Page 29 of Bloom in Darkness

When I turn around, Caelan is standing in the doorway with one hand braced against the frame. He raises the other before I can say anything. “I know. I’m not supposed to be standing.”

“You’re barely doing that. Your knee buckled twice.”

His mouth twitches. “The second time barely counted.”

“I’m running you a bath so I can hold you while your leg loosens up. Then we’re going home and getting in bed.”

His smile finally breaks through. “So you can hold me there too?” A growl starts low in my chest, and Caelan lifts both hands. “Okay. I’m done.”

I turn back toward the tub before I pick him up again just to make a point. Behind me, Caelan keeps talking while I shut off the water.

“You know I had to do it.”

I shut off the faucet and turn toward him before he can launch into the explanation I already got from Forrest. “I know why you did it, Caelan. You don’t need to explain the Forge to me, and you don’t need to explain yourself either.” I cross the bathroom and put one hand against the side of his neck. “You made your point. You won. You also hurt yourself.”

“I irritated an old injury.”

“Call it whatever you want. You’re still limping.”

Caelan sighs but finally stops arguing.

I lean down and kiss him before he can start another argument. He softens almost immediately, one hand catching in the front of my shirt while I keep my mouth slow against his and my hands gentle at his waist.

When I pull back, Caelan keeps his forehead against mine. His fingers stay curled in my shirt while his thumb brushes once along my chest. “I didn’t mean to worry you, big guy.”

I close my eyes for a second. “I know.”

“Babe, seriously. I’m okay.” He kisses me once, softer than before, then steps away like he needs to prove it. His bad leg gives on the second step, sending him straight into my chest.

I catch him before he can hit the floor, both arms going around his waist while his hands fist into my shirt. We stay that way until his breathing evens out against my throat.

When Caelan finally lifts his head, reluctant amusement has replaced most of the annoyance. “Okay. You can take care of me.”

My grip around his waist eases for the first time since I walked into the Forge, and I kiss his forehead before scooping him back into my arms. “Good.”

This time, Caelan doesn’t complain. He wraps his arms around my neck and lets me carry him into the bathroom while I strip the wraps from his hands and help him out of the rest of his clothes without putting weight through the bad leg.

“You’re still angry,” Caelan says while I kneel to ease his shorts down.

“Yeah.”

His expression shifts when I straighten and start pulling off my own clothes. “At me for fighting?”

“For scaring me. The fight was your choice, and I understand why you took it. Watching your knee buckle twice was mine to hate.”

That quiets him. Caelan sits on the edge of the tub while I climb in first and settle against the back. Steam has fogged the mirror, and the hot water reaches high enough over my thighs that I can already feel some of the tension leaving my body.

I settle against the back of the tub and reach for him. “Come here.”

Caelan lets me guide him down between my legs, keeping the injured knee stretched carefully in front of him. His back settles against my chest, and I wrap both arms around his waist until his head finally tips onto my shoulder.

I press my mouth to his temple. “Better?”

Caelan lets out a long breath as the muscles along his back finally start loosening against me. “Yeah.”

Astra

Bryn’s text from last night is five words long: Caelan got hurt. He’s fine. I read it three times at the end of my overnight shift, standing in the back hallway of the club with my coat half on and my bag hanging from one shoulder. He’s fine should matter more. All I can see is hurt. By the time I get outside, my pulse is hammering in my throat and I’m already walking too fast.