Page 60 of Stolen Seconds

I clenched and unclenched my fists to rein in my anger before I completely lost it. She’d been reckless tonight and could’ve gotten herself killed.

She swallowed, eyes roaming my face. “You’re angry.”

I lifted her gently by the waist and used my free hand to remove her jacket—my jacket.

“I am.”

She was so close I could hear every harsh intake of her breath when I touched her.

I reached for the hem of her wet shirt and attempted to lift it when she held my wrist.

Our eyes locked, and I stilled my movements. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to hurt you,” I assured her, feeling my pulse pound in my ears from having her here with me.

She let go with a sigh and I removed her top, ignoring her nakedness. Her jeans were next—where I found the dagger she once held at my throat—until she was only in her bra and underwear.

“Give me a minute.” I headed into the bathroom, grabbing the supplies I needed to clean her injuries.

I didn’t know what the hell got into her tonight, but it left me even more confused on where we stood. One second, she was staring at me with imploring eyes, as if she didn’t hate me, and the next she was running out of the museum in fear—an expression I’d never seen on her before.

Irina was staring out the window when I reentered and I stopped in my tracks, watching the shadows of rain droplets dance across her skin.

She appeared so unlike herself in this moment that a fierce longing rooted deep inside me, and I knew that I’d protect this woman even if it meant I had to die in the process.

“I’m not supposed to be here,” she said, still gazing at the rainfall.

I walked toward the bed and kneeled in front of her. “I think. . . you’re exactly where you need to be.”

Opening the first aid kit, I grabbed a cotton swab and soaked it with water before bringing it toward her cut lip.

I could feel the heat of her stare as I cleaned the blood there before grabbing another and doing the same to her cheek and the gashes across her arms and legs.

I finished applying the ointment to her cuts before wrapping them. “They should heal fast with no scarring.”

“Take this.” She was quiet as I handed her a pill with a glass of water. “It’ll help with the body aches.”

I set everything on the side table before grabbing a shirt from the drawer.

I cautiously put it over her head and helped her arms through it. She was compliant, and it was off-putting to see her be this docile.

I went down on my haunches, resting my elbows on my knees. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again, Irina.”

Her silence flared my temper as her eyes turned a deep shade of blue, emotion glossing over them.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” My tone was harsher than intended, but this push and pull between us was maddening.

When I thought she wouldn’t answer me, she surprised me by lifting her hand in the space between us.

I stilled, tracking her movement before catching her gaze. Her face was drawn, trepidation flickering across her features. Then she reached toward me hesitantly, caressing my cheek with the tip of her fingers.

“That I wanted to be selfish.”

I cupped her hand, flattening her palm against my skin, savoring the gentleness of her touch. “Thenbeselfish.”

Her thumb swiped back and forth, soothing the dark depths of my soul.

Thick tension spiked in the air surrounding us as we stayed like this, our eyes locked with intensity.

It was the worst type of torture wanting something you couldn’t have.

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