Page 43 of Ruined

I clenched my jaw. “Thanks. I guess.”

“As usual, your gratitude is really something else.”

I put the glass on the nightstand, wincing from the stretch.

His eyes flickered. “Does it hurt?”

“Nah. I just don’t like waking up to your face.”

His mouth curled into a lopsided grin. “I thought waking up to perfection was everyone’s dream.”

“Maybe if it came with a mute button.”

“You’d miss my voice too much. Besides, who would keep you entertained?”

“Pretty sure silence would do a better job.”

Dominic lifted a brow. “Then beg me to leave.”

“I’d rather eat glass.”

“Careful, you’ll end up choking on it, and then I’ll have to save you.Again.” Dominic leaned in closer, his hair falling in front of his eyes. “And we both know you can’t resist me playing hero.”

When he used thattoneand got too close, tingles skated across my chest. My breathing shallowed.

“You really think you’re my savior, huh?”

“You would’ve bled out on the street if it weren’t for me.”

I shrugged. “And?”

“And I like ordering you around.” Dominic reached out, brushing hair off my forehead.

Warmth stirred in my chest as he stroked my temple. It felt so fucking good. I couldn’t remember the last time anybody had given me comfort. Maria, maybe, but her touch didn’t feel like a swarm of heat in my stomach.

“You’re burning up,” he said.

“I’m fine.”

He frowned, his thumb lingering on my skin. My chest tightened. Alexei’s hands had always been steady too. No hesitation, even when he broke me.

“You’re not fine, Luca. You got stabbed last night.”

I swatted his hand away. “Quit acting like you give a shit.”

Dominic’s gaze sharpened. He grabbed a bottle from the nightstand, shaking out a couple of pills. He held them out with a glass of water. “Take these. You need to stay on top of the pain.”

I shook my head. “I don’t need them.”

He frowned. “You’re supposed to take them every four hours.”

“I said no. I don’t want them.”

“Luca, don’t make me shove these down your throat.”

“I’m not taking painkillers. I abused them when I was a teenager. Took me a while to kick the habit. I don’t want to get started on it again.”

Dominic stilled, his hand hovering mid-air with the pills. Then he set the bottle on the bedside table. “If the pain gets worse, you’re taking them. No arguments.”