Page 42 of Unlawful Seduction

“Will you let me check that?”

“I’ve tended to much worse myself, Doc. I already told you.”

“Which is why you have so many scars.” I’d seen a few of them and had felt others mottling his back when we’d… I couldn’t even whisper the word of the sinful act we’d committed in my mind. When I’d hungered for a bad boy, I’d been thinking a guy who rode a Harley. Not a killer with a hero complex.

“I have scars because of my previous jobs.”

“Which were?”

“You should stop asking questions, Doc. That will be in your best interest when you return to your cozy little life.”

I was vaguely aware he’d carried me to his truck only hours before. At least I thought it was mere hours ago. It was stillnight outside. He carried me easily as if I weighed nothing, Jax following dutifully behind.

A light was already on in the room. He headed to the bed, easing me down onto the comforter. As soon as he backed away, I felt a sense of loss. How unusual.

A part of me wanted to demand answers.

Another just wanted his company.

I was more terrified than I wanted to let on.

I stayed quiet instead.

After taking several controlled breaths, I forced myself to take a good look at where I’d be staying for the foreseeable future.

The bedroom itself was stunning. I could have envisioned a stark room with nothing more than a twin bed and sheets, but there were extra pillows on the bed, the comforter soft and inviting. There were pictures on the walls and a stunning smaller stone fireplace. There was even a bookshelf with books lining the shelves.

As if this was a perfectly normal man with a normal life.

Instead of being some kind of hired killer or worse. Valenti? As in a crime family? Maybe? I wasn’t certain and knew the subject was off limits.

“Do you need anything? There’s an extra blanket over the back of the chair in the corner.”

“You didn’t happen to remember to bring a few of my clothes with you. Did you?”

He snorted as if the thought had never occurred to him. “Sorry. I didn’t.”

I nodded several times, contemplating the time we’d be spending together. “A tee shirt to sleep in?”

The way Beckett tipped his head up was as if he was debating the small request. Maybe I didn’t deserve a change of clothes. My mind wasn’t processing anything adequately.

“Let me see what I can find.” He vanished and I lay back on the bed, smiling when Jax jumped on to keep me company. Within seconds, he’d rested his head on my chest, his heavy sigh meaning he was perfectly content.

I was anything but, yet getting upset wasn’t going to do my physical condition any good. Hearing footsteps a few seconds later, I rose onto my elbows. Jax didn’t flinch, didn’t bother moving a muscle including in his cute tail.

“I have something you can wear. Might be a little big, but you’re welcome to it. There’s a bathroom right there. Should be plenty of clean towels. No fancy soaps, but you’ll find what you need.”

He tossed the shirt onto the bed beside me and I noticed a hint of uncertainty in the man. He was so used to being in full control of himself that having a captive audience wasn’t easy for him to handle.

Audience.

I was just his captive at least for now.

Nodding, I rubbed Jax behind the ears before I sat all the way up. By then, Beckett had already turned toward the door. “Thank you.”

He stopped short. “For what?”

“For saving my life. For taking care of me. For the shirt.” The words leaving my mouth were stilted.

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