Page 85 of Icebound Hearts
There’s something in his expression, subtle but meaningful, that sends a shiver of awareness down my spine.
“I’ll wait up,” I whisper, then lead Jake out of the lounge.
Chapter 28
Violet
Jake is already falling asleep by the time I help him into bed after making sure he brushed his teeth. He’s still wearing Sawyer’s jersey, but it’s so big on him that it’s basically a pajama shirt anyway, so I decide not to fight him on it. I make sure he’s tucked in tight under the covers and brush his hair out of his face, smiling at him.
“I’m glad you had a good time tonight.”
He smiles back, his eyelids drooping. “I always have a good time with you, Ms. Violet,” he says and sits up to wrap his arms around my neck, melting me. “Good night.”
“Good night, sweetie,” I whisper back and peck a kiss on the top of his head as I tuck him back in.
I slip back to my room to get cleaned up and ready for bed myself, and I’m just finishing up when I hear the front door open and close downstairs. My lip finds its way between my teeth as I hesitate. I want to check on him, but I’m not really sure if that falls within the bounds of our new “no strings” fun arrangement.
But the worry that jolted through me when I saw him take that hit still hasn’t fully subsided. I need to see him, just to check and make sure he’s really okay, so I slip out of my room and catch him just as he reaches the top of the stairs.
He stops when he sees me, still gripping the pommel of the banister.
“How are you feeling?” I whisper, careful not to wake up Jake. “Does it hurt?”
He shrugs. “Like I said, I’ve had worse.”
I roll my eyes at him. “That’s not what I asked. I asked, does ithurt?”
A weary smile curves his lips at my insistent tone. “Yeah, heartbreaker. It hurts like hell.”
Hearing him admit that makes my own chest ache. I hate seeing him in pain, and I wish I knew what to do to fix it. But there’s probably not muchtodo except give it time, since clearly the team medical staff didn’t think his injuries were serious enough to warrant a lot of concern.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
He chuckles. “Don’t be. You weren’t the one who bodychecked me into the boards.”
“No, but I wish I…” Lifting a shoulder. “I wish I could do something.”
“You can.”
Reaching out, he tips my chin up with his thumb and forefinger. My pulse picks up as he takes a step closer to me, tilting my head so that our gazes stay locked. When he’s this close, standing just inches away from me, I’m always more aware of the height difference between us, of how big and strong andsolidhe is.
But even solid things can be broken.
That flicker of worry passes through me again, and despite the heat simmering beneath my skin, I shake my head.
“Sawyer, you’re injured. I don’t think we should?—”
“Do you want me to beg, heartbreaker?” His eyes gleam like liquid metal, his breath warm on my lips as he drops his head a little. “Because I will.”
There’s nothing in his tone that suggests he’s joking, and my stomach flips over as my thighs unconsciously clench.
“Are you sure?” I whisper. “You just said it hurts like hell.”
His hand slides around to cradle the back of my head, and even though that’s the only place where we’re touching, goosebumps dance across my skin.
“Please,” he murmurs, his voice so low I have to strain to hear him in the quiet hallway. “I need you. I need to feel something good.”
The way he talks about me, as if I’m the antidote to the pain he’s feeling, makes something protective and possessive flare in my chest. Without a word, I reach for his hand, linking our fingers together and leading him toward his bedroom.