The slight tremble of her fingers said otherwise.
“Hurts a little, that’s all,” I lied, shifting in my seat.
“You don’t strike me as someone who flinches from a small hand wound, Derek.”
“I’m not.”
“Good, because this is going to sting.” She tore open a small alcohol pad and pressed it to my skin. “You forgot the antiseptic in your kit here.”
Eva’s eyes centered on mine as she waited for my reaction, yet the pang was so insignificant it barely registered. I’d be convinced she was enjoying this if I didn't know better. My free hand fell over hers, pushing down and forcing the soaked gauze deeper into broken skin; pain and pleasure coalescing deliciously into one.
“Do you feel that?” she whispered.
We both knew she wasn’t talking about the sting of the alcohol. It was how the air crackled between us, electric, drawing us together like two magnetic forces destined to collide.
“I feel everything, Eva. Your hand shaking beneath mine.” She averted her gaze. “The heat of your skin,” I said, tilting her chin with my finger as I inched closer to her lips.
“I think the pain is making you delirious.”
Chuckling against the soft skin of her cheek, I ran the tip of my nose across a dimple, and again, her breath caught. “You could be right… or maybe it’s just you.”
“Sometimes I have that effect on people,” she murmured, pulling away slowly.
Eva was flirting.
“Is that right? Conceited much, Miss Cruz?”
“I could never compete with your ego.”
Laughter erupted from deep in my chest, and I suddenly couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed so freely. Even Evangelina’s shoulders shook with genuine amusement, a broad smile lighting up her beautiful face.
This was—new.
“Hey,” I said, my tone earnest, “your friend, do you have any idea where she could have gone?”
When her features soured into a frown, I immediately regretted bringing up the subject again. With my hand still in her lap, fingers caressing the bandage, she sighed and leaned back into the stool.
“Maybe. I’m not sure. I have a feeling she’s not trying to stick around. She seemed terrified.”
“As she should be. The Belov family has a reputation for a reason. If they want your friend dead, I’m afraid that will be the likely outcome.”
A grave expression moved across her face. “I guess I’m on their hit list now too.”
“Bullshit.” Her eyes snapped up to meet mine, surprised at my sudden outburst. “No one touches you, Eva.”
“They were in my house. Probably know my name...”
My hand flew to the side of her neck, and I pulled her face close. “No onetouches you. Do you understand?”
Seconds ticked by before she spoke again; the quickened rise and fall of her chest was a telltale sign she was taken aback by my bold declaration. But she needed to know who she belonged to. And no one touched what was mine.
“Say it, angel. I need you to trust me.”
Her eyes roved back and forth, searching for an explanation behind my words.
“Okay,” she breathed, eyelids fluttering. “For some strange reason, I do.”
As I leaned in close to the crest of her ear, the sweet scent of her hair blowing beneath my nose, I whispered, “Good girl.”
