As he walks away, I notice what looks like the top of a set of inked angel wings poking out of the lining of his vest on his shoulder blades, a date inked in an inward curve around the knot at the base of his neck.
Once he’s gone, I look to Fiz, who’s still smirking at me. “Can I be promised a day of not being bitten? Or should I steer clear of you too?”
Fiz’s face breaks into a full grin, the first one I’ve seen from him. Two dimples appear on his cheeks, completely cracking his devilish aesthetic into something youthful, something more appealing. A smile that could disarm an asp. It stuns me for a moment. He chuckles, low and amused. “Oh, honey, you should steer clear of me anyway. I will never promise not to bite.” He gnashes his teeth together in a growling chomp that could probably rival Bob’s.
It snaps me back, instantly remembering how vile this man is, cute dimples or not. I go to spit a retort at him when Alfie sticks a mug of steaming coffee in my face. “You’re looking better. Sleep well?”
I take the cup and thank him, looking down at the creamy brown heat and sweetness and goodness. My entire mouth fills with saliva.How long has it been? “I did, actually, once I was left alone and no intruders came to abuse me.”
Fiz makes a dramatic roll of his eyes. “What a drama queen. I’ll be in the den for a bit, I have some guns to clean. Disturb me all you wish.” He winks at me and pushes off the side. As he strides past me, he slaps my ass.
It startles me, the sting of it as sharp as his fucking audacity to do it in the first place. The impact has me nearly dropping my coffee.
“Don’t do that!” I sneer at him, debating whether I should throw this mug at his stupid grinning face.
Fiz just smirks, turning to walk backwards as he locks eyes with me. “I’ll be doing a lot worse to you, Sleeping Beauty.” Then he disappears through the dining room area and then out through another door. Bob looks up at me inquisitively for a moment before following him.
Finally, I let my shoulders droop. Then Bruiser approaches me curiously. I stiffen.
Don’t show fear.
Easier said than done.
He sniffs my legs, and it takes a great effort not to jump into Alfie’s arms.
“I could apologise on his behalf,” Alfie says from beside me, “but then I’d be apologising all damn day.”
“He’s such a prick,” I mutter, not taking my eyes off Bruiser as he continues to inspect me.
“Yep. That’s Fiz through and through.”
“Fucking great.”
Alfie chuckles. “You know, it used to be so boring around here before you came along. I can tell this is going to be so much fun.”
“If you call having to fight off creepy men every day ‘fun’, so be it.” Bruiser chuffs at me and loses interest, padding away.
Alfie hooks an arm around my shoulder. “Ah, come on, El, you’re holding your own already. I like that.”
There’s that nickname again. Now I’m not distracted for it to cross briefly through my awareness, it hits me like a train.
El.
Lewis.
My chest tightens and I press my lips together, staring down into my coffee as I cup it in my hands, letting the warmth seep into my palms.
“You okay?”
“Mhmm,” is all I can manage around the boulder lodged in my throat.
“What do you want to do today?”
I bring the mug to my lips then take a big gulp, my whole body flooding with ecstasy. Holy shit. “I think I’m going to rest. I’m still aching.”
“Of course,” Alfie says, releasing his grip around my shoulders. “Higgins is dropping off a drip for you today. Other than that, you can be left alone. If you wish.”
“I wish.”
