We slowly make the ten feet to my door, where I scan my thumb over the reader and the lock disengages. Savannah leads me inside and directly to my bedroom, and without turning on the lights, she sits me on the edge of the bed.
“What’s your treatment plan?” she says over her shoulder as she walks over to the open curtains and tugs at them. Her ass jiggles beneath her pajama pants, and I can’t help staring at the way the moonlight bounces off her peach-shaped butt. “Nico?”
“I’m sorry. What?”
Savannah exhales an exasperated breath as she tugs at the fixed curtains again. “Do you take medication? Do you like cold compresses or showers?”
I rub the ache in my temple as I try to concentrate on her question.
“I already took my meds. I’ve tried it all. Sometimes things help, sometimes they don’t.”
She growls and stamps her foot in frustration as she unsuccessfully grips the drapes and pulls.
“What are you doing?”
Savannah places her fists on her hips and glares at me. “I know lights bother you, and I’m trying to close these damn curtains.”
Despite my pain and discomfort, I can feel the space behind my ribs fill with warmth, and my lips curl up. I reach for the remote and hold it up. “You need this to close them.”
“You could have said something sooner,” she snaps.
I press the button, and the long blackout curtains slide closed, covering the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. “Sorry. I’m not really thinking straight right now.”
“Shoot, you’re right. I’m sorry. You would think, me being a doctor and all, I’d be a lot calmer.” The fire leaves her pretty amber eyes, and this time I’m not annoyed at the warmth in them directed at me. She slowly but confidently marches back in my direction.
“You starting to care about me,gattina?” I tease.
Savannah’s lips twitch as she stands in front of me, close enough to touch. I stay still, ignoring the way my brain feels like it’s going to explode out of my ears. She cups my cheeks in her small hands, and I swear I can feel the pain recede from her touch alone.
The energy in the air shifts as her eyes find mine. For just a second, I can see the walls she’s erected shake, but they don’t crumble like I’d hoped they would. She needs more time. Time, I can give.
“Maybe.” She smirks at me, and I know she’s going to say something smart. “Who else is going to save me from burning down the kitchen?”
I bark a laugh at her answer, but the pressure in my head reaches its maximum, and I groan in pain. “Fuck. That hurt.”
“Omigod, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know laughing was painful for you.” Savannah pushes her thumbs into my cheekbones andmassages the area with firm pressure. “What can I do to make you better?”
Savannah digs her fingertips into my temples, and it feels fucking amazing. Once again, the pain retreats to a low hum, and I know it’s because of her. Her touch. Her presence. But I don’t want her pity. I want her to touch me because she can’t keep her hands to herself.
I grip her wrists and force her to stop. “I’m okay, Savannah.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Fine. But I will be. I just need to sleep.”
“You’re right.” Savannah bites her lower lip and nods, then she stalks out of my room.
“Well, fuck.” I didn’t mean for her to go.
I stay seated on the edge of the bed and drop my head into my hands. Why do I have to be so damn stubborn? I should have accepted Savannah’s help instead of chasing her away.
I’m such a fucking idiot.
The last thing I want is for her to leave. For me to be alone. I’m really fucking tired of being alone.
I pull off my shirt and throw it onto the floor as Savannah bursts back into the room with a glass full of clear liquid, surprising the hell out of me. She’s so damn pretty in her navy flannel pajama pants and a matching sweatshirt with what I assume is her college logo spread across her perfect tits.
“You’re back.”
