“‘Ey, no,” Ranger said, snapping loudly in her face, making her body jolt, her head flying up again. “You’re not passing out over a few drops of blood,” he informed her as though he was in control of how her body reacted to it. “You just pulled a stitch,” he added, shrugging it off. “It’s not a big deal. We’ll get it clean. It will be fine without it.”
“I can…” she started to assure him, even though she was still too pale, and there wasn’t even a trace of her usual confidence in her voice.
“Gunner will deal with it,” Ranger cut her off. “I will go fire up the generator. You look like you need some coffee.”
And to that, Sloane made a noise that sounded like he’d flicked her clit, not promised her caffeine. I felt it in my dick. Judging by the way Ranger’s brows went low over his dark eyes, he felt it too.
“Yeah,” he said, sounding off, unfolding to full height again, then disappearing out the door in just three strides.
“He’s… interesting,” Sloane said, moving to stand, holding her shirt up still as she did, likely trying to save her shirt. Didn’t know dick about fabric, but I was pretty sure she wasn’t getting blood out of that silk shit.
“That’s a kind way to describe him,” I said, grabbing the flashlight, and leading her to the bathroom. “Tuck this up, duchess,” I said softly as I wet gauze from the emergency kit with witch hazel to wipe the blood away. “Deep breaths,” I reminded her when her air seemed to shallow out, her eyes looking worried. “I’m not gonna hurt you,” I promised, hoping I could keep it as I cleaned her up. “Extra deep breath,” I said as I grabbed the very edge of the stitch that was just barely still stuck in her skin. “This might pinch,” I added, tugging just as she started to suck in her breath, making it rush right back out of her. “Sorry, sorry, duchess,” I said as I stood, watching as her eyes seemed to go a little unfocused. “Hey, no,” I said, snagging her chin, dragging it up to make her eyes hold mine. “Stay here,” I demanded, watching as she slow-blinked a few times.
But it was only a second of being fully focused.
And then her eyes went hazy again.
But this time for an entirely different reason.
And, fuck, there was no way I was going to be able to follow my own goddamn rules.
There wasn’t a single argument that could come to my mind that could make me turn down the invitation in her eyes.
“This is a bad idea, baby,” I said, voice low.
“I know,” she whispered back, hand sinking into the shirt covering my shoulder. “I don’t care,” she added.
My hand slid around her neck, my fingertips just barely snaking into her soft hair, yanking her forward slightly, her body melding to mine, her eyes drifting closed just a second before my lips sealed over hers.
I expected soft and pliant.
But her lips were hungry under mine, taking what was offered, but demanding more.
She made the noise that she had made in her sleep, but this time needier, a sound that had my cock stiff in a heartbeat.
I wondered as my tongue moved in to toy with hers if she had been dreaming of this, if she had been thinking of my lips, hands, tongue, everything on her.
The idea made a low growl escape me as my hands traveled down her back to sink into her ass, yanking upward until she was up on the sink vanity, thighs spreading, letting me move in between.
My cock had just pressed against her pussy – making her let out a throaty moan – when the lights suddenly flicked on, making us both pull back as suddenly as we had leaned in.
Just like that, the moment was over.
Even as I tried to find something to say, I could hear Ranger’s clomping footsteps in the living space. “Making coffee,” he growled out.
“We might want to stop him,” I said, taking a steadying breath. “Otherwise, we’ll be drinking sludge.”
“Right,” she agreed, attempting a smile as she reached up to touch her hair self-consciously. “Can I take a shower first?” she asked, looking over at it with a small bit of the trepidation that had been there before.
“You want me to stay?” I asked, watching as she shot me a somewhat shocked look. “To stand guard,” I clarified.
“With the two of you in the cabin, I don’t think anyone could get to me,” she said as she carefully hopped back down.
“Alright. I’ll save you a cup.”
With that, I left her, trying to talk my cock into calming down as I made my way back into the common area.
“I interrupt something?” Ranger asked, towering over the coffee machine, steadily putting too many grounds in.