Sacrifice (Heart of a Wounded Hero)

He looks at me, his hands still on my shoulders. "You're not fine. Let me see your back."

Without even waiting for me to show him, he turns me around and lifts my shirt. Self-consciously, I think about my body and how it compares to his ex-fiancée’s. We are nothing alike. She's skinny and tall, and I doubt she has an ounce of fat on her. I'm definitely curvier than what he's used to seeing. Each of his hands go to my back, gripping my sides. One hand releases me, and he trails it up and down my bare skin. "You have a mark here. Is this where it hurts?"

I'm holding my breath as he touches me. When I don't answer, he leans down, putting his head next to mine. His breath hits my cheek. “Ella, talk to me. Are you okay? I’d never hurt you...”

He keeps talking, but I don’t even know what he’s saying. The truth is being this close to him, feeling his touch is too much for me. I told myself that I need to keep my distance, and I knew being this close to him would be hard, but I can’t let myself think that there’s even a smidgen of a chance with him. Logan and I are too different.

Reluctantly, I pull from his arms and paste a smile on my face. “I’m fine, Logan. I promise I am, and it wasn’t your fault. I should have known not to wake you up like that.”

He opens his mouth to interrupt me, but I continue on. “I made dinner. It’s ready now if you’re hungry.”

Before he can respond, I’m walking out the door, and I swear that there’s a heat still on my back where he touched me.

Chapter 5

Logan

I'm confused, and I try to get my bearings as I watch Ella walk out of the bedroom. I feel guilty for hurting her when she's only trying to help me. I know she feels obligated because I'm her landlord, but I can't help but wonder if there's some other reason. The fact that she reacts the way she does when she's around me makes me wonder.

I walk into the en suite bathroom and stare at myself in the mirror. The cuts on my face have already began to heal, but I still have that look in my eye as if I'm wondering if anything will ever be right again in this world. Being around Ella takes my mind off things, and that sort of makes me feel guilty. My best friend died, he sacrificed himself, and here I am standing in one piece.

I can't even look at myself right now. I get myself cleaned up and walk out into the kitchen. Ella is working, loading dishes into the dishwasher. I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the door opening. I probably shouldn't, but I can't take my eyes off her, and I feel the arousal of my manhood as I take in the way her pants fit across her ass. A small thrill fills me because for the last month, I have wondered if there was something wrong with me. Obviously, by looking at Ella, I can at least confirm that that part of my body still works. I feel like I'm a peeping Tom, and I clear my throat to get her attention.

She stands up and turns to me. "Are you okay?"

I walk toward her and stand in front of her, caging her against the counter. She's looking over my shoulder instead of at me, and I put my hand on her chin, lifting it so she has no choice but to look into my face. "I should be asking you that. I would never hurt you, Ella, not intentionally."

She rolls her eyes and laughs. "Really? Do you think I don’t know that? It was my own fault."

I bring my hand to the side of her neck and hold her there. "It wasn't your fault, but you might be safer at your apartment than you would be here."

Hurt flashes in her eyes. "I see you're trying to get rid of me already."

"No," I say instantly. The truth be known, I am actually looking forward to her being here, but I'm not going to tell her that. "No, I just want you to be safe."

Her hand comes up, and she pats me on the chest. "I am safe here, and I'm not leaving, Logan. From now on, if you have a dream or a nightmare, I'll stand from a safe distance and try to wake you up. It really was my fault. I should have known better."

I look at her sternly. "Please quit saying that. None of this is your fault."

She gives me a small smile and shrugs her shoulders again before turning away from me. She carries a covered dish over to the table. "Dinner is ready."