Page 62 of Playing the Pucking Game
Her dress is short and stops just an inch before I’d like it to.
What color are her panties?
“Lincoln,” she snaps, dragging me back to the moment.“If you can’t finish the job, go and find someone who will.”
“I always finish the job, Parker,” I state before getting back to the task at hand.
“Ow, fuck,” Parker squeals as I pull the glass free.
“Christ. Didn’t that hurt to walk on?” I ask, staring at the bloody shard that’s a lot bigger than I was expecting.
“Why the hell do you think I was limping?” she quips.
Shaking my head at her, I place the glass on a Kleenex before cleaning the wound again and bandaging her up.
“You’re going to feel that in the morning.”
“Wonderful,” she mutters as I clean up.
Once I have everything put away, I sit back on my haunches and stare up at her.
Her fingers are curled around the edge of the counter, her knuckles white with her tight grip.
Once again, my attention shifts to her thighs; only with my new position, I can see all the way.
Black.
They’re black.
“You can leave now,” she snaps, ensuring my attention jumps to her face.
She’s exhausted.
Any joy from earlier has drained from her now. Her eyes are heavy; her shoulders slumped.
“I’m not leaving you sitting up there.”
“I’m more than capable of looking after myself,” she argues, earning her an “oh really” look from me. “I stood on one piece of glass accidentally. I’m not a child who needs putting to bed, Linc. I’m a fully grown adult who, before this week, lived alone without drama.”
“What if I like looking after you?” I blurt before I can think better of it.
“Then you need to have a good word with yourself because I don’t need or want it.”
Her words sting, but I refuse to let her see that.
“Please just let me help you to bed, then I’ll go.”
“I need to take my makeup off.”
Looking back toward her toiletries, I spot a packet of face wipes and quickly grab them.
“Here. Do your thing.”
She stares at them before glaring up at me.
“You’re a pain in my ass, Storm.”
“I think the words you’re looking for are thank you.”
