Page 33 of Fate's Unseen Shadow

“Me, too.” Jolted from her panic over the picture, Ella locked up as they left and then rushed down the stairs. Her concern for Damon overrode everything else. Worried about the amount of blood soaked into his pants, she passed both Ryker and the woman on the stairs.

Damon waved her away. “I’m fine. Go back.”

“You’re not fine.” She tried to look, but he twisted away from her.

“Stop. Ryker can?—”

“Let me handle it.” She looked at Ryker. “Go. I’ll take care of him.”

Ryker patted Damon on the shoulder. “I leave you in good hands, my man.”

Ella took Damon by the arm not holding the towel. “Let’s go inside. You cleaned my finger. I can clean this.”

“You’re a nurse as well as business owner and bartender? You must have an impressive résumé.”

“I do.” She patted his pocket and reached in to get the key.

He smirked, not helping. “I like you playing nurse already.”

“Shut up,” she muttered.

“Are you sure you can do this if I’m shirtless? Stay focused, I mean.”

She shoved open the door and led him inside. “Yes. Bloodied, half-dressed men aren’t my thing.” She looked back, studying his chest. “Although this is the first time I’ve seen one, so I guess we’ll see.”

“Don’t let my wound prevent you from acting out any fantasies you might have. I’ll do my best. Trust me.”

Was he flirting? She bit her lip to keep her smile contained.

After Ella sat him down on the toilet, she knelt beside him. “Okay. Do you think it’ll start bleeding again if you take that away?”

“Guess we’ll find out.” He tossed the shirt into the shower. “I don’t think it hit my kidney.”

“Ew,” she whispered.

“Nurses aren’t supposed to say things like ew.”

“Take it up with my supervisor.” The slice leaked blood at the edges, a ribbon flowing down to his pants immediately.

She hissed and looked up. “I think you need stitches?”

“No. Look under the counter. There are some butterfly strips and a tube of ointment. There’s also a saline wash you’ll need to do. It’ll be easier if we do this in the shower.” He stood and undid his belt. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay modest.”

“I’ll restrain myself.” She untied his boots and then helped pull down his jeans, trying to keep her mind focused on the task. In his boxers, he stepped into the shower. He braced his arms on the shower wall. She restrained herself, but she couldn’t avoid looking. God, his body was amazing. Hard abs. Thick, strong thighs stretched the bottom of his boxers. And his butt?—

“Are you checking out my ass?”

Ella let her eyes roam slowly up his body till they met his. “Yup.”

With a small shake of his head, he looked back down at the ground. “Let me know if you can’t find the saline wash.”

Politely rejected, she searched underneath his sink. “Here it is. Will it hurt?”

“Just do it. You’ll need to spread it apart a little.” He chuckled as he looked back at her. “That sounded horrible.”

She had to laugh as well. “Good thing I’m not squeamish. Although I didn’t know that until now.” She did as he directed, and he never made another sound. His hands fisted, knuckles turning white. “I’m almost done. It’s bleeding again.” She looked around and grabbed a towel off a shelf. She pressed the cloth over the wound, holding some pressure. “Okay.”

He straightened, and turned.

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