Training Their Mate(23)

Christ, he never should have brought her here. It was all the more reason to stop Couch. Then Liz would be safe and on her way.

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The morning sun speared through the window and disrupted Liz’s carnal dream. She shielded her eyes as she sat up and yawned. Trax’s king size bed had been incredibly comfortable and his flannel sheets soft and warm. She almost didn’t want to get up, but the smell of bacon and eggs drew her.

She dreaded changing out of her comfortable sleepwear, but she wanted to check on her wounds so she pulled off her pajama bottoms and lifted the bandages covering her scraped knees. To her delight, the wounds had almost scabbed over. She decided to keep it uncovered. Her hand, however, was a different story.

Maybe she’d ask Dante to change the covering or perhaps leave it open so it could breathe. Then again, she’d have to be extra careful if she kept the stiches exposed. As she put on undies and got into her jeans, buttoning her jeans wasn’t going to happen nor was putting on a bra. Damn.

Perhaps Dante could help her dress. She stuck her head out the door and scanned the living room. Trax was in the kitchen with his back to her.

He turned around. “Morning.”

“Good morning. Where’s Dante?”

“At work.”

Shit. “Oh.”

“You need something?”

“Yes. I’ll be out in a sec.”

She closed the door, located her bra and placed the straps over her shoulders. Holding the bra close to her chest, she stepped out.

Trax’s eyes darkened as he kept his gaze, not on her face, but on her chest. Could this get any more embarrassing?

“I need a hand, literally, with hooking my bra and buttoning my pants.”

His jaw tensed. “Come here.” He didn’t sound pissed, but he sure as hell wasn’t happy.

She proffered her back, and his warm fingers hooked her bra in two seconds. His touch altered something inside of her. What was up with that? Dante was the kind of man she’d always dreamed of. He was funny and considerate yet there seemed to be some unleashed power bursting to get out.

“Thanks.” She adjusted the bra so that she was covered and turned around.

Her luck, her only bra was the one she’d worn when trying to entice Couch into hiring her. It was a demi cup so only her nipples were hidden. Now Trax would think she was trying to put the moves on him. That was so not the case.

Liar.

“Can you button this for me?” She lifted her shirt to expose the open waistband.

He didn’t answer as he stepped close. His spicy scent had her body thrumming. This was not right and she averted her gaze. His fingers scraped against her skin and her body heated. What was wrong with her?

Once more, he didn’t linger as he buttoned her jeans. She expected him to step back, but instead he stayed close. Her breath increased, and she couldn’t have moved if she’d tried.

“Liz.” His voice cracked.

She looked into his simmering eyes that seemed to change right in front of her. The gray and green flecks now had more of an amber hue.

He clasped her shoulders, pulled her to his chest, and kissed her. While the pressure wasn’t hard, his kiss bordered on desperation. His tongue pried opened the seal of her lips, and her body refused to deny him entrance.

Their tongues tentatively touched a second before he took charge. Her nipples puckered and she clasped his shoulder and he jumped back.

“I’m sorry, Liz. I never should have kissed you. I—”

“It’s okay.” Her heart deflated. Who wanted a man to say the kiss had been a mistake? She stepped back. “I need to finish getting ready.”

She rushed back to the bedroom happy her knees were a lot steadier than yesterday.

“I made you breakfast. Hurry back.”

She didn’t answer as she ducked into the bedroom and plastered her back against the door. What the hell just happened? She had only wanted help getting dressed. Trax seemed to think she was putting the moves on him. Then he apologized. That was the mortifying part.

She rushed to the bathroom and checked to see if she looked any different from the kiss. Her lips were a bit pink from the pressure, but otherwise, she appeared to be the same.

Trax had made breakfast and she was hungry. Sucking up her embarrassment, she returned to the living room. A plate piled with eggs, bacon, and a piece of toast sat on the dining room table. He’d also left her a glass of orange juice, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Trax?” Perhaps he was in Dante’s room.

She knocked. No answer. Thinking he might be using his brother’s bathroom, she went in. Holy moly. The place was a total pigsty. The bed wasn’t made, clothes were on the floor, and the open bathroom door revealed a bigger mess.