Page 66 of Delicious Prey

“Let me see.” When she hesitates, I say, “Please, baby. I need to see for myself.”

She relents and lifts her shirt for me. I grit my teeth when I see the line of black stitches.

“They come out in a few days. It’s really not a big deal. It doesn’t hurt at all anymore,” she says, trying to make me feel better.

I run my finger below the line, savoring the feel of her soft skin. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I’m sorry for so many damn things. I should never have let you go that night. Even if you hated me for the rest of your life, I shouldn’t have let you leave.”

She drops her shirt and grabs my hand. “No, you did the right thing. I wanted to leave, and you let me. I was angry and hurt and needed some space, and you gave that to me, even though you didn’t want to.” She kisses the back of my hand. “You came for me, Kirill. You saved my life and almost lost yours because of it.”

“Always, baby. I will always find you, and your life is worth way more than mine.”

She gives me a soft smile. “Agree to disagree.”

I don’t bother arguing because she brings the straw back to my lips, and the cool water on my tongue is damn near orgasmic. When I’ve had my fill, I smile and say, “You know I can hold a cup, right?”

“You’re not going to be doing anything.”

I smile even bigger at her bossy tone. “I heard you wouldn’t let the nurses give me a sponge bath.”

“Hell no, I wouldn’t,” she says, obviously not feeling the slightest bit bad about her decision to not let the nurses do what they’re paid to do. “The only woman who gets near this dick is me.”

I laugh and then grimace at the pain. When she scrunches up her brow in worry, I reach up and massage away the tension with the pad of my finger. “Relax, baby. I’m fine. Just a bit sore.”

She nods and puts the cup aside before lying down next to me. Peanut’s sprawled out by my legs, and I’m guessing he’s recently been taught to not lay on me to sleep. Oddly enough, I kind of miss it. Lydia rests her head on the pillow next to me, and snuggles in close enough for me to feel the lines of her body against mine, but not so close that she’s actually putting any weight on me.

“I can’t wait to get out of here,” I grumble, already feeling a bit claustrophobic.

She laughs and kisses my cheek. “I’ve got news for you, honey. Once you leave this place, I’m in charge, and you’re not doing shit until you’re feeling better.”

“That’s so cute, little bunny. You’re giving orders like you actually think I’m going to obey them.”

“Oh, you’re going to all right, or I’ll be the one tying you to the damn bed.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me.”

Her voice is sweet, but I hear the warning in her words. I have no doubt she’ll go through with it. To prove her point of being in charge of what’s best for me, when she sees me grimace again when I make the mistake of trying to move my body closer to hers, she reaches over without a second thought and hits the morphine button.

“You did not just fucking do that,” I say, already feeling a drowsy warmth wash over me. “I want to spend more time with you.”

She kisses me softly and whispers against my lips. “I’ll be here when you wake, baby. I promise. I love you.”

I try to tell her I love her, but I’m not sure if the words actually make it out. I fall back asleep, even though I’m fighting like hell to stay awake. The next time I wake, the room is dark, and the first thing I do when my brain is coherent enough to think is shove the damn morphine button off the bed. I hear sweet, feminine laughter, and I know she’s caught me.

“You’re a stubborn man, Kirill.”

“I am, little bunny, now get over here and give me a kiss or I might not forgive you for drugging my ass.”

She laughs again and walks over to me, climbing onto the bed beside me. Her long, dark hair hangs down to brush my chest when she leans over and presses her lips to mine. It’s a chaste kiss, and I’m having none of it. I bring my hand up and cup the back of her head, forcing her closer as my tongue parts her lips. She gives a soft moan of protest, but I ignore her because the taste and feel of her is far better than any medicine the doctors can give me. When she doesn’t give me what I want, I give her bottom lip a soft bite and whisper, “Please don’t keep yourself from me. Stop holding back, little bunny, and give me what I need.”

This time when I slide my tongue back between her lips, she lets out a soft sigh and opens up to me. A sense of peace washes over me when she cups my face and moans. I can’t resist sliding my hand down her body and digging my fingers into her hips, urging her even closer. My fingers graze the waistband of her yoga pants, and when they dip inside, she stills and tries to pull away.

“Don’t even fucking think about it,” I growl against her lips. “I need to feel you, zaika. I need it so fucking badly.”

“But you’re hurt, and someone could walk in.”

I smile and drag a finger just under her waistband. “I am hurt, so be still or it’s just going to make it more painful for me when I have to fight you to get what I want.”

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