Page 82 of Ruthless Savage

He grabs my wrist and brings my fingertips to his mouth, kissing them as his intense gaze fastens to mine.

I inhale sharply from the way his mouth feels on my skin.

“Just because I said I can’t be with you doesn’t mean that the thought of any other man being near you doesn’t make me want to rip out his bloody heart. No one is safe.” His mouth tips up on one side.

In his words, I find warmth, like a blanket I’m wrapped up in. Yet at the same time, I’m cold. Because without him, I always will be.

“Then it’s a good thing I plan to become a cat lady.” I lift my chin with a tight, playful smile.

He bursts with a chuckle.

“What’s so funny? Don’t like cats? I’ll have you know I plan to have a minimum of ten.”

His laughter dies down as he shakes his head. “My God, don’t think I’ve laughed like that in forever.”

I run my hand through his thick hair and pull until he groans, shutting his eyes and tilting his head back. His mouth looks soft and firm all at once, and I want to lean down and kiss him.

Instead, I say, “Can I change your bandage before I go?”

I just want to take care of him the way he’s always taken care of me.

His brows knit. “You’d want to do that?”

“Of course.” My palm settles on the side of his neck, feeling his maddening pulse, the same way mine beats. “Just tell me where I can find the gauze and stuff.”

“In the main bathroom, under the sink.”

I start in that direction.

“Eriu?”

“Yeah?” My heart picks up speed when those eyes, those adoring eyes, stare back at me.

“Thank you.”

Pain lodges in the back of my throat.

I love you.

“No problem.”

Quickly, I scurry away, not wanting my tears to betray me. As soon as I’m in the bathroom, I kneel to grab the emergency kit. Taking a deep breath or five, I steady my precarious emotions before allowing myself to face him again.

When I’m ready, I walk back out, finding him facing away from the counter.

When his eyes connect with mine, that feeling of longing, that intense connection between us, returns. I fight it as I find my place by his thighs.

He drops his elbow on the counter, gazing down at me, and that just makes it hard to work.

Gently, I undo the medical tape and remove the gauze, full of blood. The cut looks deep, and I grimace.

“Does it hurt?”

He shakes his head. But I’m sure he’s lying. There’s no way it doesn’t. He watches me as I unpack the new gauze and place it around his wound while he picks up the tape and cuts pieces for me. I avoid his gaze as I finish his arm and move on to his head, finding every atom in my body firing off.

Why does he have to watch me like that? Like he’s dying to throw me on his lap and kiss me. My God, this is hell.

“All done.” I take a step back, but his arm curls around the small of my back.

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