Page 34 of Stolen Seconds

Then it was the unexpected occurrences with Luca and hating it. He tipped me off balance and calmed that raging beast inside my chest without even trying.

My breathing shallowed, and I suddenly felt those same invisible hands around my neck.

Not here, not right now.

The clanking of forks against plates became too loud, the voices louder and the thrumming of my pulse the loudest.

A heavy hand settled on my upper thigh. Nerves pricked at my skin when I looked down to find tatted fingers.

It was all too much. I couldn’tbreathe.

A sharp pain radiated from my palm up my arm. I bit my bottom lip as I let go of the sharp end of my knife.Drops of blood painted my plate and the whole room went silent, watching me.

Aurora stood from her seat; face scrunched in worry. “Irina. . . ”

“I’m okay.” I pushed my chair and stood. “It was an accident.”

I had no idea where the bathroom was as I wandered down the hall, opening doors until I’d reached it at the end.

When I shut it behind me, I finally let out a choked gasp. The throbbing of my hand continued as blood profusely welled up in my palm.

I didn’t know how deep I’d cut myself but it hurt like hell.

The worst was yet to come, but I needed to get it over with. I turned on the tap with my free hand before putting my injured one underneath the water.

It’s not that I wasn’t acclimated to pain, but it didn’t lessen the aching, almost numbing sting of it.

I’d cleaned my own wounds before and once I assessed the cut, I could figure out if I needed stitches.

I peered around the bathroom, the furnishing a mix of dark hues of black.

There was a sleek cabinet by the sink mirror, and I was sure that a first aid kit would be in there.

I reached over and opened it. With the water still running over my hand, the angle of my body made it difficult to see the top shelf. And before I could grab anything, a shadow loomed over me and grabbed the kit from the shelf.

I moved away, glaring at the intruder.

“Ever heard of knocking?” I went to snatch the first aid from him when he lifted his arm, putting it out of reach.

His eyes turned to pools of dark caramel; his face unreadable. “Let me see your hand.”

The bathroom wasn’t small by any means, but it felt crowded with the intoxicating scent of musk and smoke.

I faced the sink. “I can do it myself.”

“Congratulations,” he said humorlessly. I looked in the mirror to find him standing behind me, invading my space more than he already had. “Now, show me your hand, Irina.”

He was deadly serious. There wasn’t an ounce of playfulness present as he stared at my reflection, the muscle in his jaw working.

I didn’t move, the sound of running water echoing in the charged space. “No.”

One second, I was on my feet and the next, my ass was on the countertop, Luca spreading my legs to wedge himself between them.

He grabbed my wrist and brought it between us. I tried pulling away, but he tugged harder, piercing me with those daunting eyes.

I scowled at him before averting my attention. The sooner this was over with, the sooner I could leave.

As he set up the first aid kid, I watched him from the corner of my eye, and it was the underlying anger marring his face that had me frozen in place.

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