Page 105 of Lovesick Gods

Reaching for the duster, he pulled it from Danny’s shoulders to take in the sight of him. Danny’s feet were dirty, his shoulders and chest andeverywhereblossoming with bruises and scrapes. It made him look small and fragile standing there in his underwear. Mal trailed his fingertips down the center of Danny’s chest to his ribs where one of them had been broken.

“I’ll be fine. I heal fast, remember? Let me take care ofyou. You should be sitting.” Danny placed a hand on Mal’s less bruised and swollen cheek, touching him every chance he could and seeking comforts Mal didn’t usually offer. But then, Mal had been doing the same thing, like he needed to feel Danny’s skin to remind himself he wasn’t a reflection that would vanish.

“Danny…” Mal backed out of Danny’s touch. This was a bad idea. Danny needed more than just him tonight. He needed more than justhim.

But Danny followed after him and reached for his neck tentatively with a cringe on his face from remembering how he’d clenched his hands there earlier. “Please, can I stay? I don’t want to go home yet.”

“They’re going to wonder what happened to you.”

“I’ll call them later.Later. I’ll tell them I’m okay, I just… Please,” his voice caught on a sob, “don’t make me leave.”

Mal sighed. He’d never been able to refuse Lucy when she was crying either. “You can stay. If you’re sure?”

Danny nodded frantically. “You’re still hurt. I can help. Or maybe you should call your nurse? I can…I can wait upstairs while they’re here and—”

“Danny, it’s fine. You want to check me out, feel free. But I plan to clean up and go to bed. I’ll see the nurse in the morning.”

“Okay,” Danny nodded again, but he didn’t let go. He kept his hand hooked around Mal’s neck like it was a lifeline he needed to keep from crumbling to the floor.

“Come on. Gotta put this away,” Mal said, prying Danny’s fingers off himself but holding on tightly as he drew the hand down. He smiled as he turned and led Danny from the kitchen.

Holding Danny in one hand and his duster in the other, Mal felt more grounded during the short trek to his secret room. It didn’t matter anymore; Danny knowing where he kept his gear seemed trivial after tonight.

When the invisible seal in the wall shifted and the door slid out of the way, Danny stepped up next to Mal and peered inside curiously. Mal had a few backup pieces stored—extra bodysuits, boots—but the hook in the back for the duster was empty, and a stand for his amplifier lay waiting.

“How James Bond of you,” Danny said, still somber but a little more genuine in his smile.

When Mal had put everything away save the bodysuit he still wore, he snatched up his phone from inside the room, almost having forgotten he’d stashed it there. Dangerous to have it with him on a heist. He had several text messages and calls from Lucy. Perfect.

“Let me put my sister’s mind at ease. Get yourself cleaned up and into some fresh clothes. Bring some down for me too. Then you can take care of me however you like.”

“First-aid kit?” Danny asked.

“Bathroom, under the sink.”

“I’ll be quick.”

“Wouldn’t expect any less,” Mal smirked, then frowned at his phone as soon as Danny left.

Walking sluggishly toward the sofa, he scrolled through Lucy’s text messages as he went. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, he could feel his wounds more acutely. At least it eased his dizziness to have something to focus on.

What the hell happened?!

Police at the museum, did they get you?!

Mickey, I will kick your ass from here to Sunday if you don’t answer me!

Can’t believe your boytoy is Zeus.

Mal sagged down onto the end of the sofa. Dom had to go and open her big mouth. Not that Mal hadn’t given Lucy plenty to work with, letting Danny whisk her and Dom out of the museum while he stayed inside.

Safe. At home. Don’t come over,he sent her.

He expected the immediate retort:Busy entertaining Sparky?

Yes. It’s complicated.

I’ll bet. You get the diamond?

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