Page 106 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“You’re all sweaty and gross!” I complained, taking the crutches when Chris bent and picked them up with me in his arms.

“Sounds like you’ll just have to join me in the shower,” Chris whispered in my ear, making me blush.

I clenched my thighs together a little too late, making Chris stop and take a deep breath. He kissed me, groaning, before he huffed and started walking again.

“You’re not making this easy for me, Violet. I’m trying to take things slow, and you’re making it very hard.”

“First, that’s what he said. Second, you’re the one who said it! I can’t help it after watching you fight for an hour straight without a shirt, and your body is glistening with sweat.”

“Glistening, you say?” Chris grinned down at me.

“Glistening.” I reiterated.

Chris shook his head and we went up to my room.

“I have to shower,” he said sitting me down on the bed, giving me a kiss, and passing my tablet over so I could entertain myself while he got ready. By the time he was back, I’d sketched out a rough image of the fight.

“What are you up to?” he asked.

“Sketching.”

“Can I see?”

“Nope. It’s not done,” I answered, closing my tablet and putting it back on the nightstand.

“Ready to go?”

“Yep.”

As we were nearing the bottom of the stairs, we watched Elim being brought in on the back of a brown wolf. His skin was red, blistering in some places. He’d stayed too long outside and the sun was already out.

Chris set me down on the stairs and went over to help Elim off the wolf. The wolf shifted to an older gentleman and, as he dressed, he explained what happened.

“I’ve got him, Eric,” Chris told him.

The older gentleman nodded and left. Chris looked over at me and then at the stairs, seeing the issue right away.

“Go and put him in his room. He’s getting worse. There are too many windows down here,” I told him.

I might freak out a little if people came by, but Elim wasn’t looking very good. Chris nodded and helped Elim up the stairs, getting worried halfway up and carrying Elim the rest of the way.

Chris ran back down to grab me, and deposited me on the chair next to Elim’s bed. I had Chris grab a few facecloths and a bowl of water, despite Elim telling us he was fine, but I was worried.

After a little while, Elim’s skin was looking better, and I wasn’t sure if he was blushing or still dealing with the sunburn.

‘He said he’s fine, Violet. Maybe we should leave him alone so he can get some rest.’

“Can I get you anything? Cold wrap or your tumbler so you can drink?”

“Hey, guys. You doing alright, Elim?” Bells poked her head inside.

“Yes, Luna. I’m quite alright. Thank you.”

Now I was sure he was blushing because his shade of red got a little deeper.

“Alright. Vi, you coming for breakfast?”

“I’ll catch something later,” I told her.

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