Page 22 of Protect Me

I stare at her, trying to understand just what the hell—and then it clicks. She was brutalized by whoever is after her. Likely more than once. “You have a hell of a right hook,” I tell her with a forced smile even as the side of my face feels like it’s on fire. “Seriously. You hit harder than Killian.”

Pressing the heel of my palm to my chest, I rub and try to loosen the knot that’s formed there. Why the hell it’s there at all, I don’t know, but fuck me if it doesn’t ache. “How do you feel?”

“Sore,” she says.

“Likely because of all the thrashing.” Reaching forward, I stick some herbs into the steaming mug of water. “This will help.” I mix it then sit back to let them steep for a few minutes. She’s wearing an oversized shirt that bares one of her tanned shoulders, and I get the urge to lean forward and brush my lips over the exposed skin.

Sitting here with her, I’m captivated by her beauty and the fire in her soul.

“Have Killian and Bracken been gentlemen?” I ask, clearing my throat and forcing my gaze from hers.

She snorts. “Killian saw me naked and didn’t get handsy, so we’ll say yes.”

My hand tightens into a fist at my side as jealousy churns in my gut. The fucker failed to mention that part of the story. “He said you fell in the shower.” I shift my weight, leaning toward her. “Can I check the bruise?”

Sway eyes me warily then nods. “Why the hell not.” With a pained expression, she scoots down and lies so that her hip is angled toward me. I draw the comforter down, baring tanned, toned legs. I reach the hem of her shirt and slowly draw it up over her hip, my fingers grazing her flesh as I go.

My cock hardens just enough to be uncomfortable, but I do what I can to keep myself turned so she can’t see what she does to me. This woman is not mine to have.

Not ours to keep.

Therefore, I have no intention of acting on a damned thing.

A dark purple bruise, roughly the size of my fist, sits on her hip bone. “Damn. You did a number on yourself.”

“That’s what Killian said.” She sighs. “What’s one more, right?” It’s meant to be a joke, but mention of the pain she suffered has a low growl rumbling deep in my chest. Quickly, I lower her shirt and pull the covers back up.

“Do you need to use the bathroom or anything?”

“Actually, yes.” She throws the covers off again then moves her legs over the edge of the bed and tries to stand. She hisses through clenched teeth, so I reach forward and steady her. “Can you ... help me in there?”

I can tell how much it costs her to even ask, so I make it no big deal and offer a simple, “Yes.”

Sway wraps an arm around my waist, so I do the same, holding her to my body as I take most of her weight and help her toward the bathroom door. Having her pressed against me is fucking cruel, but I don’t complain. Because it’s the closest I’ll get to a connection with her.

As soon as we reach the door, she releases me and hobbles inside. The door shuts softly but then immediately reopens with a soft click. In the opening, Sway frowns. She reaches for the knob and tries shutting it again, but it only hits the doorjamb and swings out like before. A closer look reveals a busted latch mechanism, not to mention all the splintered wood around it.

She sighs. “Killian.”

My brows lift, but I don’t say anything before her cheeks flush and she says, “Will you, uh, turn around?”

“Of course.”

I do as she asks and listen as the water comes on. I stand where I am, waiting for her to return. A minute ticks by until she clears her throat and says, “Okay.”

I turn and offer my support again.

After helping her back toward the bed, I check the tea; then, as soon as she’s settled, I offer it to her and take my seat again. I’m fully aware of the chair sitting beside the bed, but I ignore it and perch on the mattress instead. It’s stupid, wanting to be this close to her, but I decide to allow myself this one thing.

Sway takes a sip and groans.

Once again, my cock responds, so I put both hands into my lap in an attempt to hide the growing bulge.

“I’ve been trying to figure you three out since I got here, you know.”

Intrigued by that, I raise my brows. “I see. And what have you determined?”

“Killian is the troublemaker, Bracken is the silent muscle, and I think... Does that make you the leader?”