Page 18 of The Price of Ice

Levy was mostly dozing with his eyes open by the time he put down his plate, making Kallen’s stomach clench with guilt. He reached out to touch his friend’s knee since it felt safer than anywhere on his upper body. “You okay?”

The alpha blinked at him. “Knackered, but, like, also gross.”

Kallen got up, taking the empty glass Levy was holding in his good hand and setting it on the coffee table. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you into the shower first.”

Levy straightened, but mostly to shoot him an incredulous look. “Let’s? Just help me get up and I’ll be fine.”

The indignation didn’t quite work when he could barely keep his eyes open and he had his arm in a sling to keep it at a comfortable angle. Kallen held out his hand anyway and Levy took it, they pulled together until he was upright, grimacing only a little.

He let go and stepped around the sofa just enough to let Levy pass by him, then followed as he headed for the bathroom,ignoring his sigh. “I’m fine, Kallen,” he insisted. “I can walk, remember?”

“Uh huh,” Kallen agreed. “And how are you planning to take off your shirt?” he asked, opening the bathroom door and holding it for him in invitation.

Levy huffed. “Okay, fine, if you want to see me shirtless that badly...”

Kallen didn’t bother with a verbal response, rolling his eyes instead.

They didn’t speak as he carefully took hold of Levy’s left elbow to remove the sling from around his neck, then got his hands under the hem of his t-shirt and dragged it slowly up his torso. His left half was black and blue, the elbow had taken the brunt of the fall, but obviously not all of it. Levy shivered and Kallen realised he’d let his fingers linger on one of the bruises.

“Um, water,” he said, stepping back and circling him to turn on the water.

When he turned around again, Levy was fighting with his jeans’ button, and Kallen didn’t even think before he pushed his hand away to do it for him. He was about to go for the zip as well before he realised there was no need.

He didn’t look away as Levy swallowed and lowered it himself. And it was lucky, really, because it was at that point that they both realised Levy still had his shoes on and was at risk of tripping if he tried to keep going.

Or not so lucky when Kallen hit his knees and realised how close his face was to his friend’s crotch. Not that this was a sexy moment, Levy’s sneakers were a little damp, and it took all of Kallen’s concentration to undo the laces.

He still had to look up, but he pretended his face wasn’t burning and kept his eyes on the periphery of Levy’s hip. “Step back, if you sit on the toilet...”

Levy was uncharacteristically silent as he did what he asked. Kallen lifted first one foot and then the other, getting rid of shoes and socks. Then he pressed his tongue hard against his palate and tugged at the hems of the jeans. “Lift up.”

Having Levy lift his hips up towards his face was nearly enough to send him falling onto his arse, but he held on, and he even reached up and pulled at the side of the jeans to help.

“Thanks,” Levy said, voice rough. “I can take it from here.”

Kallen looked up at him incredulously and immediately regretted it. It didn’t matter that he was a mess of mottled bruises and tangled curls, half of his left arm taped up in neon green, he was stunning. Under the superficial damage, the strength of his body shone like a beacon whose call Kallen couldn’t ignore.

Except of course he fucking could. He rolled to the side and to his feet, going to the sink to wash his hands. “I’m not gonna leave so you can slip in the shower and crack your head open again.”

“Again?” Levy snorted. “I don’t have a concussion, remember?”

“You are still hurt,” Kallen told the hand towel he was squeezing too hard. “And you... You took care of me.” He turned around, daring Levy to contradict him. “So just... It’s not a big deal, man.”

Levy was just watching him, body nearly completely exposed but face closed. Then, as if reaching a decision, he dropped his shoulders, slumping a little. “Okay, thank you.”

THANKFULLY LEVY PREFERREDboxers, so he could drag them off his hips on his own and let them drop. Of course, after that, Kallen was painfully aware that if he even glanced down, he’d get a show. So, he didn’t, standing by the side of the bathtubas Levy got in, ready to steady him but not touching, his gaze focused on Levy’s patched-up elbow. At least the tape would dry up so there was no need to cover it.

Stepping into the spray put Levy a bit too far for safety, but the groan he let out as the hot water hit him was like a punch right in the gut, so it took Kallen a minute to realise there was nothing safe about standing on the other side of the glass screen.

He kicked off his own shoes and socks and stepped right into the bathtub.

Levy turned too fast towards him, water clinging to his eyelashes like he was some of sort of mystical fairy knight, his golden skin gleaming under the soft sunlight coming in through the high window above them. He kept his balance and Kallen kept his hands halfway between their bodies. “You could fall,” he explained.

Levy’s eyes flashed down Kallen’s body. “You’re gonna—” He shook his head. “Okay,” he agreed, and turned his back on him again. It was a relief, even if Kallen’s eyes betrayed him to follow the well-formed shape of his shoulders. He clenched them shut, berating himself silently.

“Pass me the shampoo?” his friend asked.

Kallen found it behind him on the edge, but he stilled before giving it over. “Um, I can pour it into your hand?”

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