“And he needs someone to watch over him.”
“Anne’s got it,” Rosalia declared. “She will watch over Nico the entire night until I’m back. Every night.”
Anne’s eyes widened.
“Anne?” Bethany echoed, sounding offended. Anne’s back went up. “But I’m more qualified—”
“No, you are not,” Rosalia cut in cheerfully. “The clan leader would like someone very close to Nico and me to watch over him, so it has been decided. Would you like to take your claim over to Angelo?”
For the nth time, Angelo’s influence was wielded as Bethany grumbled but stopped trying to plead her case. They heard the huffy goodbye before footsteps faded.
“That was a lie,” Anne called out. Rosalia shrugged.
“It’s better than having her here while she tries to get a baby out of Nico.”
“A baby?” Anne asked, horrified.
“The woman keeps trying. Nico isn’t interested. She doesn’t care. She would probably try to sneak in here at night and seduce the man while he’s sleeping.” Rosalia’s lashes fluttered. “Will you be so kind as to watch over him, then, and lock the room to ensure that won’t happen?”
“I…okay.”
And that was how Anne found herself memorizing medication before Rosalia left and sitting beside him as the sun went down. Someone cleared their throat, and she glanced at the door, which was locked. Realization slammed in and had her spinning towards Nico, who was peering at her quite steadily.
“I liked hearing you two talk. I like hearing you talk.”
“Nico?”
Whatever he saw on her face had him smiling sheepishly. “I swear I was sleeping but woke up, and I heard you guys. I kept sleeping and waking up, and you just kept talking. It was nice. I didn’t want Rosalia to keep fussing over me. She lost hours of sleep taking care of most of the team.”
He held up his hands. She devoured the sight of him. When he shifted the gesture to an invitation, she gingerly sat on the edge of the bed, then squeaked when he drew her closer. There was no kiss and no actual hug, but the skin contact was enough to have her let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps he felt the same as his fingers stroked her hair, and he carefully breathed over her head.
“Bethany wanted to fuss over you.”
“I know. I heard. I prefer you fussing over me.” The pause was punctuated with him bringing her even closer, his mouth inches away. A tingle sparked down her back as arousal blazed to life. “Actually, I prefer you sneaking in here and trying to seduce me, but you are already here. So—”
A cry of pain cut off his words before he doubled over, coughing. She was on her feet and assessing him until she found that his rib area and left arm gave him trouble. She scrambled for medicine and gave him the pills despite his protest, refusing to look away until he had swallowed them all. The cold compress placed on his stomach had him shuddering, then sinking into his pillow with a reluctant groan.
“I hate reptile shifters with a passion. I hate that I’m going to be like this for the next few days.”
He glanced at her, expecting her to agree.
“I like that you and your team are alive.”
His brows rose. A reluctant nod feathered out, then a smirk. “I guess there’s that. But I hate that I can’t touch you. Or kiss you.”
She hated it, too, but stood up and leaned over to give him a gentle kiss. He kissed her back, humming with pent-up energy and need, but the sluggish movements told her that the medicines were taking effect. Hunger swirled in her system, but she broke the kiss and urged him back.
“You need to rest.”
“Right. Damn it. You don’t have to stay here, you know….”
The rest of the words trailed off as he was knocked out. She returned to the chair, pulsing everywhere, and tried to get her heartbeat back to normal.
“I’m staying here,” she declared, to no one in particular.
There was still pain on the second day but of lesser intensity. That’s when grumpiness overtook Nico. It became a session of her and Rosalia taking turns while Nico complained about being let out, to which Angelo paid a visit with a resounding answer.
“No.”