Sean shrugged, which turned out to be another gesture his body didn’t love, damnit. For a moment, he waged a mental debate, and then he came down on the side of what the fuck and spilled a little of his life. “I had a shit father who was also a shit cop, so the idea that there were people out there who were stronger and bigger and better, who were noble enough to do the right thing even when it wasn’t popular, and whose stories gave me an escape when my house was at its worse…” He nodded. “It made me a fan for life. Also, they’re kick-ass.”
Daniela peered over at him then, and her gaze made him feel observed in a way that had him shifting on his feet. But then she nearly knocked him on his ass when she said, “I wish I’d known more about superheroes as a kid, then.”
Did that mean she’d had a shit childhood, too? And how had they known each other for nearly five years and not known they had this in common. Maybe it was because you’re always trying to push her buttons, dickhead.
Well. Yeah. Prolly.
He could’ve played it off like their words didn’t hang in the air between them, weighted and important. But fuck, he was drugged, hurting, and exhausted out of his gourd. “Well, I could introduce you.”
She grinned. “Introduce me how?”
In for a penny, in for a pound, even though he felt like an idiot. “Movies,” he said. “You are a woman in serious need of a movie marathon.”
“And you think you’re the man to educate me?” She arched a playful eyebrow. And fuck she was cute—a word she’d probably rip his balls off for uttering if he was ever stupid enough to do such a thing.
“In so many things, Daniela. So. Many.”
She flipped him the finger, and it made him laugh. Which made him cough. Which had him clutching at his chest.
Dani was at his side in an instant. “Sit,” she said, guiding him to the big couch. “I shouldn’t have left you on your feet talking.”
Finally, he caught his breath. “My feet might be the only thing on my body not hurting.” He pulled a smirk. “Well, not the only thing…”
“Jesus, you’re relentless.” But there was no bite to it. Instead she was looking at him in this soft way—in a way no one ever looked at him.
And fuck. He liked it.
So he closed his eyes rather than chance getting used to it.
“We should get you in bed.”
Bed was two floors up. “I’m good here.”
“You sure?” He nodded and heard her sigh. “Well, I should at least get you some clothes to change into and some pillows to prop you up. Plus, you’re due for meds again soon.”
He peered up at her again, and thank God, that softness was gone. “You don’t have to do all this, you know.”
Her lips pressed into a tight line. “Shut up, Riddick. Now, tell me where all your shit is so I can get you set up down here.”
“Gimme your phone,” he said. When she hesitated, he rolled his eyes at her. “I already got your digits, D. I just want to log you into my WiFi.”
She handed her cell over, her expression so skeptical it made him chuff out a laugh. He made quick work of entering the password to log her on, and then he FaceTimed himself.
“This way I can give you the guided tour of where things are while my ass is planted down here,” he said, answering her FaceTime on his phone.
Her lips twisted. “That was pretty smart actually.”
“Wait.” He nailed her with a one-eyed stare. “Just wait. I’ve got a head injury and I’m seriously embracing the miracles of modern chemistry right now, but I think, just maybe, that I heard you give me a compliment.”
Now she was the one rolling her eyes. She peered into her phone. “Sean?”
He looked at her through his screen, too. “Yes, Dani?”
She flipped him her middle finger right into the camera, and then dragged the tip of it over her lips as if it were lipstick.
“I think I’m aroused now,” he said.
On a huff, she made for the stairs. “Just tell me where to find you some damn pillows so I can smother you with them.”
Chapter Five
“You ready for that education yet?” Sean asked in a gravelly voice.
From where she sat in the oversized chair next to where he slept, Dani put down the book she’d been reading and smiled. “Hey. How’d you sleep?”
“Decent,” he said, grimacing as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
“Good. No more nightmares?”
His expression went through a quick succession of emotions—confusion, something that looked a helluva lot like fear, and back to confusion again. This time with a healthy dose of guardedness. “When did I have a nightmare?”