Page 113 of Cruel Promise

“Nik?” I whisper.

He looks at me, not saying a word.

“What happened? Are you ok?”

“I don’t deserve your worry.”

I frown. “What do you mean? Are you … are you hurt?”

He nods toward his upper left arm. “I am, actually. Got into a nasty bar fight.”

“That doesn’t sound like you.”

“How do you know what sounds like me? How do you really?”

My mouth gapes open. “Did I do something to upset you?”

“No.” He drops his head, letting out a deep sigh. “You haven’t done anything, Ava. You’ve been perfect.”

I take a tentative step toward him. He doesn’t back away, so I take that to mean it’s a good sign. “You’re hurt.” Blood is seeping from his arm. “Let’s get that cleaned up.” Without even thinking about it, I go into the bathroom and come back out with the first-aid kit.

Nik motions for me to return to the bathroom where he follows and sits down heavily onto the toilet seat. My hands are hesitant as I slip his shirt off. He’s touched me in a way no one else ever has, yet I still feel nervous around him. In fact, it’s because of what we’ve shared that I’m nervous.

His upper left arm is bleeding, but the cut doesn’t look too bad. I clean it with an alcohol wipe, making him wince.

“Even you feel pain,” I comment.

“I’m only human.”

“Sometimes it doesn’t seem that way.”

I finish cleaning his wound and then bandage it. “There. You’ll probably want to go see a doctor just to be safe.”

He grabs my hand. His large, strong hand that makes me blush from the memory of it between my legs. “I’m not seeing a fucking doctor tonight.”

“Nik, what happened?”

His eyes meet mine in such an intense gaze that it makes me lightheaded. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. I just want to be around you. You’re so fucking beautiful, Ava. I really don’t deserve you.”

“You’re right,” I say surprising myself. “You don’t deserve me.”

“At least you’re honest.”

“But that doesn’t mean I hate you. I don’t hate you. Not anymore.”

“Then how do you feel?” he whispers. The mood in the bathroom changes instantly. It goes from worry to something darker. Something … seductive.

“I feel like you make me feel alive in a way no one’s ever made me feel before. I feel drawn to you. I feel like I’m starting to care about you.”

He sucks in a breath.

And then, without a word, he gently grabs the back of my head and brings my face down to his. Our lips meet in a tentative kiss that quickly becomes passionate. I want to ask Nik why he’s covered in blood. But I don’t want this kiss to end.

He stands up, still kissing me, and cups my face between his palms. I stand on tiptoes just to reach him.

Our lips mingle together. His tongue brushes mine, and I open my mouth wider to let him in. I’m ready to let Nik into all of me. I’ve come to face the reality that he’s my future. I like him even though I probably shouldn’t, so I want to make the most out of this.

I loved the way he touched me in the car. I love the way he looks at me like he could eat me alive.

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