Therian Promise(4)

His features tensed and impatience narrowed his gaze. “Do you honestly think I planned this entire incident so I could see you in your bra?”

It did sound rather ridiculous when he put it that way. “I’m not sure I can get my shirt off unless you help me.”

He chuckled, honest amusement warming his expression again. “Which was my wicked plan all along.” He moved closer and held the hem as she pulled her uninjured arm free of the clingy t-shirt. After easing it over her head, he gingerly worked the wadded material down her other arm. He gathered her hair to the side and whistled. “That is one hell of a bruise.”

His gaze remained on her injured shoulder, despite the plunging angle of her lace-trimmed bra. She braced her hand against the ground as the world swayed. The throbbing had become a burning ache as soon as she sat up. Her stomach heaved and closing her eyes only made the nausea worse. Please don’t let me throw up on him! She couldn’t imagine anything more humiliating.

Infuriated by her helplessness, she allowed him to shift her body away from the tree. “You gonna be okay like this? You’re not going to pass out on me, are you?”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

His hands were strong, yet each motion was surprisingly gentle. He supported the center of her chest with one hand while the other swept up and down, across her shoulder and down her arm. Despite the mundane nature of his task, awareness arced between them.

The forest was cool, the ground rough beneath her, which made the heat of his hands all the more apparent. He shifted position, carefully supporting her shoulders as his hand splayed directly over the bruise. His lids lowered and his expression tensed.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, half afraid of disrupting his concentration.

“Scanning.” After a pause, he added, “Healing isn’t my primary ability. I can usually sense what’s wrong, but my healing pulses aren’t strong enough to mend bone. I was able to stabilize your cracked ribs and ease the pain, but you’ll need to be treated by one of our real healers once we arrive at the sanctuary.” He looked up and Ava gasped. The golden flecks in his eyes were glowing. “Your shoulder is slightly out of place, but the rest is an impact contusion.”

“Which means?”

“It’s a really nasty bruise, but we’re in luck. I should be able to ease it back into place and make you more comfortable.”

He sounded so casual, as if healing pulses and glowing eyes were nothing out of the ordinary. His hand lowered, palm barely grazing her skin. Heat erupted and spread, dragging another gasp from her dry throat.

“Relax,” he coaxed. “Try not to fight it.”

After one searing burst of sensation, the pain receded, but the heat remained. Waves of soothing warmth rippled across her chest, tightening her nipples before pooling between her thighs. Her core tightened and her clit tingled, the feeling unmistakable and intense. She squirmed, desperately trying to ignore the unwanted side effect of his touch.

“That’s…enough.” If he didn’t stop soon, she’d come, and the thought of moaning and shivering was nearly as humiliating as throwing up would have been. He moved his hand away and the heat slowly fizzled, leaving her stunned and tingling.

“Better?” Their gazes locked and time paused. Awareness hot and electric hung between them, humid and full of promise. His eyes narrowed, the golden light even more intense than it had been before. His nostrils flared and he leaned toward her, lips slowly parting.

Not ready to add sexual conquest to his list of accomplishments, she turned to the side then pushed to her knees, quickly reaching for her shirt.

He’d done it. Her shoulder was still discolored, but the pain was gone. “Thank you.” She kept her back turned as she pulled the t-shirt into place. Even so, it was too easy to imagine his lips pressed over hers, moving and parting as his tongue explored.

“If there’s aspirin in that backpack, it might be a good idea to take some, just in case. As I said, healing isn’t my primary ability.”

She nodded and reached for the backpack, half expecting the pain to return as soon as she moved. “If healing is more or less a hobby, what is your ‘primary ability’?” The pack had landed a short distance away, but she was able to pull it toward her without leaving her knees. She unzipped one small compartment and then another as she searched for a pain reliever.

“I’ve had men watching your house and your store, so where’d that come from anyway?”

Her hands froze and she looked into his eyes. Not only had he sidestepped her question, he’d just admitted he’d been spying on her. “I thought you didn’t work for Osric.”