He proved that when he had those two men take me from my own bed this morning instead of waiting for our scheduled wedding. It’s the fervor in his eyes when he looks at me. He’s obsessed.
I scrub my skin and hair, then gently wash my ravaged feet. I regret not keeping the heels even though they would have slowed me down.
Once I’m clean, I dry off and reach for the clothes Bronco brought. He left a flannel shirt in a light blue plaid, and beneath, a pair of black boxer briefs. I slide the shirt over my head, surprised at its softness, then put on the boxers. If I don’t, he’ll have prime viewing when he kneels to tend to my feet.
My cheeks are hot when I open the bathroom door and find Bronco leaning against the wall on the other side. His eyes slide over the flannel shirt to my legs and back up. When they meet mine, there’s something a little wild behind them.
He slowly straightens. “You’re even prettier without all the makeup,” he rumbles.
I tuck a strand of damp hair behind my ear. “Thank you.”
He rubs the back of his neck again, then reaches for me, scooping me back into his arms. “Got the first aid kit in the living room.”
“I can walk.” But my arms go around his neck.
“Not while your pretty little feet are tender.”
He takes me back to the couch, then lowers to the ground and reaches for my left foot. There’s a white plastic box open on the coffee table beside him, with ointment and bandages set out. Bronco checks my foot again. “One cut is deeper than I’d like, but the others should heal fast.” He bandages them up, then switches to my other foot. “You must have run pretty far.”
“Maybe.” I just ran blindly, too afraid to think.
His eyes flicker up to mine. “What happened this morning? Did you run or did someone grab you?”
There’s only curiosity in his voice, not judgment. I relax a fraction more. “Aiden sent those two men for me. I’m not sure how, but they broke in at dawn. They grabbed me while I was sleeping, and I was so shocked and disoriented, they were able tobind and gag me before I could scream.” I rub my arms, feeling a sudden chill.
“Aiden. Isn’t that your fiancé?”
“Yes. Aiden Frost.”
His brow furrows. “Why the hell would he kidnap you out of your own damn bed? Weren’t you getting married next month?”
“He said my father couldn’t be trusted to keep his word.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. They worked out this engagement months ago. I think my father owed him something.”
Bronco’s head snaps up. “Owed him... your marriage waspaymentfor something?”
I look away, feeling so dirty when he says it like that. “Maybe I’m wrong.”
“Look at me, Camille.” When I finally do, he asks, “Did you want this marriage?”
“It’s my duty to the family.” Those words have been drilled into me almost as soon as I learned to talk.
“Doesn’t answer my question.”
“No.” It’s the first time I’ve admitted that to anyone but my sister.
He curses, then cups my cheek in one large palm. “What happens next is your choice, Camille.”
My choice? I’ve never had that. It’s too much to hope for. “Promise?” The question slips out, small and shaky.
“Anyone who wants you will have to go through me,” he growls.“And that won’t end well for them.”
CHAPTER FIVE
BRONCO
