Page 25 of Come Fill Me

“Carreon won’t harm your father,” Zeke said. “He may be worse than an animal, but he’s no fool. As long as he needs someone, they’ll remain alive.”

“Can you guarantee that?”

When he said nothing, she pulled her hand away.

“I didn’t do this to harm you or those you love,” he said. “I don’t want your pain any more than I believe you want mine.”

She glanced at her claw marks on his chest. “You’re sure of that?”

He stopped his smile, figuring she wouldn’t appreciate it. “Very. What are you doing?”

She touched the deepest of his injuries. He flinched at the uncomfortable sting.

“Does it hurt that badly?” she asked.

“No.”

“How about this?”

Damn. Zeke clenched his teeth at the pain shooting down his arm. He frowned at the raw flesh where his snake’s head tattoo had once been. Someone had cut it out. When?

“Burns, huh?” Liz asked.

Zeke managed not to wince. “Not at all.”

“Liar.” Leaning close, she laid her palm over one of the injuries she’d caused. “Does this help?”

A fucking lot more than she’d ever know and not only because of her healing touch. The sting on his pec ebbed, replaced by a surge of tenderness and gratitude—something he hadn’t felt in far too long for anyone outside his clan. “I’m not sure. You better not stop until I am.”

She made a dismissive sound, the kind women use to let men know they’re being jerks. However, her attention traveledfrom his chest and abs to his growing erection, evident in the dim moonlight streaming into the back of the van. His arousal didn’t seem to embarrass or disturb her.

Emboldened, Zeke covered her hand with his. “Are you healing me again?”

“Not entirely.”

What was that supposed to mean? “You’re not certain either?”

“It’s not that.” She hesitated then shrugged. “Wherever we stop, you should consider putting alcohol or peroxide on those abrasions to avoid infection.”

“I’m not following. You were willing to heal my bullet wounds but not the scratches you gave me?”

Her expression grew even more guarded. “After I heal Jacob…that is, if I can, do you intend—”

“Wait a minute.” Zeke brought back his hand. “What do you mean if you can?”

Liz kept her palm on his pec, stroking it, playing with the small point of his nipple. Heat rushed to his groin. He curled his toes.

She murmured, “Your people’s DNA is different from that of my clan. I wasn’t all that certain I’d be able to save you.”

“But you did. And I’ll be forever grateful.” He kissed her fingertips, risking her disapproval, the chance that she’d pull away.

She didn’t. In the scant light, he saw her cheeks flushing just as they had in his fantasy, her eyes growing glassy with desire.

“You’ll do the same for Jacob,” he said.

Something passed over her face, chasing away her arousal. “And then what?”

Zeke released her hand.

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