Page 51 of King of Temptation

It was so easy to believe in that moment she actually was his, and a selfish part of her wanted to linger there forever, pretending she was more than just an annoyance to him. That he actually cared beyond making sure she didn’t get his family in any more trouble than they were already in.

But then he lifted his head again, his gaze shifting to Dr. Winters, and the moment was lost. “We good here, doc?”

“Almost.” Naomi pointed to the couch Goldie had recently vacated. “Sit. You know the rules.”

To Goldie’s unending surprise, Brody did as he was told, stepping around her to make his way over to the couch where he dutifully sat and answered all of the doctor’s questions as she gave him a quick once over.

“And you’re sure none of the blood is yours?”

“Positive, doc.”

“You kill the fucker?” Boone asked, his voice hard.

“No.” A muscle jumped in Brody’s cheek. “Killian and Reagan got ambushed and the slimy bastard slipped out while they were busy.”

Naomi’s head jerked up. “Are they safe?”

“Yeah. All our people made it out. Can’t say the same for the Russians.”

Nodding, Naomi swallowed hard and dropped her tools back into her bag, then closed it up and hoisted it onto her shoulder. “Everything looks good here. Plenty of rest, plenty of fluids for both of you. Oh, and a few good orgasms wouldn’t hurt things.”

“Jesus Christ, Naomi,” Boone muttered, scrubbing a hand over his face.

“What? Orgasms give you endorphins, and endorphins help with pain management and stress relief. Two things I imagine they could both use right now.”

“It’s true,” Goldie piped up, shrinking back on herself a bit when Boone and Brody both turned to glare at her. “Well it is! I’ve done the research!”

“Of course you have, Austen.” Shaking his head, Boone shoved to his feet and reached for his sister. “We’ll get out of your hair now.”

Brody held up a hand, pausing their retreat. “Killian wanted me to ask if Naomi would pop over and check on Aria and the baby. She wasn’t at the warehouse, but he’s worried about the stress.”

A frown tugged at Naomi’s lips as she nodded. “Will do. Call me if you need anything, I mean it. Oh, and keep an eye on your girl’s neck. I patched her up, but I want to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”

“Got it, doc.”

With a wave over her shoulder, Naomi let herself be led out of the house. Leaving Goldie alone with the man who’d fake-kidnapped her, ratted her out to her father, and then shot a man in cold blood to save her.

Jesus, what a fucking night.

Brody looked up at her, pale eyes blurry with exhaustion. “I need a shower.”

She nodded as he stood, keeping her arms at her sides even though everything in her ached to hold him. She’d grown up a cop’s daughter, and although Sergeant Quinn had never actually killed anyone, she’d seen the effect it could have on even the strongest of men.

Fuck. Her father. If he got home and realized she was gone, he was going to have a coronary.

Maybe she should leave. Call an Uber and just go home. Leave the O’Rourkes to their business and stay out of their hair for good.

But then Brody cupped her cheek, and all thoughts of leaving him fled her mind. “You should get some sleep. There’s a guest bedroom down the hall if you’d be more comfortable there.”

Was he asking her to stay because he wanted her? Or because he felt responsible for her?

The not knowing made up her mind, and she shook her head. “I should go. My dad’s going to worry.”

“Killian already filled your father in, let him know you’re safe. But if you want to call him, it would probably ease his mind a bit.”

More guilt piled on the already leaden weight in her gut. “I don’t have my phone.”

Brody blinked, then sighed, the sound so weary it made her chest ache. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he keyed in his code to unlock the device and held it out toward her. “Use mine. But only to call your father, and then you need sleep.”