“Thanks,” he said as he grabbed the tray and walked back to his mate.
SEVEN
Charlotte waited a full minute after Jace had left before sitting up and examining her leg. It was in rough shape. She didn’t think she had a fracture, but the swelling of her ankle had her wondering if she might be wrong. At best, it was severely sprained. No wonder standing on it had been horrendous. She sighed. Even if she wanted to leave in the morning, she might not be able to. Dragons healed fast, but not that fast.
She looked at her soiled shirt and took a whiff. The smell of the men who had taken her still permeated the material. No wonder Jace wanted it gone. Hell, she wanted it gone. She grabbed the hem and pulled it over her head, careful not to jostle her neck or aching jaw. The last time her shirt had come off, Jace had been there to drive her wild with his mouth and tongue. Her nipples pebbled at the memory. After everything that had happened, the last thing she should be feeling was sexual need, but there was no denying the slow pulse building between her legs.
She shimmied left, then right, trying to bring her panties down, but when she put pressure on her foot to lift her butt off the cushion, pain shot through her. Her pained whimper echoed through the room as Jace walked back in.
He set the tray he was carrying down and rushed over to her. “What are you doing?”
She took a breath through her nose, then out through her mouth. “I was trying to take these off,” she plucked at the elastic on the waistband.
He looked at her fingers, then brought his gaze up along her body to her breasts and down to her panties again. He swallowed, and licked his lips. “Here, let me.”
Charlotte nibbled on her bottom lip. She’d never seen such a sexy man in her entire life. None of the dragons back home had the kind of presence that Jace did.
He grabbed the flimsy material in both hands and gave a hard tug. The lace didn’t stand a chance. When she gasped, he looked up, worry making his features tight. “I'm all right. Or at least, I will be soon.” Already her voice was sounding stronger than it had been as her dragon blood worked at repairing the damage to her throat, and shifting would speed up the healing.
The muscles in his jaw jumped as he ground his teeth. He took some smaller cushions and propped them behind her, giving her something to lean against before covering her with the soft blanket. Taking her clothes, he bundled them all up into a ball, then tossed them on the floor outside before closing the door. “Let’s get you fed,” he said when he came back to her with the loaded tray.
She took a long drink, soothing her aching throat with the cool water, draining the glass he had handed her. “Thank you,” she said when he refilled her glass. “For everything, I mean. I appreciate all you’ve done for me. We’re practically strangers.”
Jace’s brows furrowed lower. “We may not know one another well yet, but make no mistake about it, you’re my mate, and I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety and happiness.”
She snorted. “If only all males had the same code of honor,” she said without thinking.
“Who’s doing this to you, Charlotte? Who sent those wannabe dragons after you?” He shoved the tray closer. “I’d prepare your food for you, but I don’t know your preferences yet.”
Her heart thudded against her ribs. She was going to have to tell him eventually. Forestalling the inevitable, she reached for some bread and a piece of cheese, feeling oddly pleased when he smiled at her. “I’m not sure,” she told him. “It might be my brother, or…”
His smile fell, and his fists clenched on his thighs. “Or, who?”
“Adrian Milnor. My brother wanted to forge an alliance between our two clans, so he sold me to him.”
Jace didn’t speak for several beats. “He sold you.” It wasn’t a question. Rage, thick, and menacing emanated from him.
“When I refused to go willingly, Reyn told me I had no choice. They locked me up for weeks. The only reason I was able to escape is because my friend found out where they were keeping me. I fear for her safety if they discover who set me free. I’ve been on the run since.”
“Reyn is your brother?” the icy tone in his voice had her heart racing a little faster.
“Yes.”
“And who is your friend, the one who set you free?” He peeled a banana and handed it to her.
Even though she didn’t care for bananas, she took a bite. “Tulia. She’s the sweetest person I’ve ever known. There isn’t a malicious bone in her body. They’ll break her in two if they catch her.” Had there been more time, had she had advanced notice that she would be leaving clan territory, she would have taken Tulia with her. She’d tried to convince her to run with her, but Tulia had been too scared. Neither would have made it out alive.