Page 51 of Billionaire Lumberjack's Bride

Shit.

Nice mouth, Lyla.

Not the time for those jokes…

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” I wince, squeezing my eyes closed. The last thing I should be doing is trying to push the boundaries with Silas right now. “Thank you, really. I think I’m all right.”

I release the edge of the counter and let the towel slip off me. Immediately, my legs start to shake so badly that I almost collapse. I reach back for the hold that kept me upright, but Silas’ strong arm wraps around me, and he tugs me against him and holds me tight.

“I don’t think you’re fine, Lyla. I’m going to help you.”

It isn’t a question.

It’s a statement of what he’s going to do, whether I like it or not.

The man who said he had no intention of ever touching me is doing an awful lot of it tonight, but I’m too weak to argue or try to stop him, even if I wanted to.

I give him a little nod of understanding and approval, and his fingers at my back shift up to the hook of my wet bra. He unhooks it and takes a half-step back, keeping his hand at my waist so I don’t collapse.

He turns his head to the side to look away, and I let the bra slide from my arms. Then I reach to the counter for the dry one and tug it on as quickly as I can. “Okay.”

His fingers move to the hem of my soaked underwear, and I lash out and wrap my hand around his wrist, stopping him before this gets more awkward.

“I’ll do it.”

I don’t think I could handle his callused, rough, yet somehow gentle touch there right now—or ever.

He sucks in a sharp breath, turning his head away as I release his wrist. His hand slides from me, and I shimmy the old underwear off and the new, dry ones on.

My head spins again, the effort it took to do such simple things wiping me of any energy my body has left. I grip the counter behind me again, my legs wobbling under me.

And Silas is right there again, offering me his strength, wrapping his arms around my waist, and taking my weight. “I got you.”

Darkness starts to creep into the edges of my vision, just like it did as the sun set outside and I realized I was lost and freezing in the damn woods. I was terrified then. Alone. Cold. Hopeless.

But this time, Silas’ strong hold and warmth assures me everything will be all right.

Even if it isn’t true.

ChapterEight

LYLA

Iwake to an unmovable wall of warmth behind me, strong arms wrapped around my waist, and a heat block of fluffy fur in front of me. Whiskey’s cold nose brushes against my chin, and I turn my head away from it slightly, only to have rough whiskers scratching at my cheek.

Bright light streams in through the windows, indicating it’s already late morning, if not early afternoon, and I blink against it, trying to regain my bearings when it still feels like everything is spinning out of control.

I shift slightly to peek at Silas. Eyes closed. Lips parted slightly. Rhythmic rise and fall of his chest against my back.

Relaxed.

Comfortable.

Not at all the Silas I know or expected to find.

Fuck. What happened last night?

Billy darted out of the gate…

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