Page 57 of Bent, Not Broken

“But you admit some of them are?”

“How about we don’t talk about work? We’ll never agree on it.” Then he cut another piece and held the fork out to me. I rolled my eyes, and when I went to grab it off him, he shifted it away and shook his head. “Open up, Officer.”

I didn’t smile, no matter how much I wanted to, and opened my mouth to let him feed me. A few weeks ago, I would have fucking hated his attention stuck on me, but I’d grown used to Madden’s antics. I still felt a little awkward about him flirting like this, but I knew he wouldn’t let it rest until he got what he wanted. It was easier for me to just accept his playfulness than fight him.

“You start physical therapy tomorrow.”

I groaned. Monahan had called a few days ago with instructions on resting and taking as much time as I needed to heal before she dropped the bomb that therapy with the physical therapist the doctor suggested started on Monday. She didn’t forget to mention he was cute, as though I’d have any interest in that. Madden was still the only guy I’d ever found myself attracted to, but trying to explain that to someone like my captain wasn’t worth the hassle.

“If he’s a hot piece like your captain says, maybe I want to meet him too,” Madden teased.

I glared at him. “No.”

He shook his head, cocking a smug grin in my direction as he fed me another bite without asking this time. I got the feeling he’d be going with me, no matter what I said.

“It’ll help you recover,” he teased.

“Will it?” I growled, meaner than I’d meant to. I attempted to raise my arm, but only got it halfway up before the pain became unbearable and I dropped it again with a hiss. Touching my shoulder, I shook my head. “It’s not getting better. I can’t even raise my arm.”

He shook his head and tapped me on the nose with the handle of the fork. “Stop being so impatient. You were shot, Evan. It’s not going to heal overnight.”

I grumbled, and he sighed at me.

“So impatient.” He grinned and leaned in to kiss me. I met him halfway, savoring his taste and the warmth that came with his body. I’d gotten used to sleeping beside him every night, and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel when it was time for things to return to normal. I never expected to enjoy the company of living with someone else, but when I got past my own issues, Madden fit into my life easily, even if I was injured and not at work. It could all change once I went back to trying to put his clients in jail.

He cupped my cheek and leaned into me, making sure not to put any weight on my injured shoulder. “I actually have a client coming in about an hour,” he whispered against my lips, slanting his mouth over mine for another short kiss.

“And you need me to hide away?” I gave him a half-crooked smile.

“You could entertain Mother?”

I snorted. “She keeps accidentally touching my chest.”

Madden laughed and the sound created a happy buzz in my chest. “She knows a fine piece of art when she sees one. She’s harmless.”

“I have about two feet on her. I know she’s harmless.”

He tapped my lips with his fingertip, grinning. “Careful now, you’re injured. She could take advantage of you with Kraft cheese.”

I glared at him and his laughter grew louder. “Are you never going to let that go? I don’t know what kinds of cheeses there are!”

“You’re so cute.” He shook his head and backed off, eating some of the food himself before taking a large sip of his milk. “Anyway, you can stay in the bedroom, or visit Mom. The choice is yours. But I trust you not to eavesdrop. My clients are very important to me, Evan, and while you have your job, I have mine.”

I didn’t tell him that right now, I didn’t have a job. Even though I was only on leave, I had a feeling I wasn’t going back there with the pain I felt, and my inability to raise my arm. Maybe Madden was right, though, and I was being too impatient about it.

“Come on, I’ll help you get a shirt on.” He winked at me, and I let him lead me back to his bedroom where we’d moved some of my clothes. We had gone to my home after the hospital, and I’d watched helplessly as Madden moved around my room, grabbing things out of my wardrobe and dumping them into a sports bag without giving me a choice of what I wanted in there. Once he’d found my toothbrush and some paperwork, which he’d thought would keep me entertained, he’d taken me straight to his grand apartment in the rich suburb where I never expected to actually stay.

But here I was.

Together, we worked on a shirt, and he took extra care with my arm. I winced, even with the painkillers I’d been prescribed, and by the time I had the shirt on, I was sweating in agony, and he cringed in sympathy. This is how it always happened. Then, like usual, he kissed my clothed shoulder gently and stroked my cheek in apology. The entire thing was very domestic, and I enjoyed it more than I should have.

I lay on the king-sized bed, and he turned on the television hanging on the opposite wall. He found a nature documentary and passed me the controller with a knowing grin.

“Shut up,” I grumbled, and he laughed. He’d learned over the last week that I found documentaries interesting and hadn’t stopped teasing me since.

He chuckled and leaned in for a kiss. “Remember what I said? Keep yourself entertained while my client’s here.”

“Are you going to blow me after as a reward?” I smirked. “It’s been over a week. I need your mouth on my cock.”