Chapter Five
“Hey, Louisa, we’ve arrived,”Brycesays.
My eyes feel heavy, the Tramadol has well and truly knocked me for six and I feel bone weary, but I open them slowly. Nisha has jumped out of the car, and I can hear the distinct sound of gravel crunching under her feet as she chatters incessantly about the size of the place. Bryce is still in the front seat. He is staring at me, a worried expression on hisface.
“Urgh, I feel awful.” My head is spinning, and the dull throb is still there. All I want to do is collapse in abath.
“Give me a sec. I’ll get thedoor.”
I move to sit up, but my head swims and I suddenly feel nauseous. A moment later the door opens. Bryce leans over me and unclicks the seatbelt, sliding his hands under my thighs and around myback.
“I can walk,” I say half-heartedly.
“Maybe, but I’d rather you didn’t faint on me.” Bryce lifts me out of the car. Another sharp pain makes me draw in a suddenbreath.
“Nisha, will you get the door?” Bryce asks. Nisha looks over at usboth.
“Shit, of course. Sorry, Lou. I’m such a bad friend. Are you feelingalright?”
I lean into Bryce’s neck and press my fingers against my cheek. It still feels sore. “I’ve felt better,” I say with a wry grin. She walks over and presses a kiss against myforehead.
“Sorry, Lou. It’sjust…”
“I know, I get it,” I say, reaching for her hand. I understand her awe. “This place is about as far removed to what we’re used to as snow is to people living in the Sahara Desert. But you’re not a bad friend. You’re my best friend and I loveyou.”
She smiles. “Now, let’s not get soppy. I think that’s the Tramadoltalking.”
“Come on, let’s get inside,” Brycesays.
Nisha rushes forward and Bryce follows. Even through the haze of the painkillers I am acutely aware of his hands beneath me, the closeness of his skin to my lips. I really, really want to press them against his neck, to breathe him in. I want to kiss him. I want him. Bryce looks down at me. For a moment I think he is going to kiss me, but he doesn’t, he simply smiles and movesforward.
His home, the brothers’ home, is a huge modern building set over three stories, with smooth white walls and huge panoramic windows on each floor that wrap around the entire house. To the side is a large garage and above it, what looks like a granny annexe or studio of some sort. The light is on in the first floor and I can see two people walking around. My heart lurches in my chest as I recognise the physique of the first person. It’s Max. The other man isn’t Hudson. I don’t know who heis.
Bryce walks me up the couple of steps to the front door, then gently lowers me to my feet whilst he fishes in his pocket for his keys. He hands them to Nisha, pointing to the correctkey.
“Would you mind?” he asks, then leans over ready to lift me up again, but I place my free hand on his shoulder. “I can walk, honestly. I think I just sat up too quickly orsomething.”
“All the same, I think I’ll still keep my arm around you. Is that okay?” heasks.
My hand slips to the opening of his shirt, my fingers resting on the skin there. “It’s more than okay,” Irespond.
He looks at me for a long moment, his face nearing mine. “God, I’ve missedyou…”
“There,” Nisha says, breaking the moment between us. “Afteryou.”
Bryce’s head snaps up and she looks at me with her eyebrows raised, a devious twinkle in her eye. As soon as we’re alone she’s going to be bombarding me with so manyquestions.
“Max, Hud, get your arses down here,” Bryce calls from the opendoorway.
Inside, the house is all clean lines, white walls and minimalistic furniture. There are pieces of cool graffiti artwork hanging on thewalls.
“Is that aBanksy?” Nisha asks before Ican.
“Yes, it is,” Brycesays.
“Holy shit.” Nisha walks over to the painting, reaching up to touchit.
“Max, you need to get down here now,” Bryce yells, smiling at meapologetically.