“You already caught me.” I lift my unscathed shoulder in a half shrug. “What the hell else am I going to do?”
“That’s fair.”
He leaves the room and enters what I assume is a joining bathroom. The sound of running water reaches me before Xavier returns. His signet ring winks at me as he makes his way across the room, and I drop my gaze. I don’t remember him picking it up, but I wish he’d left it behind.
He leans over me. I lift my head and eye him warily as he grazes the unmarred skin around my brand mark. His touch is gentle for someone who threatens to kill people every five minutes.
It’s difficult to breathe with him so close, his lips a few inches from mine. Our kiss in the forest fills my mind. I’m quick to shove it aside, but the damage is done. My nipples harden, and I clench my thighs to keep from squirming.
“Am I hurting you?” he asks softly. He flicks his gaze to mine and the concern there threatens to drown me in their silver depths.
I shake my head, unable to speak with his breath skimming my mouth and his fingers on my skin. He straightens and turns to the nightstand to grab a first aid kit. Without him touching me, I collect myself.
“You had that kit ready to go, huh?” I ask. “You were pretty sure of yourself?”
He sets the box next to me, his mouth a hard line. “I wasn’t coming back here without you.”
“But you don’t even know me.”
“I know you more than you think.”
“And?”
He stops rummaging through the medical supplies to look at me. “And what?”
“Did you bring me here just to fuck me? Or am I a victim in the Order’s agenda?”
“Depends.”
“Are you always this confusing?” I ask.
“Do you always talk this much?”
“Yes, actually.”
His lips twitch with amusement as he pours a clear liquid onto a cotton ball. “This is going to hurt.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and give him a quick nod. The cool solution contacts my inflamed skin, wrenching a groan from me. However, the sting is nothing compared to the agony I experienced earlier.
Xavier works quickly, his touch efficient but gentle. Possibly even tender. After cleaning and drying the wound, he applies medicine over my raw and battered skin, causing me to stiffen until a cool relief spreads across my skin.
I sit still, hardly breathing, as he places the gauze over the wound, pressing firmly. Xavier holds it and secures the dressing with medical tape. Once he’s no longer touching me, I crack an eyelid.
“Done?”
“Yes.”
“Thank goodness.” With a sigh, I slowly lie down, my exhaustion overriding my vigilance. “If you’re going to fuck me, do me a favor and be quiet when you do.”
His laughter floats over me, giving flight to a thousand butterflies in my stomach. I sneak a glance at him, only to find Xavier already looking down at me. He crawls onto the bed to liebeside me, and my breathing thins. I stop breathing completely when he traces the seam of my lips, his gaze bright with lust.
“If you can sleep while I’m inside you, then I’m not doing it right,” he says.
His words are playful but serious, sexy but shocking. Just like him, they leave me confused. And intrigued.
I turn my head to hide my face. I’m too tired to keep my feelings secret. This dangerous man already has complete access to my body, the last thing I need to do is give him a glimpse of my mind.
And certainly not my heart.
