11
Savannah
The first order of business, once Sam brought me new clothes, was to clean up and wash off the blood and gravel and the greasy touch of the chewing-tobacco-scented biker that covered my body. The shower burned my tattered skin but felt divine, all the same, soothing more of my poor, hammered bones and muscles. I had to be careful with my left arm. The fracture was already knitting together, but it still hurt like hell.
I’ve gotta stop getting my ass kicked by life.
Eh,Wolfie said, we give as good as we get. And tomorrow, we’re gonna make some bikers pay.
With a huge breath, I shut off the shower and stepped out.
I dried off with one of Jaxson’s plush, luxurious towels, then wiped the foggy mirror. So many scars, but at least they were already healing.
All except one.
It had torn open, though the skin at the surface was knitting back together a little. I rummaged in Jaxson’s bathroom but couldn’t find any Band-Aids. Not surprising for a werewolf with super-healing. I dabbed it with some toilet paper, then pulled on the clothes Sam had lent me for the umpteenth time. The bedrock of our relationship was literally built on hand-me-downs at this point, and I owed her majorly.
Jaxson was sitting by himself when I stepped out of the bathroom.
Shit.
Sam was also famous for leaving us alone in awkward situations, the evil genius.
I pulled my damp hair behind me, unsure of how I wanted to play things. “I’d better hit the hay.”
Every nerve in my body instantly wanted his hands running over me, but I was stretched too thin. I could barely face what I was. How could I face the bond we were supposed to share?
Didn’t I get a choice at all?
He put down his whiskey and stiffened. “Fuck. You’re still bleeding.”
I followed his eyes to my chest. A bit of blood from my shoulder was seeping into my T-shirt, blooming like a rose.
My hand went to my knife wound, which had bled through the wad of paper that I’d strapped under my bra. “Yeah, that’s old. It’s just taking a long time to heal.”
“You’re a werewolf. Everything should heal.”
“I know,” I snapped. “It’s from the Soul Knife. The damn thing is cursed. I tried drinking a couple of Uncle Pete’s potions, but it just keeps splitting back open.”
“Let me see,” he said as he stood and approached.
“It’s fine.” I turned to go back to the bathroom, but he put his arm out, blocking my escape.
My heartbeat went double-time as he bent his head low. “I want to see.”
I froze, my back to the wall. A sharp no hung on my lips, but it wouldn’t come out. Instead, I just breathed in slowly, letting his scent roll over my tongue. A quake passed through my body.
It was a command, firm but gentle. And although he wasn’t using his alpha voodoo on me, just his proximity made we want to obey. That deep scent of forest and the taste of snow clouded every ability I had to think.
You’re safe,my wolf said. It’s time to stop fighting.
I took a deep breath and held it. Hesitantly, I reached down and grabbed the hem of my shirt, then slowly pulled it up over my head.
Jaxson’s breath caught, and I could feel the tension vibrating off his body.
I dropped the T-shirt on the floor.
His eyes traced over my bare skin before settling on my wound. Everywhere they’d touched burned with warmth and desire.
He reached up, and I wanted him to run his hands across every inch of me. But instead, he simply traced a single finger along the edge of the wound, like he was caressing me with a feather. “This looks bad.”
I tipped my chin up and gave him half a smile as I tried not to flinch. “It’s from an evil magic knife. Who would have guessed?”
He breathed in sharply, and his eyes fogged. “Your blood. It smells…wild. Exotic. Powerful. No wonder everyone is after it.”
I swallowed hard, not wanting to have to think about that aspect.
Jaxson stared at the red droplets pooling on my skin as if my blood were the only thing in the world. Hell, he looked like he was going to lick it up. The thought of his tongue dancing across my skin sent a flush of moisture to my center that I was certain he could smell, but I didn’t care. He could know exactly what was on my mind.
Jaxson cleared his throat abruptly and looked away. “I have something that might help.”
I bet he does,my cheeky wolf interjected.