Page 30 of Freedom Mine
Chapter Eight
KAYO
As the water poured over him, Kayo closed his eyes, focusing on his pounding head and not the enclosed space for once. Strangely enough, a day on his back had given him some clarity. Or maybe lack of alcohol had.
Blue did not plan on staying here once she gained her freedom status, not that he had ever truly expected she would. It wasn’t as if he’d given her any reason to stay. Hells, he was a broken man who had nothing to offer except a life where every day was often a struggle, where the men could be dangerous, and the Empire even more so for anyone who disobeyed the rules.
The only reason he stayed was because he owed Mac for saving him, and going home was not an option. Blue had nothing tying her to this place. She could—should—leave once she gained her freedom status.
Kayo wrapped a towel around his waist, feeling somewhat refreshed, though no less troubled. Knowing what he should do with Blue and doing it were two different things. With her living in his house, he was acutely aware of her presence. Even if he succeeded in keeping his hands to himself, how would he distract himself from thinking of her when he smelled her sweet scent everywhere he went?
Maybe he could think of her as a little sister. He never had one of those, but that would make living together bearable.
“Blue!” he said, as he opened the bathroom door. She was standing there, as if waiting for him. “You surprised me. I nearly dropped my towel.”
Her eyes briefly traveled to his towel, remaining there a bit longer than they should have, not that he minded.
“I can still drop it, if you’d like,” he said with a smile. Her cheeks colored a lovely shade of pink, tempting him to do as he offered, despite his pounding head and the spinning room. So much for thinking of her as his sister.
“You should be in bed.”
“Alone?”
She shook her head. “Not funny, Kayo.”
“I wasn’t trying to be funny. If you join me, I promise I won’t leave my bed for at least a week.”
“A week?” she said, her eyes wide.
From the glint in her eye, she wasn’t upset by the suggestion. In fact, she appeared intrigued. Maybe passing out drunk in the mud hadn’t been the dumbest thing he’d done in years.
“Longer is fine too. Lady’s choice.”
“Back to bed,” she said, shoving him down the hallway.
“Does that mean—”
“Alone,” she said, as she swatted his behind with a kitchen towel. She didn’t realize the effect she was having on him, but if he turned, she’d figure it out by the tenting of his towel.
“You told me to find work here, and I’ve found it. Playing nurse to stubborn men. That could easily be a full-time job.”
Once she pushed him back into bed, her fingers gently parted his hair so she could inspect his stitches. He’d noticed in the shower how tight and fine the stitches were; clearly, she had experience as a nurse, though she hadn’t said anything about that when he’d asked about her skills.
“Unless you’re going to tie me to this bed—and I’m not opposed to that—I need to get to the mine.”
What he needed was to get away from being in such close quarters with her, but he couldn’t tell her that, especially when she leaned over him, her breasts coming so close he could easily reach out with his tongue and give her a preview of what getting into bed would be like.
“You need stamina to get up that trail, especially with all the mud out there.”
“I have plenty of stamina,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
“Don’t,” she warned, trying to hide her laugh. How could he stop now, when he’d finally broken through that carefully controlled layer she always hid behind?
“Don’t what?” His hand caught hers as she pulled the blanket over him. Her face flushed and her breathing hitched.
“Keep making passes at me and I might use that pig sticker on you,” she warned, but there was no ire in her eyes, only a twinkle.
His brain finally kicked into gear, her words sinking in.Pig sticker. That sounded like something he’d say. The memory of her knife tucked under her pillow surfaced, as did how shocked and nervous she’d been when he’d found the knife.
