She nodded against his chest. “You hate tears. I’m sorry.”
His hand stopped rubbing her scalp and he sighed. “I don’t hate tears on you. Don’t be sorry. You deserve to cry. It’s actually been a bad two days. I’m so sorry I left you here. I would have killed him first if I thought he would hurt you but I made a mistake.
I was certain he would treat you right until I got back and I thought it was best to leave you here with him in case more men came. My reasoning was that they already had you and wouldn’t hurt you because they had a need for you to treat their team member.”
“It’s not your fault.” Trisha used her forearm to wipe her tears. “You saved me.
Thank you, Slade. I know you didn’t have to and you risked your life fighting that man to do it. You killed him for me. You killed all of them to rescue me.”
His fingers brushed her hair again. “You’re mine, Doc. I’d fight anyone to get you back and I’ll kill any man who touches you.”
His words sank in. Trisha lifted her head, stared at Slade. His blue eyes met her shocked ones. “I’m yours? What does that mean?”
He hesitated. “Now isn’t the time, okay? We’ll have this discussion later when we’re home. Let me help you get cleaned up. We’ll eat, salvage their supplies, and get out of here. I’m hoping we are back at Homeland by tomorrow.”
Trisha studied him. “Okay.” She wanted to ask him a hundred questions but let it go.
His hand eased out of her hair. “Stand up and I’ll help you wash. Then we’ll get busy. I don’t want to hang around here. The camp is known to their men and besides that, I hate their smell. The camp reeks of their stench.”
Slade helped Trisha to her feet since she wasn’t steady. Slade wet her shirt and started at her back, rubbing her skin. Trisha held her hair out of his way. Slade’s hands were gentle as he washed her down and then ordered her to turn to face him.
Trisha met his steady gaze. She stood naked in front of him and she watched as Slade slowly raked his gaze down her body. His mouth pressed into a firm, grim line.
He looked furious. More tears threatened to spill and she had to blink them back.
“Why are you angry?”
His gaze met hers. “No one should touch you the way he did. You have bruises. I’m furious. Anyone who marks your beauty pisses me off. I’m not upset with you. I’m just enraged that I wasn’t able to protect you better.”
She understood. Slade washed her arms and shoulders but his hands hesitated at her breasts. Then he quickly and efficiently wiped them down. Her body responded to 83
the water and air as her nipples tightened. Slade growled and dropped down on his knees in front of her.
“Don’t look at me that way.” He sighed loudly. “Please.”
“What way?”
His gaze narrowed when he looked up at her. “You have no idea how badly I want you, Doc. You’re hurt and you were nearly sexually assaulted. I tried to tease you into thinking about anything else earlier when I asked if I’d be getting lucky later. You have an expressive face. I appreciate that I can tell what you are thinking most of the time but right now I’m trying not to think what you are. Don’t look at me while I touch you. I’m honored that you trust me enough to want my touch on your body after your attack. It means a lot that you would face your fear for me.” He took a deep breath. “We need to get you dressed and leave here. I want you too but it isn’t the time.”
Trisha blushed at how transparent her thoughts were to him. She did want him. His touch would make her forget what had almost been done to her. She longed to wrap around his body and get as close as humanly possible to him.
Slade took a deep breath that drew her full attention. He washed the front of her, down her thighs to the top of her feet, and stood. Her gaze met his and she knew at that moment that she needed to feel alive, had come close to death, and she wasn’t going to be denied the one man who made her feel.
Slade attempted to cool his heated body. Touching Trisha always made him hot, ache to have her, but now wasn’t the time. She stared at him and suddenly lifted her hands, placing them on his chest. The air froze inside his lungs.
“Make me forget. Please? I want you.”
He had to force himself to breathe. His dick instantly responded, going from semi soft to rock hard in the space of a few racing heartbeats. The feel of her fingers sliding downward to his waist made him bite back a groan. His fists clenched at his sides to prevent him from lunging at her, hauling her against his body, and taking what she offered.
“Please, Slade?” Her voice lowered to a husky tone. “I know what I want and that’s you.”
He unclenched his hands, gripped her waist gently, and loved the soft feel of her bare skin. Instead of glancing down at her tempting body, he kept his gaze locked with hers.
“I want you, always, but I’m not sure right now would be the smartest thing we could do. You should calm first.”
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