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He turned on a sharp heel, forcing the rage down, starting
the water for her bath in the huge tub. He grabbed the robe
from the door, returning to her side.
"Come on, cara." He lifted her easily in his arms and
stripped her with sure hands. She barely blinked. "You are in
shock, honey. It will be all right."
When her shirt fell from her shoulders, his body froze in
fury, and a red haze filled his thoughts. "Did he do that?" His
voice shook with the rush of hatred for the man who had hurt
her. She turned her chin numbly, staring at the rash of teeth
marks and blood on her shoulder.
His arm slipped around her, holding her steady. He bowed
his head and touched the scored gash with his lips. She
shivered and moaned. "Easy, cara. This will help."
His touch was gentle, light, his lips tenderly caressing the
wound. He laved at the harsh mark with a tender stroke and
felt the floor shift when he found the taste of her on his
tongue.
He froze, his eyes drifting closed, purposely hiding the
heat of his needs. His heart raced like a wild animal. She tried
to wrench from his arms, her fear palpable once more. He
tamped down his needs with an iron will. "Shh, cara."
"It's too much," she cried, sounding as frightened as he
knew she was.
"I keep forgetting how easily you can feel those around
you. You are a remarkable woman, Titania." He had not
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moved, his arms locked around her, but he lifted his head to
search her gaze. "I will not deny this, but I will never hurt
you." Her lashes fluttered. "Let me finish so you can rest."
Her head fell forward with a thump. "I don't know what
you think you can do. It hurts just to breathe." Her words
were so quiet, if he had been anyone else, he would not have
heard her.
His smile was lopsided. "Not nearly enough to forgive my
own lapse, but enough to remove the pain." He felt her give
in, the shock numbing into exhaustion.
He returned his attention to her shoulder, forcing restraint
when the taste of her filled him again. Satisfied with his
efforts, he examined her face and knew he could only do so
much with the time he had before sunrise. Her arms were
scraped and bruised. He shook his head at the extent of her
injuries.
When she dropped the robe, his gaze landed on a dark
bruise forming on her rib cage and the shadows on her thighs
from the tackle she had endured. "Careful, cara. The water is
hot, but it will help your aches."
She didn't respond, sinking into the water with a low,
mewling sound; her eyes closed as the heat shocked her.
"Relax, cara. This will feel different, but it will help. I will do
what I can tonight."
Her eyes were closed, her head pillowed against the tub.
"Do what?"
"I am going to heal you. I hope," he added under his
breath.
"That doesn't sound very optimistic."
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"I have never tried this on another. I have never tried to
focus outward."
"Just how gifted are you?" she asked with a touch of awe
and respect.
"Shh, cara. Let me concentrate." He pushed his thoughts
away, forcing a singular point of concentration. It was an
easy task when he healed himself. This was new territory for
him.
Once he discovered the pathway, the actions became as
similar as healing himself. Energy flowed, a current that
touched on the worst of her bruises, the inside of her
shoulder, ensuring infection would not develop from the bite.
The energy flowed to her ribs, lightening the strain the
soreness created, then did the same for her legs.
Before he lost the last of his strength, he examined her
jaw, doing what he could to loosen the muscles so her pain
would be tolerable. He knew with the continued pulses of her
pain, it would not be nearly enough.
He let out a long breath when he retook his body. She was
asleep in the water. He lifted her out, unconcerned with
getting wet, and wrapped her back in the robe. She felt so
light within his hold, everything dark inside of him seemed to
unravel when he held her so close.
He tucked her into the bed, covering her with the blanket
to her chin. "Sleep, cara. I will find you tomorrow and try to
do more."
Her hand found his on the blankets. "Stay. Just a few
minutes." He sank to sit on the bed. Her brow furrowed.
"What is wrong?" Her eyes were still closed.
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"Nothing." He brushed her damp hair back. The thick
length twisted between his fingers, slid smoothly, and he
relished the feeling.
"I can feel your guilt, Diego," she said. She twined her
fingers through his. "Don't. This is my fault. I'm always
blowing off Houston's warnings."
"You are not responsible for another person's actions,
Titania."
"No, but I should've been more careful. That man has been
after me for months." She made a soft pout. It drew his gaze
to her lips. "Houston's right. I am a pain in the butt," she
said, her lips softening at the same time she opened her
eyes. She had the most beautiful eyes. Enigmatic blue orbs of
the bottomless ocean and night sky. "Thank you. You did save
me. I guess we're even now."
His thumb moved over the hand in his hold, her skin satiny
beneath his stroking touch. "Why are you sad?"
"Because we're even. I guess I won't be seeing you again."
Her blue eyes darkened.
"Do not worry about that right now. You need to rest." And
he needed to leave, or he was going to kiss that pouting
mouth of hers.
The touch of her fingers on his chin shook him. "Your eyes,
they're beautiful. So pale gray, like winter clouds, but
brighter. Lightning strikes." Her murmured voice slid over him
like a sheet of silk, smooth and seductive.
His hand covered hers where she cradled his cheek, and he
could not resist, could not find the strength to any longer. He
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watched her, waiting for fear, apprehension, anything to stop
him. It never came as he dipped his head to hers.
Her lips were so soft, so warm, he burst into flame at her
touch. She was the sweetest breath of life he had ever tasted.
Heat flared, roared to life between them.
He snapped up, his heart racing. Every fiber, every nerve
ached, needed. He had never felt this.
She sat up slowly, clutching the robe when the blanket fell
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