Words of Lust (14 page)

She looked at him for a long moment and then smiled despite her tears. A wince of pain passed over her face so he didn’t pursue the subject further. It was a start. There’d be plenty of time for him to grovel some more.

* * *

Once they were back at his loft he got her cleaned up and slathered some of his grandmother’s salve on the scrapes, then helped her change into one of his soft old tees. Finally, she was set up in bed, leaning back on a mountain of pillows. He got her some minestrone soup and a glass of ginger ale and sat by her, nudging her to eat.

“I’m really not hungry.”

“I’m in charge tonight, so eat. It’ll help settle your stomach and you’ll sleep better.”

“I bet that’s your mother’s wisdom?”

“Probably, but it works. As soon as you’re done you can go to sleep. I’ll stay right here by you.”

“I’m exhausted.”

“That’s the post-adrenaline crash. Trust me, I know what it is like.”

“Can you call your mom or Cara for me? They invited me to come over on Saturday night, but I don’t think I can.”

“Really?” He’d get some details on that little gathering, because he didn’t trust the Stellato women to keep their noses out of his business for a hot second. The number of ways they could screw things up for him were limitless. “Don’t sweat it. I hope you’ll be feeling okay by then, but I’ll definitely call. They’d want to know what happened and that you’re all right. They’ll understand.”

She sipped a few more spoonfuls of soup and then begged him to let her sleep. He took her tray out to the kitchen, then sat beside her on the bed, stroking her hair until she drifted off.

He watched her, wondering what in the world had happened. The injured side of her face was swollen, and her beautiful skin was mottled with bruising that would turn that ugly purple-green. She’d be miserable. Her lips twisted every so often as she slept, as if she was reliving the entire episode. He was damned furious that he hadn’t been with her, hadn’t been there for her. The image of her sitting alone in the ER wasn’t going away for a long time.

As soon as she was asleep he slipped to his desk and called Cara, his mom and even Gia. Naturally the beast didn’t pick up, but he left a message and told her to call him back. He’d have to have a talk with her, but he would take The Professor’s advice and make sure she knew he supported her. Even if she was a little pervert.

Everyone was finally assured that Serafina would be fine, and his mom told him to tell her the invitation still stood if she felt well enough on Saturday. She refused to give him details, just said girls needed time away from the men, and how was she going to get to know her if they didn’t get together and let their hair down?

“You take good care of her. You’re all she’s got.” Her final words hit him hard and he determined to do exactly that.

The words stuck with him until long after midnight. He took a quick, warm shower and then climbed under the covers. He didn’t want to disturb her, but he couldn’t resist touching her, so he gently wrapped her in his arms and held her until she relaxed in sleep. When she snuggled closer with a sigh, his heart pounded. His to protect.

“I care, Professor. Never doubt it.”

* * *

“I have to call the dean, but I’m not sure there’s anyone to cover my classes. Maybe I should just go in.”

“No. Put that pretty ass back on the bed.”

“Nick.”

“You are not going anywhere. You told me yourself you still have a killer headache.”

“I can take a couple of aspirin.”

“No.”

“Do not treat me like a child.”

He gritted his teeth at the same old refrain. “You want childish? Fine. I’ve hidden your clothes, so unless you’re going to teach in my authentic, but ratty, Sticky Fingers T-shirt, you’re not going anywhere.”

“You have got to be kidding!”

“Dead serious. Because you could have been.”

“Dead? Well, I’m not. Just sore.”

“And it’s a good thing you’re injured, otherwise I’d make sure there was one part of you that was very sore.”

She snorted and gave him a dirty look, so he tried another tactic. He backed her against the bed until she had no choice by to sit down, trapped between his spread thighs. She looked up at him and he scowled down.

“You can email the lessons to the students. They can email you assignments. You can offer a makeup class. I’m sure there are loads of work-arounds for missing a single day. Think of it as a surprise free afternoon, for them and for you.” He leaned down and kissed her softly. “Let me take care of you today. I’ve already taken the day off.”

“You didn’t.”

“Absolutely. What a choice. Eight hours screaming at hairy slobs or a day tending to my lady. No contest. Besides. It’s Friday. Give the kids an early weekend and I’ll give you a full-body massage. And I do mean full body. What do you say? It’s win-win, if you ask me.”

