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Embarrassment over my behaviour and subsequent breakdown last night has me wanting to burrow under the duvet and refuse to come out until he’s gone.
“Shut that thing up!” I groan, rolling over and pulling my pillow along with me to cover my head. It’s not that I’mnota morning person, it’s that this isn’t fucking morning, and I don’t think I can face him.
“Sorry. I can’t. Can you get it for me?” Lycus calls out, sounding pained.
Huffing, I throw off the pillow, sit up and turn on the bedside light – stupid idea because now I’m blind – and grope around for the offending item. My fingers close around his phone on the spare bedside table, the one I’ve not claimed, and I unplug it before throwing it in Lycus’ general vicinity for him to turn off.
Immature, yes. But when it hits him and he curses, I snigger. It’s better than leaning over and making eye contact with him.
“What on earth could possibly be worth getting up at this godforsaken hour for, Lycus?” I complain.
“Trust me, it’ll be worth it. Can you…ummm…can you help me with something?”
He sounds embarrassed and it immediately sets me on edge. He’sjustwoken up, what could he need my help with?
“What’s up?” I ask, rolling to peer over the edge of the bed at him. His face is lined with discomfort and I gasp. “Lycus, what’s wrong?”
“I think I’ve pulled my back a little. It’s probably nothing, just slept funny. But could you give me a hand getting up please?”
His usually tanned complexion looks a little pale, even as his cheeks heat the most adorable shade of pink.Lycus blushing is something I never thought I’d see, but I like it a lot.
“You’re not sporting a boner under that blanket, are you?” I accuse jokingly, immediately wanting to slap my hand over my mouth for referencing his dick after last night. I’m such an idiot.
“Too much pain for that,” he grits out, making my teasing smile fall.
“Shit.” This is my fault. I made him sleep on the floor. “What can I do?”
I scramble to get up out of bed, my feet tangling in the covers, and then I’m falling and landing on Lycus’ chest with a soft ‘oof’. He hisses in pain and guilt floods me.
“Shit sorry!” I try to climb off of him, but his arms lock me in place.
“It’s fine, Angel. Are you hurt?” I let the nickname slide, just this once, becausehe’sthe one that’s hurting and shake my head.
“I’m fine. It’syouI’m worried about.”
I didn’t mean to say that and judging by the flash of surprise in Lycus’s jade eyes, he wasn’t expecting me to say it either.
“I’m worried that my helping you up will make it worse,” I clarify. The last thing I want is for him to think that Icareabout him. I don’t. Not like that. I’m just worried how this will affect our ability to work at the club tomorrow night.
“You won’t hurt me, Angelica. Just give me your hands and help me up.”
I take that as my cue to get off him, and do so, realising a moment too late that Lycus can see me in my rather skimpy pjs. His pupils dilate and he swallows sharply, but otherwise doesn’t say anything. Wise.
Throwing out my hand to him, he grasps it and I have to resist the urge to shiver at the electricity coursing between us. It would be so easy to tumble back to the ground with Lycus. If he weren’t in pain. And my workplace nemesis.
Oh my god, I need to focus. This is why I need coffee in the mornings before I have to function.
I brace my legs and help pull Lycus to his feet. He grimaces the entire time.
“Thanks.”
“Do you need to see someone about your back? It seems bad.”
“I’m fine. I’ll have a quick shower to loosen up and maybe try and find some painkillers en route to our surprise.”
“I have some in my bedside drawer. You can have them.”
“Thanks.”
