Page 117 of Under an Endless Moon

The garage side door suddenly burst open, and my heart turned in my chest at the sight of her racing out.

Frantic as she searched.

Relief battered her expression when she turned and saw me coming up the drive.

“Goddamn it, Raven. What the hell are you doing out here? Told you to wait for me inside.”

“I thought I heard a gunshot.”

“Which should give you all the more reason to stay put.”

She looked like she was going to argue the fact, only horror took her over when she realized I was limping rather than running to her the way I wanted to do.

“Oh my God, I did hear a gun. You were shot!”

It was the moment I glanced down to find blood seeping out of a wound and streaming all the way down to my boot.

I probably looked like a madman. Wearing underwear and my boots, gun in one hand and phone in the other. Caked in dirt and blood and the rage that I couldn’t purge from my veins.

“I’m fine,” I grumbled.

I wasn’t fine. I was sick to my stomach. Couldn’t fuckin’ believe I’d let that bastard get away. That he was out there, free, which meant he continued to be a threat.

“You’re fine?” Disbelief pinched that stunning face. “Don’t you dare tell me you’re fine when you just got shot, Otto Hudson.” Her voice was frenzied, dredged in worry.

That dark, dark gaze dragged over me, searching for any other injuries.

It was a seriously inopportune time for my dick to take note, but now that she’d had those sweet hands wrapped around it, my cock was clearly all too eager at the prospect of going for another round.

Of pushing it farther. Taking her whole and complete, which was the most fucked-up thing I could do.

“Know when things look grim, Raven. Fucker barely nicked me.”

I just needed to patch it up, and itwouldbe fine.

“Don’t ask me not to worry about you.” Emotion came crashing through when she said it. Tears blurred the light in those eyes. “Don’t ask me not to care about you the way you care for me.”

A heavy sigh pilfered out, and I hobbled forward another step, coming up so close to her that I was assaulted by her aura.

Moonflowers and belief and a hope distinct.

“I’m just…” It trailed off when I was hit by a bout of dizziness, and Raven’s hands darted out to steady me.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” she promised.

God, she did. She’d always had me. Didn’t think she knew the extreme of what that meant.

She shifted around and looped her arm around my waist. “Lean on me.”

I found a wobbly grin. “I’m bound to topple you right over.”

“I’m stronger than I look.” She glanced up at me as she began to lead me back toward the house.

I gazed down at her. At this fierce, fuckin’ brave girl who I’d do anything for. The one who’d been through so much.

My voice went raspy as I clung to her as she guided me back through the door into the garage, my nose turning to dive into her hair as I whispered, “Nah, Moonflower. You are the epitome of strength. I just don’t think the rest of us really know what that means.”

THIRTY-TWO

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