Page 57 of King of the Unsightly

Of course, Kaschel didn’t listen and sat beside me. His shirt shifted and revealed his bulging pecs. So close that more of the scar peeked out, trailing down his abdomen.

I looked up at his face and he held an unreadable expression.

He was so good at masking his emotions, and it annoyed the hell out of me.

Kaschel grabbed my wrist, and I flinched. His touch, scalding hot against my skin. He glanced at me and back to my hand.

Kaschel twisted it up and inspected my wound. “You need stitches and to clean it so it doesn’t get infected.”

“Do you have one of those staple guns? I can do it myself,” I lied. Did he really think I was going to let him stab me? Multiple times?

“If Ryas does it, you’ll come out needing more, and you ... stitching yourself? Don’t make me laugh.” Kaschel turned away and grabbed the bottle off the vanity dresser. “Drink this.”

I looked down at the vodka, skeptically. “Do you think I look like someone who frequents a shady butcher shop for stitches, and it only takes a little bit of vodka to alleviate the pain and make me brave?”

Kaschel’s deep chuckle antagonized my skin, the vibrations of his voice sent shivers through our connected hands. I sucked in a breath and avoided his detached stare.

The audacity of this man.

“I don’t think you want me to answer that.” Kaschel lifted the bottle and poured me a glass. “And don’t worry. It’s from your world. I have no reason, nor the desire, to see you drugged like before.”

I knew I was anxiously staring butthatwasn’t what I was afraid of.

“What reassuring words.” I groaned and looked down at his hands. “Fine.” I snatched the bottle from him instead of the cup.

I lifted it to my mouth, pinched my nose, and chugged.

I gulped and wiped my mouth, making a face as the vodka burned its way down to my stomach. “Now I need something to put in my mouth.” I’ve seen movies and I know you need something to bite down on.

I frantically looked around for something. Would a bagel work?

“Oh?” Kaschel purred.

My eyes shot back to him. “Not like that,” I said, stumbling over my words.

A Fool’s Game

Iheld my tongue as Kaschel took the needle and thread out.

My eyes squeezed shut, I attempted to think of anything but the needle piercing my skin.

My thundering pulse betrayed me and let Kaschel know how much this affected my nerves.

Something cold touched me and I flinched hard and squeaked all at once.

Then nothing.

I slowly blinked, and Kaschel perked up one eyebrow, humored by my cowardliness.

The needle was far from my skin. All he had done was disinfect the area. I laughed awkwardly and swallowed.

“Are you going to continue to squirm and make this difficult?” Kaschel asked in a low voice as he kept my hand in place.

“Probably.” I wasn’t going to lie again.

I loathed getting stitches, and without numbing it? Even more terrified. How did I managed to inflict this wound on myself?

Adrenaline was one hell of a drug.

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