He pulled a handkerchief out of pocket and wiped the blood away. Like a mother hen attending to her young, he cleaned me up until everything was gone. Some of the blood that was stained on his hands soaked into the handkerchief. I couldn’t tell the stains apart. “You want to go to the hospital?”
“I said I was fine.” A few weeks in bed would put me back together. The soreness would fade away and the wound would close up and become a scar to add to the collection.
His hands were on me again and he pressed his face to mine. He took a deep breath like he was inhaling my scent before he kissed me hard on the lips. His abrasiveness directly contradicted the concern he just showed a moment ago, and he kissed me like we hadn’t seen each other in years.
Without warning he pulled away and scooped me into his arms. Like I was seriously injured he cradled me to his chest like I was lighter than a feather. He didn’t need to carry me because I was perfectly capable of walking on my own, but I didn’t resist. Feeling him hold me sent shivers down my spine. After the ordeal I just went through, I actually felt safe. My arm wrapped around his neck and I rested my head against his chest.
He directed Cane with a bark. “Get the car. You’re driving.”
Cane rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Crow carried me to the back of an SUV and he placed me in the back seat. The moment he was beside me he pulled me back into his lap then pressed his face close to mine, our lips practically touching. The car turned on the road and we headed home.
Home.
He pulled the hair from my face and fisted it with a single grip as he examined me. His eyes rested on my lips like he could read them before he turned his gaze back on me. Instead of being black as coal, his eyes had turned back to their coffee colored brown. “Did they hurt you?”
“A little. But it was nothing I couldn’t handle.”
His hand squeezed my hair. “I should have tortured them more when I had the chance.”
“Not necessary. I pushed one out of the car on the way here.”
The corner of his lip rose in a half smile. “That’s my girl.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek, a nurturing touch that was soft and intimate. It didn’t crush me the way his other kiss did. This one had a completely different meaning. “Did they…?” When he couldn’t finish the sentence I knew what he was asking.
I didn’t bring up the groping I received on the way here. There was no need to mention that and make him feel guilty for not saving me sooner. “No. They were told not to touch me.”
He hid his relief as much as possible but he couldn’t keep it from me. “I’m sorry, Button. I shouldn’t have left you.”
“Don’t do that…”
“Or I should have taken you with me.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” I was the one who chose to tough it out on my own. I didn’t expect to be kidnapped the second Crow left the city. The timing was horrendously poor. “I didn’t take your warning seriously when I should have.”
“I still shouldn’t have walked away.” He rested his face against mine and closed his eyes. “I won’t make that mistake again.” His arms circled me and he held me closer to his chest. Our foreheads rested together and we listened to each other breathe on the ride home. There were so many things we couldn’t say with Cane in the car. And there were so many things we couldn’t do with him in the car.
But as soon as we went home, things would change.
***
Crow didn’t say goodbye to his brother when he left the car and carried me in his arms. Cane didn’t say anything either, possibly out of anger or he didn’t see the point. His brother was clearly more concerned with me than having good manners.
He carried me into the house and through the entryway. Lars stepped out of the kitchen when he heard the front door open and shut.
“Your Grace, you’ve returned. I’m glad you’ve brought Miss Pearl with you.”
Crow kept walking like he hadn’t heard a word he said. “We don’t want to be disturbed for the night. Leave dinner outside my bedroom door.”
He didn’t flinch at the command. “Of course, Your Grace. Have a good evening.”
My arms remained circled around his neck and I stared at his face as we ascended the stairs. His usual five o’ clock shadow was thicker than usual because he hadn’t shaved since the morning before he left. He wore the same clothes as the morning he walked out my front door, and I wondered if they still contained my scent from sitting on my bedroom floor all night. All could smell was him, masculinity mixed with a hint of mint.