Page 96 of Inferno

His cheeks burn red. “I was so sick last night.”

“I know, you tried to tell me you could sleep on the bathroom floor.”

“Oh god,” he groans, pulling his hand free from mine and covering his face.

“Etta told Cody she didn’t think you’d had more than three margaritas.”

“I’ve never drunk alcohol before,” he admits, splitting his fingers just far enough that I can see his eyes.

“You won’t be drinking again unless I’m here to pick you up and take care of you,” I scold, coating my words with dominance.

“I’m never drinking again. Ever,” he whines.

“Do you want me to get you some pain reliever? I put it beside the bed.”

“No. I think I’m okay. Maybe you did.” He pauses, swallows thickly, then blurts, “Fuck it out of me.”

“I’ll have to remember that the next time you get sloppy drunk,” I purr seductively. “Climb in, the water’s warm, and I have to leave soon.”

“Are you going to get fired?”

“Why would I get fired?” I ask, climbing into the tub after him and pulling the shower curtain around us.

“Because you should be at work, not here with me.”

“Buck told me to come and take care of you.”

“Who’s Buck?” he questions, tipping his head back and closing his eyes as the warm water soaks his hair.

“My boss.”

“Your boss knows I drank so much I puked?” he squeaks, snapping his horrified eyes open to glare at me.

“You were out drinking with his wife.”

“Who is his wife?” Henry asks.

“James. Tori is Nero’s fiancée; Etta is Oz’s wife, and obviously you know Parker.”

“Oh. James was nice. They’re all nice, although I’m not sure how I feel about being the only guy at girls’ night.”

“You should feel special; the guys usually end up invading the girl’s night because they never get invited.” Laughing, I reach for the soap and work it into his skin. I’d prefer to take my time, but I want to make him breakfast before I have to leave.

Swapping the soap for shampoo, I wash his hair, then quickly clean myself up, roughly washing my own hair before turning off the water and reaching for a towel. Handing him one first, I take one for myself, then follow him out of the bathroom.

“Do you have any plans today?” I ask him, itching to give him rules for our time apart.

“I think I agreed to meet Parker later, but my memory of last night is a little…hazy,” he admits with a grimace.

“Do you want me to grab you some clothes from the closet?” I ask as he flops exhaustedly down onto the end of the bed.

“Yes, please.”

I don’t bother trying to hide my smile as I pull on the clothes I came in last night then open his closet and peer inside. The closet is fairly small, but still half empty even though his clothesare all hanging from the rail. Spotting a pair of softly worn jeans, I pull them down, then grab a T-shirt and a thin knit sweater and some underwear.

“Shall I help?” I ask, not wanting to insist that I’ll be doing it, even though that’s what I want.

“Can I ask you a question?” he says tentatively.

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