BEARing it All (Wylde Brothers 3)

Without opening his eyes, he said, “I think you tore a stitch.” His words were gritty, like sandpaper along her body, and all they seemed to do was heighten her arousal instead of dim it.

“W-What?” Kenzie licked her lips.

He opened his eyes, and this time he was the one to watch the act. Setting the first aid kit beside her, Bram leaned in so close she could smell the soap he used, and an involuntary moan left her. He must think she was insane for her response to him.

Despite his close proximity, he didn’t do anything but hold his place, but God… she wanted him to break that control.10Kenzie’s face was right by his throat, and she saw the muscles of his neck work as he swallowed. It seemed grossly inappropriate for him to tend to her while he was only wearing a towel, and when he was extremely aroused. Although honestly, how could she complain?

“I’m just going to check your sutures, because I think you pulled some of them. I can smell fresh blood.” He swallowed again, and Kenzie tried to focus on other things. That was easier said than done. He pulled off the bandage, and she was thankful for the small distraction.

“I can’t believe you actually stitched me up.” Talking about something safe sounded like a good idea.

“I had to. I couldn’t stand looking at you hurt, Kenzie.” Hearing him say her name was an auditory orgasm and caused tingles to start in her toes and go all the way to the top of her head. How strange was it that she had only known him for a few hours but already felt more connected than she ever had with anyone else?

Bram turned his head so they were facing each other, and she held her breath. Their faces were so close that she didn’t doubt they breathed the same air, or that if she just leaned an inch forward, their lips would touch. He looked at her lips again, and Kenzie knew that if she didn’t put some space between them, she would end up doing something foolish and far too reckless.

“Did I mess it up too badly?” Keep with the diversion. It was the best tactic, especially when her hormones were in overdrive, but then again, she had never been around her mate before. She could remember her parents talking about when they first met each other, how the attraction was instantaneous and powerful, but she had been so young then and hadn’t really understood.

Now, as she stared into Bram’s strong, handsome face, she knew exactly what they had been talking about. The only problem was Kenzie couldn’t allow herself to be with Bram. That was far too dangerous, and if she wanted to live and keep Bram safe, she would have to run as far away from him and Rook as she could.

For a moment, all she could do was hold her breath and pray he didn’t push her for more, because God help her she would have bent to his will and given him everything. Clearing his throat and looking back down at her side had a sigh leaving her.

“I think it’ll be okay. I just have to fix the popped stitch, and you’ll be good as new.” He tilted his head to the side and glanced at her. The corner of his mouth kicked up, but she could see he didn’t find anything humorous. The tension rolled off him and saturated the air, and his lust was just as strong as hers was. Nothing more was said as he went to work on her side. He was only fixing one stitch, but it felt like he was sewing up the whole length again.

Kenzie refused to show any outward pain, but she knew he was aware of her discomfort, because he stopped and let her breathe it out. When he was finished, he applied a new bandage and stood. Kenzie averted her eyes when she saw he still sported a massive erection, and her cheeks heated uncomfortably.

“Are you hungry or thirsty?”

“No, thank you.” She refused to look at him again, not because she was trying to be rude, but because she was just too damn embarrassed by the turn of events. Clearly, things needed to be said in regards to the whole mate thing, but she didn’t know where to begin or how to even proceed with starting a conversation like that.

Playing ignorant was not an option, because even though she had been under Rook’s thumb for the past eleven years, she had always been true to herself, even if she had been too much of a coward to stand up for herself.

“Okay, well, let me get dressed, and I’ll be right back.”

She looked up just as he turned to leave and watched the play of muscle on his body as he moved.