Page 78 of Mad Love

A thin smile tugged at his mouth. “Noted.” The worry in his blue eyes was undeniable.

“I’m okay,” I assured him.

His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking. “Maddie, you’re not seeing what I’m seeing.”

Knight moved away then came back and started wrapping up my shoulder. “I have some arnica cream that will help with the swelling and bruising. I’ll give it to Ryan. Massage it into her skin, but be gentle. You don’t wanna aggravate what’s already started healing.”

“Got it,” Ryan replied.

Knight finished and stepped back. “I’m going to see if Chase has that file. I don’t want to miss anything. You sure you don’t mind if I look at it, Maddie?”

I dipped my head in agreement. “Yeah, go ahead.”

“Cream’s on the dresser,” Knight told Ryan. “Both of you should get some rest.”

My lips twisted into a smile. “But what about Royal’s debriefing?”

Knight laughed. “I’ll handle big brother and check on you both later.”

“Thanks, man,” Ryan said, getting off the bed and following Knight as he left. He locked the door and came back to me with a heavy sigh. “Mads. I don’t even know where to start.”

“Then don’t,” I practically begged. “This isn’t your fault.”

“I promised to keep you safe,” he argued.

“Can we please play the blame game when I’m not exhausted? If I don’t sleep soon, I’m going to start crying, and you’d be amazed at the back muscles it takes to produce a solid sob.” It was true. As much as I’d wanted to cry the day after my attack, I’d quickly learned that crying tensed and tugged at an array of muscles I hadn’t expected. Quiet was better.

Another long sigh from Ryan, and then he grabbed the cream from the dresser. He scowled down at me as he squeezed some into his palms. “If I hurt you, tell me.”

“I will,” I lied. There was no way for him to touch me without hurting me, but it would be worth it. I’d endure every kind of agony under the sun to feel his hands on me.

I jolted as he first made contact, but as he massaged me, I went boneless. He worked quietly, smoothing his way down my back and pausing to tug my shorts off to finish taking care of my ass.

Ryan groaned softly. “You’ve seriously been running around all fucking night and day without underwear on?”

“You’re lucky I had shorts on,” I replied drowsily. “I’d just gotten out of the shower when you decided to stage your rescue. Maybe give a girl some notice next time, and I’ll be packed and ready.”

“The explosion was your notice,” he teased.

“I’ll keep that in mind for when I’m kidnapped and held captive again,” I quipped.

Growling, Ryan tossed the tube away. “There won’t be a next time.”

“You can’t promise that,” I said, shaking my head.

He gave a soft hum of disapproval and stripped off his shirt. “I’m contemplating different ways to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

“Like?” I looked at him as he stretched out on his back beside me.

He ticked up a finger. “Sewing our skin together.”

My nose wrinkled. “Gross.”

“Hardwiring your bones with a tracker.”

“Hard pass,” I laughed.

His brow wrinkled. “Handcuffing our wrists together?”

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