Page 32 of Blade's Battle
“My nose is not big,” he said, pretending to sound offended. He was glad to see she could still joke.
“Not Big Bad Wolf large, but it’s not exactly dainty either.”
“Good. No male wants to be called dainty, even if it’s his nose.” He stopped talking, lost in thought.
“Too much truth on my part, huh? I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, I need to know. How else can I help you if I don’t at least understand what you went through?”
“Just keep me from falling back into their hands. That’s all I need.”
“That’s a given. I won’t let them touch you again. But I wish I knew what Drake wanted from you.”
She trembled at the mention of Drake’s name, making him wonder what else had happened. The welts and scars didn’t seem to bother her nearly as much as whatever terror Drake had inflicted on her. It was as if she understood and could handle the guards and their anger toward her, despite the abuse she’d suffered. But whatever Drake had done to her had shaken her to her core.
“Can we talk about something else?” she asked, lowering her eyes.
He had pushed her too far, it was time to let go. He would find the answers in time. For now, he had to focus on her. He let his hands continue to caress her back until she closed her eyes and the tension drained from her shoulders.
“That feels so nice,” she said as she released her hair and let it fall down her back.
He continued caressing her because she needed it. Hell, he needed it too after what he’d seen and heard. No wonder Tess had been pushing him. He should have left, that very first day, when Tess had begged him to rescue Anna. Had he known. . .
“Your fingers are magic, Blade.”
“Ah, Angel, you have no idea what I can do.” He flirted with her because it brought out her smile, and that’s what he wanted for her. No more pain or bad memories. Only laughter and joy.
The feel of her soft skin beneath his fingertips was wondrous. The chance to touch her so intimately wasn’t lost on him either. Anna would not have allowed this contact had he not insisted on seeing her injuries. Each time his fingertips traced over a ridge from a scar, he imagined all the ways he’d make Drake pay for what he’d let happen to her.
As Blade drew a finger down her side, she giggled and squirmed. He raised a brow. “Ticklish, huh? That’s good to know.”
“You wouldn’t dare use that against me.”
He draped himself over her back and whispered in her ear, “When you’re healed, I will have my hands and mouth all over your body, but I won’t be tickling you.”
Her breathing hitched. “You’re very sure of yourself.”
The hand on her back glided higher beneath her blouse. A finger slid beneath her bra, near the clasp. When her shoulders tensed, he withdrew. “Relax, Angel. Nothing’s going to happen until you want it.”
“And what makes you think I want anything?”
“I can smell your arousal.”
Blue eyes widened.
If Anna needed slow, then he’d go slow, but he wouldn’t give up on her. His hand slid under the clasp of her bra. He watched her reactions closely. She didn’t tense. In fact, as he drew his finger to the side of her breast, her breathing hitched. She didn’t exhale.
“Breathe, Angel,” he said as he kissed the back of her neck. “This is about you. If I do something you don’t like, tell me to stop.”
“I’m nervous.”
“Nothing’s going to happen until you’re ready.”
She released the breath, but she still seemed tense. As he withdrew his hand, he touched a curved scar below her ribs on her right side. He hadn’t noticed the scar before because of all the mottled bruising.
“How long did Drake have you?”
She turned in his arms and looked up at him. “I’m not sure. It was always so dark in the cave. Four, five weeks maybe. He kidnapped me a few days after my birthday. That was May 22.”
