Page 121 of Princess of Pride
“It’s me. It’s fine. Just a graze.”
“A graze? From a bullet?” Is he why there was a shootout?
“Let me up!” I insist and fight against him.
He lets me sit up on his lap. I turn as much as I can and inspect him. Blood covers the sleeve of his button-down shirt.
“It’s fine, Emery.” He cups my cheeks, like he can’t stop touching me. “For a moment, I thought you weren’t.”
“You know me,” I tease, even though I’m tense. “Always the fainter.”
He tugs on my blouse, showing me a large patch of blood. “I thought you were hit.”
“Is this yours?” It doesn’t make sense, but how did so much get on me?
“It’s Bran’s. He protected you. For that I’ll forever be in his debt. And I don’t owe debts to anyone.”
I glance around, searching for the kind man. “Where is he?”
“He’s with my doctor on the way to surgery. He’ll be all right.”
“What about you?” I gesture to his arm, afraid to touch him and hurt him worse.
“I’ll see a doctor once we’re home.”
“Then let’s go home.”
“So eager to patch me up? I figured you’d want to leave me for dead.”
“I should. You don’t deserve my compassion after whatyou planned to let Angus do—fuck me once you got your fill.” I glance away.
“I never would have let him touch you.Never.” He squeezes my thigh. “I told you I said that out of anger, but I never would have acted on it.”
I take in his bloody appearance and acknowledge that I’m here, not somewhere horrible with his vile cousin.“You saved me from him so I guess I owe you for that.”
“You guess?” He grins, but it’s tired like he’s drained.
“I should still hate you. I want to.”
“But you can’t because you love me.”
“Pfft.” I blow off his correct accusation. “In your dreams.”
“You’re always in my dreams.” He cups the back of my head and tries to kiss me.
I resist and plant my hand on his chest.
“All you’re doing is turning me on.”
“You’re shot. You can’t be turned on.”
He shifts me on his lap, so I’m straddling him. “When you’re around, I can be many things. I can be whatever you want me to be.”
“What does that mean?”
“What do you want from me? Name it.”
“You’re delirious from blood loss.” I try to shove off him.
