River grits his teeth. “Your bandages need changing.”
“I can do it my goddamn self.”
“Oz has medical training. I need him to check for infection.”
Freya sits back on her heels. “So, take me back to the hospital, let a nurse do it.”
River huffs in disbelief and shakes his head. “I am trying to catch a serial killer; I do not have time to chauffeur you around town like a spoiled little brat.”
I suck in a breath.
Freya’s mouth drops open, but her shock quickly morphs to fury.
I calculate there’s an eighty percent chance Freya tries to attack River if I don’t do something so, ever the peacekeeper, I take a step into the room. “Riv, let me talk to her.”
His gaze flicks my way. He doesn’t want to let this go but I tilt my head a little, subtly nodding to where Freya is gripping the sheets so tight her skin is ghost white.
River finally sees what I’m seeing, and his shoulders drop. Freya’s scared. “You’ve got ten minutes,” he says to me.
“Fifteen.”
“Fine.” He nods.
I step back a little too late as he passes, and I use the moment his shoulder bumps into mine to slip my fingers in his jacket pocket. Once he’s gone, I shut the door and use the key I just swiped to lock it. Freya needs to feel safe right now.
I hold the key up so she can see. “He’s not coming back in till you want him to.”
She deflates a little, sitting back on the bed. The corner of her lip curves up in a way that’s just begging me to run my tongue over it.God, her body distracts me.“Can I have that?” she asks.
I chuckle and slide the key into the pocket of my jeans. “Sorry Angel, he’s going to be mad enough when he realizes I took it from him.” I sit down on the edge of the bed.
“Your boss is a tyrant.”
I smirk. “Team leader. And he’s not normally that bad.”
Freya rolls her eyes. “Well, aren’t I lucky.” She’s trying to play it off, but her chest is rising too fast with each breath and one of her hands still has a death grip on the sheet.
I catch Oz’s eye then nod at the first aid kit.I read a study about how trauma manifests in behavior and one of the best ways to de-escalate a situation is to remove the trigger and distract.
Oz puts the box down, stepping away from it a bit to lean against the windowsill.
Freya’s hand relaxes.
“It’s quite impressive really, how much you frustrate him. He’s usually all calm and collected and all things serious. You’ve got a talent for pushing his buttons, Angel. Isn’t that right, Oz?” I ask, trying to bring him into the conversation.
He crosses his arms over his chest and nods. “It’s kind of fun to watch. I’ve heard rumors they called him C-3PO during training.”
I grin. “Seriously?” Either Oz is making it up or he’s kept that one close to his chest. No way am I ever letting River live that down.
“I find a simple ‘controlling bastard’ works well,” Freya chimes in.
I let out a low whistle. “That’s quite the dirty mouth you’ve got,” I tease.
Freya blushes, pink spreading across her freckled cheeks. I wonder if she’s imagining the same things I am. Her, muttering swear words as I pound into her, driving her to the brink.Fuck.Now, I’m getting hard.
Oz clears his throat and, with Freya more relaxed, I force myself to focus on the matter at hand.
“Why don’t you want Oz to change your bandages?”
