Blurred Lines

Chapter 21 - A Touch Too Close

Riley stepped into Luke's undercover apartment and immediately regretted her decision. The place was a dump. Dim lighting flickered overhead, casting shadows on the worn-out furniture and peeling wallpaper. The heating clearly wasn't working—there was a noticeable chill in the air—and the whole place smelled faintly of mildew. As she glanced around, she spotted a half-eaten pizza sitting on the coffee table, the crusts curled and stale. The fridge door was slightly ajar, and when she peeked inside, all she saw was a carton of milk and a bottle of hot sauce.

"Nice place you got here," Riley teased, a smirk pulling at her lips as she turned to look at Luke.

He rolled his eyes, clearly unamused, as he tossed his keys onto the table. "Yeah, well, I'm not exactly here for the interior decorating."

"I can tell," she said, her eyes gleaming. "Is this how you've been living the whole time? It's a wonder you're still alive."

Luke shot her a dry look as he shrugged out of his jacket, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at his bruised ribs. "It's all part of the cover, Torres. I can't exactly be living in luxury if I'm trying to blend in with the guys we're after."

Riley snorted, folding her arms. "Right. And the half-eaten pizza is just part of the act?"

He chuckled softly, then winced again. "Believe it or not, some of us don't have the time for gourmet meals."

"Clearly," she shot back, her tone playful as she walked toward him. "Come on. Go into the bathroom and take off your shirt. I need to see the damage before you collapse in front of me."

Luke raised an eyebrow at her. "You just want to get me naked."

She smirked. "Trust me, I've seen better."

With a low chuckle, he led the way to the small bathroom, its single bulb dim and flickering. As he pulled off his shirt, revealing the full extent of the damage—bruises across his ribs, a few deep gashes along his side—Riley's smirk faded. "Jesus, Luke," she muttered, her fingers brushing the edge of a particularly nasty cut. "You should be in a hospital."

He shook his head, stepping back slightly. "You know I can't do that. It'll blow the whole operation."

Riley narrowed her eyes at him but knew he was right. Luke leaned against the sink, his bare chest glistening under the feeble light. She sighed and reached for the first-aid kit on the counter. "Fine. But you don't get to complain while I patch you up."

As she moved closer to him, Riley felt her heart race. She forced herself to focus on the task at hand, even though the heat radiating off his skin was intoxicating. She picked up a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic and pressed it against one of the cuts on his side. He hissed, a sharp intake of breath that sent a thrill down her spine.

"Easy," he said, his voice low and teasing. "I didn't think you'd be this rough."

She shot him a glare, fighting to keep her tone light. "I must have you all wrong, Maddox. I would have taken you for the kind of guy who likes it rough."

Their eyes locked for a moment, and she felt a rush of heat that had nothing to do with the temperature in the room. "Focus, Torres," Luke muttered under his breath, tearing his gaze away from her lips. Riley cleared her throat, trying to shake off the spark that seemed to crackle between them.

As she cleaned his wounds, she could feel the muscle of his torso under her fingers. The brush of her skin against his sent her heart racing, and she took a steadying breath to regain her composure. "You really should take better care of yourself, you know. You're not invincible."

"Maybe," he replied, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he leaned slightly closer, "but I've got you to keep me in check now."

The air between them thickened, the distance closing in as he shifted, leaning forward slightly, causing her breath to hitch in her throat. Her heart raced, the tension spiraling between them, electric and palpable. For a moment, she forgot about the bandaging, forgotten about the cuts and bruises, and all she could focus on was the warmth radiating off him, the way he looked at her with that intense gaze, as if he could see right through her.