glistening, and stepped back from my reach. “Well.” She cleared her throat. “I guess I’d better go meet Felix.”
My brows knit. “Felix? Not Lucian?” Felix was one of Lucian’s underlings.
Ri picked up her bag, making her way to the stairs. “I told Lucian that he needs to put someone else on apartment-monitoring duty while I’m there. He outed himself to Kat at the bar the other week. I had to tell her that he was my security because I was getting famous on Tickle.”
My frown deepened. “But wouldn’t it make more sense for Lucian to be there, then? If Kat is already aware of him, wouldn’t she expect him to be around?”
Ri rolled her eyes. “Not at the apartment! It made sense for me to need security in a public place like a bar, but if she sees him lurking around outside the apartment, she’s going to think there’s something worrying going on.”
“Thereissomething worrying?—”
“Yes, alright, butshedoesn’t know that.” Ri waved a dismissive hand. My heart jumped painfully. “And Felix has been on Cockerels Cap watch before, he knows the drill. Me being inside the building doesn’t make much of a difference, does it?”
I opened my mouth to argue that it did, that her being there made the need for security even more paramount, in my eyes, but when she glared at me, I shut it again.
“Is Lucian on board with this?” I asked instead. Because I was very much not.
“Lucian is begrudgingly agreeable,” he said, walking into the room. I shot him a look, but he shook his head once.
I had to admit defeat when it was two against one. With a sigh, I took the bag from Ri’s shoulder.
“I’ll walk you out to the car.” I took her hand. Her fingers were cold, and I tightened my grip on her as I led her up the stairs and out into the brisk May air.
Felix was waiting at the marina gate, the car idling. I didn’t let go of her as I opened the boot and put her bag inside before turning to her.
“I know you think I’m being overly cautious.”
Ri’s lips curled. “It’s one of the things I find most endearing about you.” She leaned in to brush a kiss to the corner of my mouth.
The control I’d held so carefully since the night of no rules broke, and my hand snaked around her neck, tilting her head until I could take her mouth. She gasped, and I darted my tongue between her lips. Electricity shot through me when she flicked hers against mine, her fingers tangling in the hair at the nape of my neck.
