Chapter 89: Time to go to sleep

"I told you it’d feel a hell of a lot better if you just let loose."

Like fucking hell, I thought, my chest still heaving as the last of the intense tremors finally rippled out of my muscles.

​I had put myself into this absolute mess the moment I agreed to play nursemaid for this arrogant prodigy. I couldn’t blame anyone else but my own stupidly responsible captain’s brain.

Reid was, is, and clearly always would be a thoroughly perverted prick.

​Forcing my shaky legs to support my weight, I dragged myself up from the floor. My pride was entirely in tatters, but the clinical, detached checklist in my head was the only thing keeping me grounded.

I walked over to the sink, turning the handle completely to cold to shock some sense back into my system as I thoroughly washed the sticky residue from my hands.

​Once I dried them off on a fresh towel, I turned back toward the toilet seat where Reid was still watching me with that insufferable, heavy-lidded smirk.

​"Move," I muttered, my voice raspy and completely drained of any remaining warmth.

​I stepped back into his space, braced my feet, and slung his heavy, damp arm back over my shoulders to hoist him up.

He let out a low, satisfied hum as his massive frame leaned into me, surprisingly cooperative now that his predatory edge had been thoroughly blunted by the release.

I guided him over to the sink so he could wash his own hands, and then, using a damp washcloth, I forced myself to look away as I helped him quickly clean the remaining residue off his cock before things could get weird again.

​"Alright, rich boy," I grunted, my shoulder aching under his immense weight as we began the slow, agonizing trek out of the bathroom and down the short hallway. "Time to go to sleep."

​When we finally reached the master bedroom, I didn’t bother being gentle. The moment his knees brushed the edge of the newly smoothed mattress, I shifted my weight and essentially threw him onto the bed.

​Reid landed heavily against the black silk sheets with a rough, breathless grunt, his long legs tangling in the heavy duvet I had just spent ten minutes straightening out.

He rolled onto his back, wincing slightly as he kept his swollen ankle elevated, but the lazy, thoroughly pleased grin on his face never wavered.

​"Damn, Cap," he rumbled, his smoky grey eyes tracking me as I walked over to the edge of the bed to toss the clean sweatpants and t-shirt I’d picked out earlier right onto his chest. "You really know how to treat a guy."

​"Put those on and don’t move from this bed until tomorrow morning," I snapped, turning my back on him to hide the lingering flush on my neck. "I’m going to set an alarm, check your temperature one last time, and then I’m sleeping on the couch. If I hear so much as a single peep out of you tonight, McCoy, I’m using your hockey tape to gag you."

Seeing I was damn serious, he didn’t try to convince me to come sleep on the bed with him. Sleeping in the same space as him was already a miracle on its own, so he should be grateful.

​But of course, Reid didn’t sleep when I needed him to sleep. Before I could even think about resting, I had to wash up in the bathroom and clean up that mess we made.

My own clothes were completely ruined—soaked through with a mix of fever sweat and the residual smell of what had happened on the couch in the living room and the bathroom floor—and since I hadn’t brought a backup change of clothes, I had no choice but to raid his perfectly organized closet.

I pulled on a plain cotton t-shirt. The fabric was loose and soft, but it smelled entirely like him, wrapping my skin in a faint, mocking scent of frozen pine.

​Disingenuous as it felt, I lay down on the living room couch, trying to find a comfortable position. But sleep was impossible.

From the bedroom, the chaotic audio of a firing game began to blare—loud, obnoxious gunshots and explosions echoing through the penthouse.

It was the exact same game he had been playing back when we were on the team bonding trip and had to share that cramped cabin.

​This idiot knew damn well I wanted to sleep, but he had his volume cranked up to the absolute highest setting just to disturb me. Really mature.

​I grabbed one of the sofa cushions and violently covered my ears, but it didn’t do a bit of help. Realizing that snapping at him would only fuel his amusement, I changed tactics. I dropped the pillow, forced my breathing to slow, and closed my eyes, pretending I was actually fast asleep.

​A few minutes later, the game audio abruptly cut out. I kept my body completely still, listening to the soft rustle of sheets as Reid peeped over the edge of the bed toward the living room.

​"Cap?" he called out quietly, testing the waters. "You awake?"

​I ignored him, keeping my eyes shut and my expression deadpan.

​A low, knowing chuckle vibrated from the bedroom. "You know, Cap... your orchid pheromones have a rather sweet scent when you’re deadly annoyed with me. That’s how I know you’re not asleep."

​My eyes snapped open. I ripped the couch pillow out from under my head and hurled it blindly through his bedroom door with everything I had. "Screw you, McCoy! Just let me get some sleep, I’m exhausted!" I shouted, my voice raw. "Is this what I get for being considerate and playing nursemaid?"

​"Sleep with me," Reid suddenly said.

​His voice dropped into a register that sounded far too serious, far too grounded to be a joke.

​I paused, my breath catching in my throat as I stared at the dark doorway.

​"You’re doing a hell of a great job taking care of me," he continued, the arrogant edge completely gone from his tone. "It would be bad if I let you sleep on a cramped couch when my bed is this big. I’m only pestering you so you’ll come to the bed where it’s comfortable. Come sleep with me, Evans."