For the rest of the night I held her close and watched over her, waking her every two hours to go through the motions while my head was spinning off into a hundred and one different directions.
Jolie was more than just a something.
Jolie
Everything had been a blur coming out of the bar. Pressing hands and murmured voices didn’t deter the dark aching desperate to pull me under. I’d thought I’d felt lips on my forehead a time or two, the motion of a car, the soft mattress of a bed underneath me.
I’d been vaguely aware of Yannick in my bed all night. Sometimes I’d be huddled into his side, my arm across his waist. Other times he’d be tucked up behind me, his arm gentle around my waist, our legs tangled together and his breath puffing against my skin. I was too comfortable to want to move far, my head too muddled to do little more than answer the questions he asked before falling back to sleep. I had the headache from hell when I cracked my eyes open and realised the sun was streaming in through the gap in the curtains at the window. CeeCee had whacked me a bloody good one.
Yannick’s sleep was peaceful, and I lay listening to his breathing, smiling when he let out a soft snort every now and again. Content to lie there, I cuddled back into his side and tried to will the headache away. I’d need some painkillers soon, but I wasn’t ready to leave the warm cocoon that was Yannick Ischmov. Being almost naked didn’t even alarm me, he was a gentleman, he wouldn’t take advantage, especially not while I was feeling like crap.
“Mmmm… Tickles.” Yannick’s sleep rough voice interrupted the quiet, and I stilled my fingers, the unconscious act of stroking through the short, coarse hair on his chest not registering until he’d pointed it out. “Don’t stop, feels good.”
“Sorry. Didn’t know I was doing it.”
“Feeling better?”
“Ugh.” I shifted against his side. “My head is still sore.”
“Andrey brought some painkillers over, still boxed. I’ll go get you a fresh glass of water, maybe you could sleep a bit more?”
Yannick got out of bed, keeping his back to me as I watched him pad across the room. Flopping over in the bed, I winced at the movement. He was back a moment later with a glass of water and a box in his hand.
“Take the recommended dose, see how that goes.”
Such a sweetheart. “You didn’t have to stay all night, but I appreciate it.”
“I have to be honest,” he said, climbing back into bed and leaning against the headboard, arms crossed over his chest. “You worried me sick, didn’t trust anyone else to make sure you were okay.”
“That’s very sweet.”
“Sweet, I’m not,” he chuckled. “But for you…” he trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid which was likely just as well.
“I’m sorry to have ruined your street cred,” I teased.
“Meh, my ego can take it.” I didn’t doubt it for a second. “I didn’t mean to overstep by getting into bed with you.”
Yet, he’d had no qualms sliding back in. I side eyed him and grinned. “I liked having you here.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmhhmm.”
Yannick moved down in the bed and rolled onto his side, hand propping his head up as he gazed at me. “Come back down.”
Smooth bastard, yet I wasn’t inclined to refuse. Mimicking his position, Yannick pulled the covers up and over our shoulders, maybe protecting my modesty or maybe showing some chivalry. Whatever, I enjoyed his mindfulness of my half-dressed state, even if he had already seen me naked.
His fingers carefully trailed across my bruised cheek, his eyes lighting with anger. “You didn’t deserve this.”
“Doesn’t change the fact it happened. I should have been more observant of my surroundings.”
Yannick said nothing as he continued to stroke my cheek with soothing fingers, making me lean into the touch a little more. I could have easily fallen back to sleep, but I didn’t want to miss these tender moments, unsure if I’d get them again. It had been a long time since I’d stilled and soaked up any affection, it had been in short supply most of my life.
“How’s the head now?”
“Settling.” The pain had dulled, though still ever present.
“Bill’s got you covered for the weekend.” I went to protest, Yannick pushing a finger against my lips. “We look after our staff, the decent ones anyway.”
“I’m decent?” I asked cheekily.
“You so are, Jolie. Could I take you out for dinner later? If you’re up for it, I mean.”
“Don’t you have things to do, business to attend to? You’ve been here all night.”
“I do, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I have guys who step in when needed, they won’t hold it against you if you monopolise my time for a few days.”
“A few days?” I squeaked out, while he stroked his fingers in a circle.
“If you can put up with me for that long.” He’d put his night on hold for me, was willing to do so for a few more days, which was great yet that gnawing feeling of discontent about the true nature of his interest seemed stuck fast. To hell with it, I could push everything else aside for now because I wanted something more. I could kiss him, maybe? The heat crawling up my face was as hot as the slap CeeCee had delivered, the thought of his lips on mine enough to chase away any pain left behind. No - that was entirely the wrong thing to do, no matter how attracted I was to Yannick. It said I thought we could be more and more was something I wasn’t sure I could be.
Nothing had changed since our last meeting except he’d played Florence
