Last Kiss Goodnight

And it would be my pleasure to help you. I can prevent the beast from attacking you.

“Really?”

Yes, really. But first, I want to show you something. It’s the reason I came, and I might be too weak after we help your little friend out there to show you later. He flattened his tiny hand on her nape, and pictures of Solo’s life began to flash through her mind.

Solo—a little boy only his parents had loved.

Solo—a kid no one had wanted to hang around.

Solo—a teenager the girls had laughed at. He’d never even been on a genuine date. The only girl he’d liked had used him for her own selfish needs.

Solo—a man only the most depraved of women had desired.

“You’re ugly,” a thousand people had said to him.

“You’re disgusting,” a thousand more had said.

Solo—a warrior who had decided to spend the rest of his life alone. That way, no one else could hurt him.

Oh, the pain this man had endured . . . so like her own. How dare anyone treat him so poorly? While she had deserved the hatred thrust at her, he had not. And how, how, how had he survived the circus? How could she have left him in that cage, time and time again?

Tears trickled down her cheeks.

I didn’t show his past so that you would pity him or even feel guilty, X said, but so that you would understand him a little better.

“He really is wonderful, isn’t he?”

He is. Now tend to the tiger before Solo wakes up and decides to stop you.

“You’re helping me. He won’t mind at all.”

And you are too innocent for words. Go!

As quietly as possible Vika tiptoed into the bathroom. It was the largest one she’d ever been in, triple the size of the one in her trailer and almost as large as the bedroom itself, with calming blue walls and a sink in the shape of a seashell. She stuffed the supplies she would need inside a basket she’d found in the living room—and there was plenty to choose from! She’d never seen so many bandages and medications.

Clearly, Michael was a man who liked to be prepared for anything.

As she tiptoed out, she kept her gaze on Solo. He was utterly still, his chest barely even rising as he breathed. His thick lashes were spiked, curling up at the edges, and his lips were parted, relaxed. He looked so wonderfully boyish.

A warm sense of contentment filled her, practically busting her skin at the seams. I don’t want to be without him, she realized. Ever. She wanted to hold on to him and never let go.

How did he feel about her? Truly feel? He desired her, yes. And he’d asked her to live on his farm. But how did he actually feel? How would he feel when all of the danger had passed?

Worry and wrinkle and rot, she reminded herself, swallowing back a sigh.

Hinges squeaked as she opened the door to the backyard, and she cringed. But Solo didn’t shout or come running so she continued on. The tiger was still there, still prowling—still bleeding.

“How are you going to calm him?” she asked X.

I have my ways.

They were several yards apart, but she could see that the blood flowed from the tiger’s front left leg. He’d stepped into some sort of trap, she would bet, for the skin and muscle had been punctured in three separate places.

Slowly she approached, X directing her steps. Cold air slapped at her, stinging. The tiger caught sight of her, blue eyes locking on her, and he stopped. One step, two, she continued her journey. His lips pulled back and he bared his saber teeth—long, sharp, deadly.

“Uh, X?” She considered dropping her basket and running.

I’ve got this.

The tiger crouched, as though ready to leap at her and feast on her bones. Her steps faltered.

He’s not going to leap. Now, move three inches to the left. Good. Now hop and angle toward the right.

Again she obeyed. “Why am I walking like this, anyway?”

To avoid security. Now, take a giant step forward, as if you’re stepping over a fallen tree. Good, now stop. Give me just a moment. With that, the being vanished.

He never appeared on or even near the tiger (to her knowledge), but suddenly the creature dropped to the snow-laden ground. He pushed out a heavy breath.

He’s all yours, X said, once again on her shoulder.

Vika closed the rest of the distance with much surer steps. She knelt beside the magnificent beast and scratched him behind the ears. “I’ll make you feel better,” she said. And, now used to Solo, added, “I vow it.”

Pain-filled blue eyes watched her warily. She would not fail this creature.

Working swiftly yet gently, she cleaned each of the punctures.

Not many people would have come out here, X said.

“I couldn’t leave him.”

I like that about you.

“Thank you.”

You’re exactly what Solo has always needed.

A small thrill lit her up inside. “What was he like as a child? Other than what you showed me, I mean.”

A fond chuckle. He was the sweetest little boy ever created, following his mother around, always making her gifts.

Only yesterday, he’d offered to buy Vika new jewelry. She’d convinced herself the offer stemmed from irritation over the heaviness of her bag, and maybe it had, but what if it had also stemmed from a desire to please her?

Hands trembling, she smoothed numbing cream over the feline’s injuries and wrapped his leg with a thick white bandage, applying pressure to stop any more bleeding. A final scratch behind the creature’s ear and she stood to walk back into the cabin. Once again X ordered her steps, making her zig and zag and leap.

Inside the cabin, warm air instantly enveloped her. She shucked her coat and carried the basket of supplies to the bedroom, desperate to see Solo again. He had begun to stir. He’d kicked the covers from the bed, leaving his body bare. He was on his stomach, his back to her. His luscious, luscious back. He was all bronzed skin and chiseled muscle, his bottom tight, his legs . . . injured, just like the tiger’s.

Concerned, Vika rushed to his side.

All right, then. This is where I say good-bye, X said, and vanished.

The wolves had bitten Solo, she recalled, and the teeth marks were still there, still leaking. She set the basket down and withdrew the only remaining clean rag.

The moment the fabric brushed against his skin, he jerked around, arm swiping out, his claws elongating— but he caught sight of her and stopped the momentum just in time.

The claws retracted, and Solo moaned, as though in pain. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“My fault,” she said, and there wasn’t a single beat of fear inside her. That’s how much she trusted him. “My babies used to react the same way when anyone roused them from sleep. I knew better.” Smiling softly, she gave his warm chest a little push. “Lie back. You promised I would get to tend you when we reached the cabin. Well, happy news. We’ve reached the cabin.”

As strong as he was, the action forced him to do nothing. Still, he fell backward, the pillows plumping around him. He watched her as she doctored him, silent. When she finished, she traced her fingertip along one of his toenails.

“So pretty,” she said. “Like diamonds.”

“I want you again, Vika.”

He was totally and completely naked. “I realize that, Solo,” she said with a grin.

Their gazes met, and she suspected the same fire that crackled in his also crackled in her own.