Indecision was as plain as day on her face. He slid his hand down her good shoulder, squeezing gently as a sample of what was to come.

“Come on. Don’t be such a hard-ass. You need at least a day to come down from the trauma alone. Trust me, you’re going to be hurting like a son of a bitch. If you run around today, you’ll be a bigger wreck tomorrow. I’ll fix you some good eats, you can take a few naps, have a massage and a hot bath and you’ll feel much better.”

She sighed and he knew he’d won. He refrained from cheering. She had bruises all over one side of her face. She had purple shadows beneath her eyes. And she radiated anxiety. He could help her recover from the shock and the pain, if she’d just stop being so stubborn and let him.

She got up and tottered toward the bathroom, her slow steps illustrating exactly how poorly she felt. She whispered something he didn’t catch as she passed him.

“What?”

“Uncle. I said uncle. I give. You win. I’m too worn out to fight about it anymore. But it better be one hell of a great massage, mister, or you’ll hear about it.”

“Your doubt wounds me, but I’m always up for the challenge.”

“Egomania is not an attractive quality.”

“Neither is being a sore loser—even if you are sore. Come on. Let me make you some comfort food for breakfast. How about berry pancakes to start? If you keep moving around you’ll loosen up. After, I’ll fix you a bath and if you behave and stop whining, you get your massage. Then you can sleep all afternoon. Sound good?”

“It sounds heavenly. Now give me my phone so I can call in.”

He smiled in satisfaction as she went into the kitchen and sat down to make her calls to the dean and her newly assigned TA. He gathered stuff to fix breakfast and once she was off the phone, she settled down and watched him cook.

“I’m impressed.”

“Keep watching the master at work. Maybe you’ll learn something.” He gathered ingredients and tools and she questioned his every move.

“I’m completely useless in the kitchen.”

“Happy to give you lessons. We’ll start simple. Boiling Water 101.”

“Very funny. It’s not nice to make fun of the cooking challenged.”

Coaxing a smile out of her made him feel terrific. He kept her occupied describing how he made pancakes, and they shared anecdotes about favorite childhood foods. Later he gave her the cutting board and had her chop peppers and onions for the omelet. Lastly, he tossed some mixed greens as a side salad and put the plate in front of her, admiring the sparkle in her weary eyes.

“This looks amazing. And so fast. Any time I’ve tried to make anything I toil away for an hour and it’s still a disaster.”

“Enjoy it and I’ll show you how to make pasta primavera tonight.”

“I should probably go home tonight.” She looked away from him in avoidance and his frustration returned.

“Don’t start with me, Professor. You’ve got nowhere to go, so make me a happy man and stop nagging. This way, if you’re feeling up to it tomorrow I’ll drive you to my parents’. I’ll hang with a couple of guys from the hood until you’re ready to leave and then I can take you home. Here, in case you were wondering what I meant by home.”

“I feel so bad about your mom. They planned this whole thing and now I’ve spoiled it for them.”

He put the dishes in the sink and filled the pans with soapy water before wiping his hands dry and coming to kneel in front of her. He draped his arms around her thighs, feeling their softness. He kissed one, then the other.

“I wish I could just bury my face between your legs. I want to taste you, make you come. I want to wipe the shit of yesterday out of your mind.” And he needed to forget his own fear at how close he came to losing her. “I know it’s too soon. You need time to rest, to heal.”

“I feel so stupid. I’ve caused you so much trouble, and your mom and Cara.”

“You aren’t to blame for what happened. You didn’t do anything. It happened to you. Don’t be so hard on yourself, okay? I’m crazy about you. They are totally crazy about you. When I told them what happened, they were ready to drive over. Besides, if you aren’t up to it, this way Mom will have more time to plan a dozen dishes to make for you.” He tortured himself a little by laying kisses farther up her thighs and then grinned up at her. The fact that she was breathing a little bit harder made him harder too. Damn, this woman turned him on.

“Stop fretting.” He stood to finish clearing the table. “Stay put while I go run the bath. Do you want it warm, hot or boiling?”

“Warmer than warm, but not hot.”

