Okay, I had the urge to try and write something in first person. So that is what I've done in this chapter. A little experiment if you will.
Let me know what you think.
When I arrive back in the living room Lou looks at me with tired eyes, I can tell he needs help getting up so he can go to bed but he is too damn stubborn to ask for it. That damn male pride of his, always got to be the macho man who doesn't need help!
I close my eyes briefly and take a moment to clear my head so I don't snap at him, god knows he deserves it after the way he's been behaving but one of us needs to keep our cool. If we both lose our tempers and start yelling it would only end in tears. It wouldn't be the best way to tell him I love him, in the middle of an argument.
Calming down enough to a point where I deem it safe I open my eyes and plaster a smile on my face. "I think you should take a nap, I'll help you upstairs." Perfect, let him think that he still has control. That way he won't feel as incapacitated and will be less likely to lose his temper at the situation.
He nods slightly and stretches his arms. "Yeah, I think you're right."
Much huffing and puffing later I've managed to get him upstairs and tucked into bed. Getting him up the stairs had been no easy task, he was in a lot of pain and grumpy from both that and the tiredness. Plus he had needed to rest a lot of his weight on me. Now I'm no weakling but he's a lot bigger than me and his stairs are pretty narrow so we slipped a couple of times. Which had made his wound bleed. After seating him on the edge of his bed I'd run outside to fetch the bag of medical supplies the hospital had provided us with, getting back into the bedroom I'd changed his bandages and cleaned the wound as quickly and painlessly as possible. But all of it had taken its toll on him, he was pale and sweating a little when I'd finally gotten him into his pyjama bottoms and settled in bed.
Bed. That one word makes me realise just how tired I am as a wave of exhaustion washes over me but I can't sleep, not yet, I need to organise his medication, wash his clothes from the hospital and make something for dinner. I can't remember the last time I ate. His place could do with a little cleaning too. It wasn't messy as such, just not up to my standards. It had the typical single guy living alone feel to it.
The big plasma TV with the sophisticated sound system and brown leather reclining chair were one big hint at a bachelor pad that hadn't seen a woman's touch in years. Lou had gone for the bare minimum, only having what he needed. I poke around a little, opening doors and taking a peek inside. It appeared Lou liked to watch horror movies in his downtime, he had them in abundance. I hope he doesn't expect me to watch them with him. I may have acted like they didn't bother me when questioned but truth be told I don't like them, they were just another reminder of what could happen and after everything I see on the job, that's the last thing I needed.
Trying to distract myself I make a quick dinner of pasta with a cheese sauce and broccoli. I take my time washing the dishes and putting them away and before I know it 3 hours have passed. The exhaustion comes back and hits tenfold, I flip the switch and turn off the lights. My movements are slow and sluggish as I make my way upstairs to the black and chrome bathroom. Is everything in this house high-tech?
After much confusion I manage to get the shower onto a setting that isn't too harsh and leave it to warm up. I search for a towel; this place is full of secret cupboards! Everything blended in together to make the place look seamless. Finally, after much cursing, I locate the towels in a cupboard that looks like it's part of the wall. I head back over to the shower and open the door, stick in my hand and test the water. Finding it just right I loosely hang the towel over the heated towel rack and strip out of my clothing, finally taking off my underwear and leaving it all in a pile by the sink. I'll deal with it later. I climb into the shower and let the gentle cascade of water caress my bare skin, it was pure heaven.
The shower made me feel much better, the aching in my body has dulled and I feel much more relaxed. The day's events didn't seem as harsh. Yet, in the back of my head that annoying little voice keeps reminding me that I need to find a good way to profess my love to Lou. Not an easy task for someone as closed off as me.
Wrapping my body in the deliciously warm towel I relax even more and pad my way across the hall and into Lou's bedroom. My overnight bag sits by the window, the bright moon casting shadows over the room and illuminating my way. As I cross the wooden floor to get my pyjamas, being as quiet as possible, I glance over at Lou's sleeping form on the bed. He looks so peaceful and at ease, all the pain and stress washed away in his slumber, just leaving behind his rugged good looks. He looks so small in the middle of the big leather bed, the thought makes me smile.
I know he wants everyone to think he's this big, tough detective but in those rare moments that he lets his guard slip I see the real Lou. The sweet, caring guy who holds me in his arms and strokes my hair tenderly in the blissful afterglow of sex. The only time either of us allows ourselves to be free.
