Page 7 of Desperate Desires

Where I was.

How I’d gotten there.

The weight of it all settled over me, grounding me in the present. I drew in a deep, deliberate breath, letting the air fill my lungs, rich and intoxicating.

The scent hit me like a whispered confession—soft, yet undeniable. Sweet and warm, with a trace of something rich and unmistakably her.

It wrapped around me, silken and heady, awakening something deep in my bones.

Hunger.

Desire.

A low, involuntary sound escaped my throat—a moan of recognition, of need—because that scent wasn’t just air.

It was memory, comfort, and temptation all at once, a quiet reminder of who she was, and what she meant.

Fuck.

I recognized her now.

Michelle Davis.

Doctor.

Best friend of Michaela Volkov, the Dark Wolf’s oldest daughter, and Sammy Ramirez’s cousin.

Fine as fuck female who was off limits.

I’d seen this woman before. Met her casually, though I doubted she would remember.

She was like family to one of my pals. Sammy Ramirez.

He’d become one of my best friends after a bar brawl half a dozen years ago. Since then, I’d met some of his cousins, their friends, and yeah, I had seen Michelle plenty of times at clubs, bars, and the occasional dinner party.

She was gorgeous. Not the kind of woman you would forget. All dark eyes and satiny skin, a killer smile, and a body that went on for days.

Yeah, I’d been interested.

But no, I’d never approached her.

Out of respect for Sammy and his family, I backed off. Figured the good doctor here deserved something better than me.

I kept tabs, though. And I was always aware of my surroundings and the people who came in and out of my territory.

At least, I thought I did, but I hadn’t been ready for tonight.

“You might want to close your eyes for this part,” she warned me, but nothing could make me look away.

“Suit yourself, Tough Guy,” she murmured, but I noted the hint of admiration in her gaze.

I gritted my teeth as she grabbed a wad of gauze and poured something over it then pressed it to my wound. Afterwards, she wiped up the mess and dressed it with a clean bandage.

“Fuuuuckk,” I growled.

“One more time for the back,” she murmured, and repeated the process after turning me slightly so she could reach the exit wound.

“I don’t have anything stronger, but these should be enough to let you sleep peacefully through the night,” she apologized, handing me a couple of pills.

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