Page 19 of Fool Me Twice

“Evie?” he shouted, sweat beading on his forehead as the burning pain fired through his shoulder and down his arm. “Evie?” he called again. “I need a little help.”

Although relieved to see their feet rushing toward him, he couldn’t shake the feeling Matt was laughing at him as he squatted down on his haunches and supported Peter’s full body weight as if he weighed no more than a feather, while Evie unhooked the shoulder brace from the door. Matt lifted him up, carried him inside to his room, and laid him down on the bed without even breaking a sweat.

Peter’s humiliation was now complete.

Matt, like an overeager puppy desperate to please, offered to help him undress. But the last thing Peter wanted was to stand next to Lycra Man with his bulging... bits, bulging out everywhere. “It’s fine, I can manage,” he replied, dropping his voice a couple of octaves, hoping to come off a bit more manly.

“Cool.” Matt shrugged. “If you need anything, any help with the shower and stuff, give me a shout,” he said, heading for the door. “Or just bang on the wall. I’m right next door.”

“Yeah, will do,” Peter said before Matt left. Yeah, of course I will. He slammed his clenched fist into the mattress. On the twelfth of never. Like he was going to go mano a mano in the shower with Matt. Even the thought caused him to shrink back.

Evie arrived a few minutes later. “Didn’t Matt help you undress?”

“He offered. But I told him I could manage.”

Heat flooded his face when a snigger escaped her lips.

“Yeah, well, if you’re sure.” She was on to him, he was certain. She knew exactly why he’d declined Matt’s offer of help. “Here are some pyjamas I picked up for you in town.” She tossed a pair of short pyjama bottoms down on the bed.

He winced as he tried to stand up. “I can manage,” he snapped when Evie moved toward him.

“Fine.” Tilting her head to one side, she folded her arms and watched him.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stand up, determined to show everyone he wasn’t some weak, pathetic invalid who needed someone to wipe his arse for him. Blistering pain ricocheted around his body, making the room spin, sending his body into spasms, and making him feel hot and cold at the same time. He stumbled, stifling a cry as he tried to right himself.

“Oh, for God’s sake.” She dashed toward him, her hand gripping his arm to stop him from falling over.

Peter sucked in a breath as Evie reached for the waistband on his shorts. He stood motionless as she knelt before him, willing his body not to betray him as her fingers unfastened the button, then the zip before easing them down over his thighs. He swallowed hard when her fingers brushed his bare skin. It had been a long time since he’d felt a woman’s touch. But this wasn’t just any woman – this was Evie, of the magic fingers.

Neither spoke. Peter didn’t know what to say or do. Closing his eyes, he breathed her in. She still smelt the same, vanilla with a hint of something sweet and floral, cherry blossom maybe. His mind raced with memories of hot sticky nights, cheap wine and even hotter sex.

“Evie, babe.” Matt burst in, taking in the scene before him. Peter was almost naked apart from his boxers and Evie on her knees before him. “What’s going on?”

“What does it look like?” Evie said, jumping to her feet.

Matt pulled himself up to his full height, his eyes darting between them. With his hands on his hips and his feet planted wide, he looked like some puffed-up peacock staking a claim on his territory. “It looks like you were about to give him a blowjob.”

“Don’t be so ridiculous,” she said, her face flushed. “I was trying to get him into bed.”

Matt snorted and continued glaring, his lip curling menacingly on one side.

Evie glared back at him. “Did you want something?” she asked in an icy voice.

“Yeah, your class should have started ten minutes ago. One of your students was looking for you.”

“Yes, sorry, I forgot. I’ll be right there. I just need to get Peter—“

Matt didn’t move. “Into bed. Yeah, you said.”

“Fine, you do it then.” She strode out of the room.

Matt didn’t say a word as he helped Peter into his pyjama bottoms and onto the bed. He didn’t have to – the anger radiating off him was unmistakable.

“If you need anything...” He skewered Peter with a dark look. “And I mean anything, you call me. Got it?“ He fixed Peter with one last look from the doorway before slamming the door behind him, leaving Peter in no doubt of his meaning.

Stay away from Evie.

Chapter ten

---