It wasn’t just plausible, it was admirable. Im-fucking-pressive. It also exposed just how alike they were in ways they never would have guessed. “That explains a lot.”
They stood there in silence, watching Bella sleep. The comfort was so all-encompassing, it sank into Austin’s bones.
“She was brave tonight,” she murmured. “So scared but so brave. She did exactly as I asked, which was why I could do what I did. I hated having her there. Hated having her so close to such—”
> Her voice broke, and she pressed a fist to her mouth.
Austin tightened his hold. “It’s over.”
She pushed a hand into her hair on a sound of frustration. “I was so scared, you know? Me, whatever. But Bella…” She shook her head. “Nothing could happen to Bella.”
“I know.” He lowered his mouth to her shoulder and kissed her. “I live it every day.”
She smelled like springtime and felt like heaven. Connecting with her like this somehow lightened the load on his own shoulders. It also made him hungry in a way he couldn’t describe. She created a deep, gnawing need.
Austin lifted his head and prepared to pull away, but a stain on her T-shirt caught his eye. “You’re bleeding.”
She turned her head to look. “Probably just a scrape from breaking the window.”
He pulled at the neckline of her tee, but the cut was too low on her shoulder blade to see it. Without thought, he lifted the hem of her tee to expose the injury—and ended up exposing her very naked body beneath. The curve of her ass and the slope of her spine glowed in the moonlight.
He made a sound, caught between surprise and lust, then dragged his gaze from her body and turned her to move the cut into the light. “I think you need some butterflies on this one too.”
“I’ve got a whole roll of duct tape in my room. Carry one everywhere. The things you can do with that stuff. Modern miracle, I’m telling you.” She turned, and he dropped the hem of her shirt. “You’re going to have to put it on for me, though. I can’t reach.”
When she left the room, Austin wiped a hand over his face and found it damp. “Jesus Christ.” He fussed with Bella’s covers and sent up a prayer of gratitude.
Then Everly returned and stood in the doorway, hip cocked, a roll of duct tape hanging from one finger. “Let’s see if I can teach you a thing or two.”
12
The man had admirable willpower, Everly had to give him that.
She walked past him and continued through the adjoining bathroom and into his bedroom. The windows were open, and a crisp ocean breeze filled the room. The scent of salt hinted in the air. And the sound of gentle ocean waves undulated in the distance.
When he finally followed, closing the bathroom door behind him, she tossed the duct tape on the bed, turned her back toward him, and pulled her T-shirt over her head. When she let it drop to the floor, Austin exhaled heavily.
When he didn’t come to her, she eased to a seat on the edge of the bed, her back toward him. She picked up the duct tape and tore off a strip. The rip sounded harsh in the silence.
She smiled over her shoulder. “You’re going to have to get closer than that.”
He moved to the bedside and sat behind her. His heat washed her back and sent a wave of bone-deep desire through her. Everly closed her eyes, soaking in the feeling. His fingers probed the cut on her shoulder, and she sucked in a breath, annoyed by the sudden shift in sensations.
“Sorry. Everly, this looks deep. You really need to get this stitched.”
“Maybe tomorrow. One thing I learned over and over from observing medicine overseas was that the human body finds amazing ways to heal, even when you don’t have a Mayo Clinic around the corner. Fewer cuts than you’d imagine actually need stitching.”
She offered a small strip of duct tape over her shoulder. “Just twist this twice in the center, stick it to the skin on one side of the cut, pull the skin together and stick it to the other side. How long is the cut?”
“Maybe four inches.”
“Use a couple of these. Then use a strip to secure the ends. We’ll look at it again in the morning. See if it needs something more.”
He let out a long breath and finally took the tape.
Silence filled the room while Austin did exactly as she instructed, carefully twisting and placing each strip of tape she offered. Once he’d secured the last long piece covering the ends of each row of tape, he slapped his thighs. “You’re good to go.”
She looked over her shoulder and twisted toward him. “Austin, I admire your sense of honor. I’m blown away by the way you stick by your personal code of conduct. I’m humbled by your sense of loyalty. But if you don’t touch me—right now—my self-esteem is going to take a significant dive. And if you think I’ve been difficult in the past, you’re not going to want to see how difficult I can be when I’m pissy.”