CHAPTER 20
KNIGHT
My body throbbedand ached as I rolled onto my side—but Aiden’s warm skin was all the reward I needed.
I nuzzled into the back of his neck, inhaling the citrus and sandalwood scent of his shampoo. He snuffled in his sleep, which was unbearably cute.
I pressed my lips to his shoulder—before remembering my cut lip. A sharp bite of pain made me tense. Still worth it, though.
I coasted my hand along Aiden’s bed-warmed flank, my dick nudging up against his ass.
“You okay?” Aiden asked sleepily.
“Better if you wake up and play,” I said teasingly.
I slid my hand forward, but he blocked me. “You need to take it easy.”
“Touching you isveryeasy. Resisting is what’s hard, Angel.”
He turned his head and blinked at me over his shoulder. His lips pulled into a grimace. “You look awful.”
“Way to pump up a guy’s ego.”
Aiden turned over to look at me fully and I could see in his expression that playtime wasn’t happening.
“You should rest today. Maybe call in to work.”
“It was just an ass-kicking. I’m not at death’s door.”
“Is that what it takes for you to miss work?” he challenged.
“Maybe.”
“C’mon, Knight. Those ribs are going to be killing you.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I said. “I have a meeting with my parole officer before work. I can’t miss it.”
“Can’t you?”
“If you knew my parole officer, you’d understand. It’s not worth the trouble of getting Winslow riled up.”
I pushed upright, my battered body protesting. Holy fuck, sometimes the doctor was right. Imagine that.
I sucked in a breath and gritted my teeth as I turned to put my feet on the floor. It wasn’t just the ribs that hurt. I’d been kicked in the gut, in the chest, in the thigh. I might be less sore if a fucking truck had run over me.
“It’ll be better once I shower.”
“Okay.” Aiden sounded skeptical. “Make sure you cover that arm. I’ll change the bandages before I leave for work.” He rounded the bed. “Want help up?”
“No. I’m not helpless, damn it.”
“Okay.” He patted my shoulder and walked out of the room with the ease of a person who hadn’t been beaten to a pulp. The showoff.
I levered myself up, glad Aiden wasn’t around to hear the string of swearing I did. I took a hot shower, and it loosened me up some. By the time I entered the kitchen, I could walk with only a small hitch in each step.
Aiden pointedly sat a bottle of ibuprofen on the counter beside the toaster. “Take two and call me in the morning,” he said with a wink.
“Thank you, Doctor.” I unscrewed the cap and popped the pills in, swallowing them dry.