“You’re so demanding.” But he grinned to remind her he was teasing. He filled the tub, testing it often to make sure it was not too hot, not too cold, but just right for his fairy tale lady. He didn’t have any froufrou bath crystals, but he had a big box of the Epsom salts he used after games of touch football or softball. Dumping a generous amount into the water, he hollered.

“Your bath awaits.” He pulled some towels down for her and met her halfway. “Need help undressing?” He waggled his eyebrows and leered.

“I think I can manage.” But she couldn’t.

“I’m sorry, I can’t raise my arm high enough to get it out of the sleeve of this T-shirt.”

“Good thing I’m a helpful kind of guy.” He took hold of the hem of the shirt and slowly worked it off her. “Don’t mind me while I ogle you. Consider it payment for services rendered.”

“You work cheap, Stellato.”

“Cut the crap, Professor. You’ve got a killer body and I’d pay to watch you strip. Which, now that I think of it, has to go on my bucket list.”

“Bucket list?”

“All the things I’m going to do to you before I die from orgasm overdose.”

Then in an excess of gallantry, he swooped her up and deposited her gently into the tub.

“Oh, Lord, this feels incredible.” She sank up to her neck and smiled, looking relieved and happy. Which felt incredible for him too.

“Go ahead and soak until you look like a prune. Let me know if you want me to top off the tub or anything.” He brushed her hair from her face. “Think of all the nasty things you want on your wish list for when you’re all better, why don’t you?”

She grinned back at him. “Way to motivate me, Coach.”

He was amazed that the prim woman he’d imagined her to be was, in fact, this teasing temptress. Wickedly funny, gleeful, adventurous. And smart. He certainly couldn’t forget she was a brainiac.

“Soak. Relax. Now.”

He slipped out of the enclosed bathroom area and headed for his desk so he could put in calls to a couple of friends at his local precinct while she was out of earshot. He wanted to see if they could help him out and he got a call back from a guy who worked out of the Sixth Precinct while she was still soaking.

“Hey, Mac. Thanks, buddy. Tell me you got something. Any witnesses?”

“Looks like a couple of bystanders spotted a big beefy guy near your lady. No one saw him push her, though. One lady said he bumped her hard, but couldn’t say it was intentional.”

“Big beefy guy? That’s all they got?”

“Well, the lady said he looked like Bluto. You know, from Popeye? Only without the beard.”

His gut cramped hard. When Mac said Bluto, Boxer’s face popped into his head.

“Mac, what if I know who this guy is?”

“Talk to me, buddy.”

“There was a guy on my crew—agitator, troublemaker, you know the type. He harassed women on the street and I’d told him to cut the crap or else, but he played deaf. He’d never gotten physically abusive with any of them until a couple of weeks ago, he started in with this nice college English teacher, and he reeked of beer. So, I fired him. I reported him to the union and they yanked his union card.”

“Hate to tell you this, but without evidence he’s done anything against the law, you got nothing. Sounds like he’s definitely a candidate, though. My advice is watch your back, Jack.”

“That’s not all, though. My tires were slashed last week. And someone’s been ringing my buzzer at weird times, but there’s no one there when I go down. Dammit, what do I do? This guy’s a violent motherfucker. How can I catch this guy doing something that’ll stick?”

“You got security cameras at your place?”

“No. But Berto’s leaning on me about it. I’ll make the case to my landlord.”

“What about your lady? Has she had any problems? Does this guy know where she lives?”

A dark wave of suspicion rolled over him. The site was just a few blocks from her apartment, and she passed it every day. All Boxer had to do was wait and follow her and he’d know where she lived. It could not be coincidence she’d fallen twice into traffic within blocks of her apartment and with somebody involved both times. She hadn’t mentioned any problems, but she was so stubborn, she probably wouldn’t tell him if she had.

“Fuck. Yeah. He probably does.”

“Then you need to watch out for your lady, man.”

“You better believe I will.”

“Listen, call me if anything else happens. I’ll keep my ear to the ground and be in touch if I hear anything. And get security cameras ASAP.”

“My landlord’s my next call after Berto.”

While Serafina soaked her bruises, he came up with a game plan that involved keeping her safe all the time. She’d be royally pissed but she’d have to deal. First things first, he called Berto, then dialed his landlord. The guy wasn’t happy.