Page 75 of Ensnared

“Well,I’msurprised you escaped unscathed,” she hisses, darting another nervous glance at the stairs.Thenshe blinks and bites her lip with a little wince. “Idon’t want to talk aboutLucky.”

Idon’t really want to talk aboutLuckyeither.

Takingher hand,Ilace our fingers together and tug gently. “Comesit with me for a minute.”

Hesitating,Edenlooks up at the top floor, then at me.Butwhen she meets my eyes, her shoulders relax, and she follows me easily.

Iwalk backwards toward the sitting-room chairs, enjoying the bashful little looks she’s giving me.Aswe sit,Ishift the med bagIdumped whenIgot back the other day.

Tomy surprise, she looks it over curiously. “Arethose your medical supplies?”

“Someof them.”

It’snot often anyone pays any mind to my gear.Notunless they need me to patch them up, that is.Orwhen they get carried away on the booze and come begging for painkillers.

“MayI?” she asks.

Tickledby her interest,Iunzip it for her and lay it out on the coffee table.Sheleans over the bag, examining the contents with open fascination.Sheturns a bottle with one slender finger.

“Youhave diazepam, morphine—oh, and a cricothyrotomy kit!Narcan, antibiotics...”Sheshakes her head, and her hair shivers prettily around her shoulders. “Youcould have bars of solid gold in here and they’d be worth less.”

Inod absently, then nudge her with a questioning look. “Howdo you know about all this?Theguys went through first responder training, and some daysIstill doubt they’d be able to perform a crike, even with the kit.”

Edensits back.Ruefuleyes meet mine.Whenshe twists her mouth like that,Inotice how her nose crinkles... thoughIhave no idea why that detail should have my heart thundering like a herd of horses.

“Idon’t know thatIcould perform one, either.I’veonly read about them.”Oneshoulder lifts lightly. “Istudied whatIcould, but the herbology books were more helpful, sinceIdidn’t have access to medicine like this.ButI’lltake any tips you have, in case this doesn’t work out.”

Somethingin my gut drops. “Whywouldn’t this work out?”

Dom.Damnit,Iknew he was scaring her off.

“Oh,Ijust mean,I...”Edenpushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “I’mnot sure this is sustainable.Whatwe’re doing.Andall these rules...Idon’t know that it...ThatI’m—”

“Eden, you don’t need to worry.You’reperfect—more than enough for any one of us.”Itake her hand again, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. “Noone’s kicking you out.Youhaven’t done anything wrong.”

Shestares down at our hands, and a strange look crosses over her face.Aftera moment, she shakes her head, disentangling our fingers. “IknowIhaven’t,” she says quietly. “I’mfollowing your rules perfectly.”

Somethingabout that hits all wrong, butIcan’t pinpoint why.

Thenshe takes a deep breath and smiles up at me nervously, andI’mdistracted by the curve of her breasts.Thetrepidatious quaver of her lips.

Byall that’s holy, she’s the prettiest thingI’veever seen.

“Actually,Idid want to ask about something,” she blurts. “Askyouabout something, specifically,Imean.You’rea doctor, you see.”Shewinces. “Idon’t know whyIsaid that like you don’t know.Oh,I’msaying this all wrong, butbecauseyou’re a doctor,Iwas going to ask—”

Mylips twitch despite myself, watching her get all flustered.Mydarker side wants to come out and play, but unlike some of the others,Ido actually have some restraint, soIforce myself to be patient.

“Youwant to ask me a medical question?”Iprompt, having mercy on her.

Edenblows out a breath. “Yes.Yes, a medical question,” she agrees, tugging one of her elegant fingers anxiously. “Iwanted to talk about—Toask about—”Sheclears her throat. “Yousaid the other day you would do a check-up for me.Sowe could revisit the conversation about protection.We’regoing to need to do it sooner or later, isn’t that right?”

Blinkingin surprise,Istudy her. “Darlin’—”

Sherushes on. “Ido know that we need to think of diseases, and be careful, but you said you were as sure as you could be that the others were clean, right?Itwould be good ifIcould offer the same thing, is whatIwas thinking.ButIdon’t want to impose on you, because you’re so busy, andIreally don’t want you to feel uncomfortable—”

“Eden—”Itry again, amusement bubbling.

Shefrowns but doesn’t seem to hear me. “I’mnot even sure how we do this without testing available.Doyou still take a swab?No, that would be pointless,Isuppose.SoIguess you must just ask me questions, and—”

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