Unwound

“Goddammit, Amery, are you really too stubborn to ask for help?”

“I didn’t know you were at the dojo today or I would’ve asked.”

He took all the bags except her suitcase and the crutch. He didn’t speak until they were in the elevator. “How is he doing?”

“He’s in pain. And tired. Cranky. Frustrated with himself.”

“I can’t f**king believe he locked the damn elevator.”

“Yes, you can. He’s got way too much pride. Couple that with a head injury . . .”

Knox sighed. “Thank you for being there for him. I hope it means you’re working things out.”

“We’re trying.”

They switched elevators. The doors opened, and she immediately saw Ronin poke his head out of the den. “Did you invite my sister up too?”

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Ronin,” Knox said. “I figured Amery would need provisions, so I waited her out. Not her fault.”

“Provisions. Spoken like a true soldier.”

When Ronin started down the hall, she said, “Not so fast. I brought you something.”

“A crutch? Jesus, Amery. I’m not that bad off.”

She marched up to him and shook the crutch in his face. “I imagine if you would’ve remained in the hospital like you were supposed to, they would’ve discharged you with a pair of these. You need to stop aggravating your knee. This, at least, will allow you to take the pressure off. I assumed you’d rather have this than my original idea of locking you up in your practice room.”

His eyes bled from brown into the molten black that indicated he was turned on.

A curl of heat unfurled in her belly.

“Careful, baby. That sharp tongue, those fiery eyes, and your pouty lips are a potent combination.”

Backtrack. Backtrack now. “Really? You’re freshly out of the hospital, Ronin. You are injured. In. Jured. Get that through your head.”

“The big head hears you. The little head sees you and wants you.”

The man took advantage of her distraction and brushed his mouth across hers. His tongue even snaked in for a little taste before she snapped out of it.

She stepped back and fiddled with the crutch, attaching the foam pads to the top and the bar in the middle. “Try that.”

He headed down the hallway. “You’re right. Much easier. Thank you.”

“This is not the first time you’ve used crutches.”

“No, but I hope it’s the last.”

Knox was messing with his phone when they walked into the kitchen. Without looking up, he said, “I texted your sister and assured her you were being looked after and hadn’t taken a header off the roof in your doped-up state.”

“Since when are you and Shiori texting pals?”

“Since we realized we had the same goal. Trying to keep you out of the ring. Obviously, we failed on that front.”

Amery hid her smile.

“I’m also here to inform you that I’d better not see you downstairs for several days. Trust that your staff can step up to the task of running the dojo in your absence.” He pocketed his phone. “I’ll let myself out. But I strongly suggest you don’t lock the goddamn elevator again. I know you’re an island and all that shit, but straight up, Sensei, you f**ked up. If not for Amery letting me know you were all right after your hospital escape, I would’ve had the fire department here using an emergency override to get to you.”

Ronin said nothing.

“You need anything, holler. I’ll bring it up.” Then he walked away without saying another word.

• • •

AMERY forced Ronin to rest for the remainder of the weekend. They sat by the pool, stretched out in the shade of the garden, and napped. One moment they’d be holding hands, enjoying the easy silence, the next Amery would feel the tension rolling off him. She figured out his tension came when he’d overexerted himself and was in pain. Or if she wasn’t right by his side.

“What was that sigh for?”

“Did I sigh?”

“For the third time. Are you already bored?”

“No. Why? Are you?”

“I’m never bored with you.”

She set her laptop on the coffee table. “What show are you watching?”

“Hell if I know. I’ve been watching you.”

Amery rolled her eyes. “How’s your head?”

“Sore. Before you ask, it’s no longer a constant pain. It comes and goes.”

She grabbed a pillow and draped it across her lap. “Maybe lying flat will help.”

Ronin nestled the back of his head against her stomach and stretched out. “That is better.”

Amery ran her hands through his hair from scalp to the ends, over and over, just because she could. She’d take this rare intimate indulgence while he allowed it.

“God. That feels so good.”

She remembered that the last time he said that he’d been buried inside her. His breath in her ear. His body sliding against hers, all heat and hardness and urgency.

“You tensed up. What’s wrong?”

“Just thinking about work,” she lied.

“I haven’t asked about that. How’s it going?”

“Pretty much the same. No major client losses, but I haven’t been hired by anyone either. I pounded the pavement the past two months, but all that’s yielded me is sore feet.”