We're both intensely guarded people but Lou has let that guard down for me, now I needed to do the same for him.
After slipping into my silk nightgown – I want to look good for him, even if he is unable to perform – I slip into bed beside him without disturbing his slumber. It seems he's quite a heavy sleeper but he doesn't snore, which I'm thankful for.
It takes all of two minutes for sleep to take over and pull me into a dream filled world.
I frown and screw my eyes up tighter, trying to figure out what has woken me from such a wonderful sleep. Hearing nothing out of the usual in the room I roll onto my side and curl myself into the covers. Must have been in my dream. I bury my face against the soft pillow and slowly start drifting back off to sleep when the noise comes again, almost like a whimper. My first thought is that Lou is having a nightmare, probably about what happened in the warehouse. But when I open my eyes he isn't beside me in bed.
My body immediately jolts up in bed. Where the hell could he be?!
Scrambling quickly from under the tangled sheets I throw myself towards the door, praying to god that his stubborn defiance to be independent hasn't caused him to do anything stupid and hurt himself.
"Lou?" I call out but don't get a reply.
Why did he have to be so stubborn? Why couldn't he just admit he needed help?
I pass the bathroom door on my way to the stairs, the doors closed but that doesn't mean anything. At least I don't think it does until my foot touches down on the first step. This time the whimper is louder and mixed with a groan of pain. I immediately run back to the bathroom and fling open the door.
There on the floor leaning against the bathtub with his pyjama pants halfway down his thighs is Lou. His face set in pain and droplets of sweat beading on his forehead.
Rushing over to his side I brush my hands through his hair and look into his eyes. "What are you doing Lou?" I try to keep my voice soft but even I notice the edge of annoyance creeping in.
His eyes, laced with pain, connect with mine finally and I see the deep emotions running through them, emotions he usually keeps hidden deep within.
"I needed the bathroom," his voice is weak. "Didn't want to wake you."
The corners of my mouth twitch upwards; he really is a sweet man, despite his stubbornness.
My hand runs across his bare shoulder in what I hope is a soothing gesture.
"Did you go?" At his small shake of his head I stand up and hold my hands out. "Come on, I'll help you."
A little more coaxing and a few failed attempts later we have successfully managed to get him to use the toilet and cleaned up. I can tell he is embarrassed and know it isn't from me seeing his penis; I've done that before, so I know it is because he'd had to pee with my help.
Now we're both back in bed I slowly inch myself closer to his body, desperately wanting to touch his warm skin and rest my head on his strong chest. Lou noticed my not so subtle movements and let out a chuckle. Such a wonderful sound.
Before I know it his arm is around me and I'm against his side, my head on his chest and a smile on my lips. I'm exactly where I wanted to be. Nuzzling my head into his chest I inhale his warm, slightly musky scent, tomorrow we need to get him in the shower.
"I'm not hurting you, am I?" my voice is quiet in the dark room, my hand stroking the soft hair on his lower abdomen.
I feel the muscles twitch under my fingertips and smile at the effect such a simple gesture has on him.
"No. It's only my leg, everything else is fine."
I knew he was right, it was only his leg that had been damaged yet I can still feel the same sense of dread that I'd felt as soon as I saw him go down from the impact of the bullet. I'd come so close to losing him, I wasn't ready to let him go yet and it scared me.
His arm tightens around me and his lips tenderly brush the top of my head. "Stop worrying so much."
He's right, I do worry too much. I always do.
I turn my face towards his and angle my body so I can rest against him comfortably and be able to see his handsome face. I run my fingers over the stubble on his chin and trace his full lips.
"Kiss me."
Without hesitation and with a smile on his face his lips press against mine in the sweetest kiss we've ever shared.
The moment our lips part his fingers trace a delicate path down my cheek. "I'm so sorry for what I said in the car and how I've been treating you I-"
I cut him off with my finger on his slightly parted lips and shake my head softly.
"Shh, it's okay. I know you didn't mean any of it." I offer him a warm smile which he returns with a sheepish one of his own. "Let's just concentrate on getting you better then maybe I'll let you make it up to me." I wink at him, just in case he misses the hint I'm trying to give him.
At his brief nod and smirking face I know he's picked up on what I was trying to say. I kiss him once again and settle back down against his chest, his strong arms wrap around my body. I'm quite content to spend the remainder of the night in this blissful cocoon.
Thanks for reading and let me know what you think to this style of writing.