Page 19 of Imperfect Skin

Mouse wasn’t going to thank me when we got home and I read him the riot act. Right now though, I needed to get him home and for Doc to check him over, and hopefully by then my blood pressure would be back to normal, and this dangerous urge I had to spank Mouse’s arse until he couldn’t sit for a week would have passed.

With Mouse still clinging to me like a sloth, I managed to lay the blanket Marcus had found out on the back seat of the car. It would have to do. The trip home wasn’t going to be a comfortable one for Mouse. I didn’t even bother with the safety belt. There was no way he could sit up for the drive back home, and I’d rather get a bloody fine than put Mouse through any more discomfort than I had to.

I made a call to Doc and prayed he hadn’t hit the booze too hard tonight. He answered on the third ring, sounding sober as a monk. “Did you find him?”

“Yeah. Look, can you head to mine without Rhys and Simon?” I asked, glancing back at Mouse. His eyes were shut and his breathing even. Asleep and not passed out, I hoped. Worry churned in my gut. I just wanted to get him home safely.

“Yes of course. I’ve been doing the taxi run for the last of the partygoers.”

I slumped in my seat, running a hand through my hair. “Shit. Sorry, Cullen. I was supposed to do that.”

“Pfft, don’t worry about it. You had a more important job. Do I need to bring my bag?”

“I’ve got some basic supplies at home, but yeah, bring what you can.” I lowered my voice. “The bastard did a number on him. He used a heavy bullwhip that wasn’t broken in by the looks of it, and the fucker bit Mouse hard enough to draw blood.”

Cullen hissed out a breath as I gave him a hurried rundown of the injuries I had seen. “I’ll pick up my kit and head straight to yours. Is the spare key in the usual spot? I guess trying to convince you to take Mouse to A&E isn’t going to work.”

“You know what would happen. Mouse would lose his shit if he woke up in A&E. He hasn’t set foot in a hospital since his mum.”

Cullen sighed, knowing this as well as I did. “No, you’re right. I’ll get to yours as soon as I can.” Cullen hung up then and I tipped my head back, gazing up at the roof of the car. If I were a praying man, I’d be thanking whatever god watches over us for friends like Cullen.

The trip home took longer than the drive to The Pit. With Mouse now safely in the car, I was taking the road slower, not wanting the trip to be any more painful for Mouse than it had to be. Trying to stay focused on the dark roads and not constantly checking on him was a trial, and I blew out a relieved breath at the sight of the thatched roof of my house as I rounded the last bend.

Mouse began to stir in the back seat as I pulled into the driveway, the gravel making the familiar crunching sounds as I pulled into the annex where his bike sat.

Mouse was sitting up by the time I got out and opened the back door. His eyes were more focused, but he hadn’t lost the wounded pup look. I wanted to hug him tight and not let the damn foolish man out of my sight.

The time for denying those feelings I’d refused to give credence to was long past. After this, I was going to have to sit down with Mouse and talk.

Doc’s little BMW was parked nearby, and I could see lights on in the house already. I hoped he’d gotten around to lighting the fire. I didn’t want Mouse walking into a cold house.

I reached into the car to give Mouse a hand, expecting it to be slapped away with his usual surliness, but instead he grabbed it, using his other hand to pull the blanket around himself a bit tighter.

“I can’t seem to get warm.” His teeth were chattering, and his pallor pasty.

“Come on, little Mouse. Doc’s waiting for us, and neither of us need to get on his bad side.” I gently pulled Mouse from the car. “Can you make it inside, or do you want a piggyback?” I smiled at him, hoping to take his mind off the events of tonight.

“You called Doc?” His voice was subdued, and I didn’t like it. The lack of his usual fire and challenge in his voice worried me.

“Had to. I knew you’d do your nut if I tried to take you to A&E.” Mouse stiffened slightly as I placed my hand on his lower back, before he let out a slow breath and relaxed.

“I guess Rhys broke and told you guys.” There was no heat in his words, just a sad sort of resignation.

“Don’t be too hard on him. He had a head of steam and read me the riot act for having my head stuck up my arse,” I said, as I guided him through the unlocked door.

Mouse shook his head, his dark hair coming loose from the already messy bun. “I’m not mad. I suppose I should be, but I’m glad he told you. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to make him sweat over it for a few days.”

“Would you really be that mean to Rhys?” I guided him to the kitchen where Doc stood waiting for us. Instead of getting him to sit on one of the kitchen chairs, I led Mouse to the tall stools that sat around the kitchen counter.

It said something for the pain he was in, that he didn’t fight me when I helped him up onto the stool, only shooting me a thankful, tired smile.

“Let me be mad at him for a couple of days,” he muttered, dropping his head down against the counter with a defeated moan.

“I can keep him and Simon off your back for a few days. Be a good lad and let Doc see to your injuries, and I might even make it a week.”

I moved around him to the bench that ran the length of the back wall. The window that normally showed the garden and the moorlands beyond was dark.

“Deal.” Mouse let out a quiet huff before lifting his head from the counter. “Where’s Squirt? I don’t want her to see me like this.”

---