“Lucas, damn it, put me down,” she repeated.

“No.”

“Ugh! I can walk.”

“Not now.”

He carried her through his bedroom, going straight toward his bathroom. He sat her on the counter beside the sink.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” she asked.

“Between the two of us, I think we can figure it out. How did you manage to step on a piece of glass?”

“Not a clue. Running and not watching where we were going?” she asked.

He grabbed a first aid kit, opening it up. “At least we don’t suffer from infections,” he said.

“That’s not funny, and just so you know, we do.”

“No, we don’t.”

“If we’re exhausted and frail, we can succumb to fevers. I read about it. It’s rare, but it does happen.”

“You feel exhausted and frail?” he asked.

“No, I feel stupid that I managed to stand on a piece of glass. I hope it doesn’t have shards.”

He turned on the bathroom light. “I’m getting a chair.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He returned seconds later, holding a chair. She took a deep breath, and he wondered what she was feeling.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Totally.”

He lifted her foot, placing it on his lap. “We’ve got to get the glass out.”

She gripped the edge of the counter. “Go right ahead.”

“Do you want to tell me something?” he asked.

“Er, well, I don’t like pain, nor the sight of blood. Both have a knack for making me pass out or vomit.”

“Oh,” he said.

“Yeah, and right now we’re going to have blood and pain. Kind of freaking out.”

“I’m here.”

She nodded. “Yes, you’re here.”

“Does that offer you any comfort at all?”

“A little.” She squeezed the counter, and he watched her close her eyes. “I’m ready.”

He looked down at the glass. Blood spread around the wound, and from the way she was acting, she was in pain. The tightness of her lips, the tension in her shoulders.

Great.

Why did he have to be the one to cause her pain?

He blew out a breath. There was enough of the glass sticking up for him to use his fingers to get it out. He hoped to whatever fucking person was watching, nothing happened to his woman. This had to be the worst timing in the world.

“I’m ready, Lucas,” she said.

He glanced up to see an eye was open.

“Do you think I am?” he asked.

“You’ve got to pull it out. I can’t.”

“I know. I will. I just…”

“What?”

“I don’t want to cause you any pain, okay? I’ve done enough damage. This is— I don’t want to hurt you.”

Silence fell between them as he stared at her foot. Why did her calf have to look so damn sexy?