Griffen needed medical attention. Wasn’t that why his brothers had run off through the mountains in the first place?
And now this broad man with skin darker than any of them stood over her as though brooding. Still naked.
“Miles.” Trace broke the trance. “Let’s deal with Griffen first.”
Miles jerked his gaze to Trace and nodded. Finally, he leaned down and hovered over the wounded leg, noticeably still naked.
Rebecca fought the urge to stare at his body. His cock… Lord have mercy. It bobbed there between them, making her lick her lips. Out of nervousness, right?
And the bear of a man didn’t give one hoot about his nudity. He made absolutely no movement to cover himself.
When Miles set his hand on hers to lift it off the bandage, they both sucked in a sharp breath.
She knew it wasn’t just her. It felt like a bolt of electricity raced through them, and if she wasn’t mistaken, it included Griffen.
Miles gripped her hand firmly and met her gaze before tipping his head to examine Griffen’s leg. He used his other hand to peel away the gauze, not releasing Rebecca’s fingers.
His hand was huge and warm and comforting all at once. She felt a twinge of guilt at the way he made her calm almost instantly. But after the day she’d had, she relished the sensation and had no desire to break the connection even though her intentions should have been a bit more altruistic.
All she cared about was his thumb stroking her palm where he held her as though his right arm weren’t in cahoots with his left, which proceeded to prod against the deep hole in Griffen’s leg. “Do you have a flashlight?” he asked over his shoulder.
In seconds someone aimed a beam of light over the leg. The sun had slipped behind the mountain, leaving them in the dim light of early evening.
Miles lifted the rear leg with his one hand, completely undaunted by what should have been a hindrance.
Griffen growled.
Miles chuckled. “I know I’m not hurting you physically, buddy. Don’t even try to pull that one over on me. Share nicely. You have no other choice.”
What the hell?
Rebecca had no idea what he was talking about, but his words sent a renewed shiver down her spine. Something was happening here she was neither privy to nor wanted to be. It would be best if she kept her mouth shut.
“I’m gonna shift back,” Miles said to no one in particular, his gaze locked on Griffen’s. “Talk to Griffen. Get a better idea of the pain and what he wants to do.” He lifted his face to Rebecca.
His penetrating stare made her breath catch. His voice lowered to a gentle tone. “Stay right here, love. Don’t move. I want to be able to see you at all times. Got it?”
All she could do was nod. She had no clue what she was agreeing to, but she couldn’t deny him, either.
Miles squeezed her hand firmer and pulled it to his cheek. He rubbed the back of her fingers against his day-long stubble and hummed. His eyes closed briefly while she watched him, mesmerized. Shock didn’t begin to describe what she felt.
She was in a trance, held there by a naked god and a wolf.
Miles shook his head as though in dismay as he released her. “Heavenly spirits, what on earth have you gotten me into?” he asked of the world at large.
She was certain she saw a twinkle in his eye and half a smile before he leaned back and transformed into the form he’d arrived in—a giant wolf, darker than Griffen, almost black, and larger if she wasn’t mistaken.
He set his paw on Griffen’s back and stroked. The act was so tender. Raw.
Rebecca sucked in a sharp breath and leaned forward. Part of her felt as though she was eavesdropping on a private moment. The rest of her felt as though she was a part of it, her world intertwined with theirs in some strange fashion.
Besides, no matter how close she got to them, there was no way for her to know what they were communicating. They didn’t even make sounds. And yet, their gazes were locked together.
Griffen flinched once, lifting his front paw toward Miles. Miles batted it away and set his own back on Griffen’s side. He leaned down closer, narrowing the space between them.
Rebecca set the hand Miles had held on his hind leg. She couldn’t explain her need to touch him, but it was instinctive. Her other hand still rested on Miles, having slipped to his belly.
No one spoke around her. She could hear them breathing close-by in the silence, but they kept quiet and waited.
The air around her was thin. It was almost totally dark now. She should have been cold, but all her focus was on the two wolves exchanging volumes of information without any outward indication. She knew that fact without a doubt. Just like she knew the sky was blue and the trees were green.