Page 59 of Entangled

I lift the package, wiggling it. “It’s real.”

He tilts his head, his filthy blond hair flopping to the side. “Or like an I-got-you-a-new-kitchen-appliance-to-use-as-a-bedpan kind of present?”

I shove it at him, and he grins, tearing at the wrapping paper. And by wrapping paper, I mean the discarded tissue paper that comes with a box of new shoes that I found in my closet and awkwardly taped up on a whim. This was a silly idea. I don’t know what I was?—

“Aw, Beau.” Lucky bats his lashes as he reveals the giant bottle of sherry. He sets it back on the bed. “I’ll take the yeast-flavored medicine, thanks.”

“Blame your boyfriend. He locked the good stuff in the wine cellar, and he still hasn’t given us the passcode. This was all that was in the kitchen.” I grimace. “He even locked the minibar.”

At the word ‘boyfriend,’ Lucky gives me a sharp look... that he quickly buries in an easy smile. “You said two presents, right?”

“Right.” I walk over to the bathroom and let the door swing open. “We have running water.”

And I’m pretty sure the pest’s eyes turn into hearts. He throws back the covers, and I sigh. I have seen Lucky’s dick too many times in the last week.

“Why didn’t you lead with that?” He pushes his legs out of bed, trying to stand, and I rush over before he collapses. He’s been a little better over the last few days, but it’s still going to be at least another week of healing before I’ll be okay with him moving around without help.

That said, he looks like he drinks moonshine and should be missing a dozen teeth. He needs fixing.

“Would you slow down?” I grumble, supporting him carefully.

“No! This perverted klepto needs to take a massive, toilet-cracking shi?—”

“Gross.Gross, Lucky. How you convinced two people to want to sleep with you, I don’t have the slightest clue.”

Lucky tenses, and I glance at him to make sure he’s not in pain.

“One.” He doesn’t look back at me. “Just one.”

Mulling that over, I settle him on the toilet. “This conversation calls for some repulsive alcohol. Do your business. I have a plan.”

* * *

“Look,Beau, don’t make this awkward. You’re just not my type,” Lucky says sympathetically. “I think it’s the cleft chin. It’s too wholesome.”

Giving up on trying to get Lucky clean, I throw the damp sponge at him as he drinks directly from the enormous bottle. He splutters around his mouthful as it smacks him in the side of his face.

I swipe the booze and take a drink. “Please. With those manky locks? I have standards.”

Lucky sinks deeper into the monstrous porcelain tub, luxuriating in the scorching hot water. His hair hangs over the edge in front of where I’ve pulled up a chair.

“Sure you do,” he soothes, patting my hand. “This is just one friend bathing another friend under the steamy haze of candlelight. I’ll ignore the fact that this seduction scene is right out of a seventies porno.”

Okay, the candles might have been a step too far.

Lucky snickers, then passes the enormous bottle back to me. It’s probably not responsible of me. Or great medical advice. But whatever, he’s off the heavy-duty drugs now.

I take a deep drag of the cloying sherry, already well on my way to a decent buzz, then pass it back off to Lucky, eyeing the water. It’s at a low enough level that it shouldn’t come close to his bandages, but Lucky can’t be trusted to be careful.

Balmy steam rolls around us as I test the slip-on spray attachment connected to the bath tap. “Pass the shampoo. I’ll do your hair.”

Lucky tilts his head back so he can see me, waggling his brows, and I roll my eyes, edging back. “Or I won’t...”

“No, do it. Do it, please? I’ll stop,” he begs, laughing.

Pest. This is why Dom’s my guy.

Shaking my head with a smile, I soap up his long, tangled locks. “Honestly, it’s no wonder at all that Jasper is a sadist. That’s the universe knowing you needed to be kept in line.”

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