Page 24 of Covert Operation
I watch her go, frozen in place as I try to rein in my body’s reaction to that accidental, and completely innocent, touch. The throb in my dick has nothing to do with Savannah and everything to do with the lack of sex in my life.
I can’t even remember the last time I got laid. It’s not normally a big deal. I take care of any urges myself and move on. But I’ve spent the past week unable to scratch that itch, and it’s obviously an issue.
Grabbing the cold pack Savannah tossed my way, I break the barrier inside, shake it, then shove it right against my dick. It’s the biggest pain I’m facing and I need to nip whatever’s going on there in the bud. I would never have feelings like that for Savannah. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Shifting on the table, I swing my legs over the side, groaning a little as the shift twinges the ache in my shoulder. I was almost considering asking Eli for those pain meds, but I think I deserve a little discomfort after what just happened. A little suffering for the upset my reaction caused Savannah.
Hopefully it wasn’t enough to make her decide my help is no longer wanted.
Getting to my feet, I move the cold pack from my crotch to my shoulder, holding it there as I leave the room and make my way through the complex to my second floor suite in the rooming house. After letting myself in, I peel away my remaining clothes then toss them in the laundry to be dealt with later.
Savannah did her best to clean me up, but I still need a shower. Switching on the spray and yanking the detachable shower head free from its stand, I go to work scrubbing away the evidence of the bloodbath that left three of my team injured. Luckily, the memory of it is enough to keep my dick from acting up as I give it a quick scrub and rinse. As soon as I’m clean, I dry off, pull on a pair of sleep pants, and fall into my bed, hoping I’m exhausted enough I can get the sleep I desperately need.
My head’s just hit the pillow when I hear something. Sitting up, I hold my breath, trying to figure out what it was. The light tapping comes again, and it throws me just as much the second time.
Is someone knocking on my door?
I’m one of the few people still staying in the rooming house on a permanent basis, so there’s usually no one else around. Certainly not in the middle of the day.
Forcing my exhausted body upright, I pad to the door as whoever’s on the other side knocks again. My irritation at being interrupted just as I laid down shows as I fling the door open and glare through the opening.
But my glare dissolves when I see who’s standing on my doorstep.
“Hey.” Savannah wrings her hands as her eyes slip down my bare chest. Her cheeks flush in discomfort as she shifts on her feet. “Pierce is trying to get a hold of you.” Her eyes don’t meet mine, staying on my chest instead. “He wants to talk to you about what happened in Nashville.”
“He could have called me.” I hate that he sent Savannah up here. Hate even more how uncomfortable she obviously is around me now.
“He did.” Her green eyes finally come to my face. “You didn’t answer, so I told him I’d come get you.”
That makes me pause. “You offered to come get me?”
She lifts one narrow shoulder and lets it drop. “He was in a mood and I didn’t want him to come up here and be a jerkface. I knowyou’re tired and your shoulder hurts so I didn’t want you to have to deal with that.”
Her explanation has my lips lifting. “Are you protecting me from Pierce?”
Savannah offers me a hint of a smile. “I think it’s more about protecting Pierce from you.”
I laugh in spite of my exhaustion. “You’re probably right.” I back into my suite, feeling a little better about where we stand. “I’ll get dressed and come down.”
Savannah’s gaze flicks behind me, quickly skimming my space. “I can wait for you.”
A little more of my worry about what happened in the medical wing eases. If she’s willing to be alone with me, hopefully that means no harm was done. I back up more, widening the door. “Worried I won’t come down?”
“Worried you’ll come armed.” She slips past me, the full skirt of her dress teasing along the front of my pajama pants.
Again, she makes me laugh. “I’ve had enough combat for the week.”
Savannah’s lips flatten as she comes my way, one hand lifting to gently trace the edge of the bandage on my shoulder. “Did you take any pain medication?”
I grit my teeth, doing my best to ignore the soft stroke of her touch. I can’t have a reaction like I did again. It was inappropriate and put all the trust I’ve built with Savannah at risk. “I’m fine.”
“That’s what I figured.” Savannah pulls her hand from my body and digs into a pocket hidden in the seam of her dress. She brings out a clear sealed pouch containing a pill and holds it up. “So I got some from Eli on my way up here.” She gives me a wobbly smile. “I remember what a gunshot feels like, so stop being stubborn.”
The mention of her own suffering makes it impossible for me to deny her anything, so I obligingly take the packet.
She watches as I tear into it. “I didn’t bring any water. I figured you’d have some.” Her eyes again trail around my suite. “But now I’m questioning that assumption.”
The state of where I stay hasn’t been big on my list of concerns. I’ve had other shit going on. That’s why I love my job. It keeps me busy. Occupies my brain. Leaves me little time for anything else. And I work hard to fill that little time too. Whatever keeps me from having too much time to think.