“It’s so beautiful.”
“It really is.”
She turned and looked at Bram. He wasn’t watching the falls but instead had his eyes trained on her. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He wasn’t talking about the falls but about her. He sounded so enthralled, so weak, that it was such a sharp contrast to the strong, ruthless male she just met.
Kenzie didn’t say anything, but honestly, she didn’t know how to respond. After a few seconds of Bram just watching her, he pulled her closer to his body, and they stared at the cascading water.
They settled into a relaxed, comfortable silence, and that was fine with Kenzie, because she couldn’t remember the last time she felt so content.
22
Bram pulled the truck to a stop in front of the cabin, and after grabbing the grocery bags and heading inside, Kenzie excused herself to the bathroom. The time with Bram seemed to pass so quickly.
Already, she had been with him for several days, but even if it had passed quickly, she felt like she had been with him far longer.
This was her second trip into town, and even if she felt safe with Bram, she still didn’t let her guard down. She knew Rook was still lingering in Sweet Water, hiding and just waiting for her.
It was nice getting out, seeing the small, intimate town that was so much more than how it presented itself. Shifters and humans alike mingled effortlessly, and she loved the small, personal relationship everyone seemed to have with one another.
Kenzie shut the bathroom door behind her and stepped up to the mirror. Her side didn’t hurt as much, but the annoying itch that came with the healing process was starting to bug her.
She should have been healed already, but the stress and fear she still carried, albeit lessened now that she was around Bram, slowed things down.
Bram hadn’t so much as touched her in the way she wanted him to, and Kenzie found herself immensely disappointed because of it. He had kissed her, but it wasn’t nearly as thorough as she ached for. This arousal that grew inside her was becoming almost unbearable, and she knew he was going slow, not wanting to frighten her further.
There wasn’t any doubt in her mind he could smell her desire for him, but he was far stronger than she gave him credit for, because he could keep himself in check.
She really shouldn’t even be thinking about the lewd things that passed through her mind on a daily basis now, but it was unavoidable. How could she not want him, when he helped her far more than he would ever realize?
Pulling her top off and turning to the side to look at herself in the mirror, Kenzie started peeling away the tape and bandages. The claw marks were now just raised, pink lines, and her body was rejecting the sutures. She really didn’t need the dressing anymore, so she tossed it aside and ran her fingers over her flesh.
Twisting to look farther behind her, because one of the marks snaked behind her back, she gasped out as her skin was pulled taut. In the next instant, the bathroom door was pushed open. A squeal of surprise left Kenzie, and she spun around and braced one of her hands on the counter for stability. Bram stood in the doorway, a concerned and wild look on his face.
“What’s wrong? You okay?” He scanned her body, and it was after the initial shock of seeing him bust in that Kenzie realized she didn’t have a top on and her breasts were only covered by a thin, cotton bra. Fire raced up her neck, and although she wanted Bram with an intensity that startled her, she was embarrassed by her state.
“I heard you cry out in pain. What’s wrong?” He stepped farther into the bathroom and took hold of her arms. He pulled them away from her body and continued to scan her for injuries. Despite the fact that she was only dressed halfway, there was no arousal reflected in his expression, only a deep-seated need to make sure she was okay.
“I’m all right.” At his disbelieving look, she added, “I swear. I just turned a little too quickly, and it pulled at my wound.”
After another couple of seconds looking her over, he finally seemed satisfied and released her. He took a step back. Neither one said anything for so long that Kenzie started to get uncomfortable, especially with her lack of clothing. She grabbed her shirt, but before she could put it on, Bram had a hold of her hands, stopping her from moving.
“What are you doing?” Her words were a breathy mix of confusion and simmering arousal. The way he dipped his gaze down to her chest had her feeling like she wore absolutely nothing in front of him.
“I can’t even tell you what you do to me, what having you near does to my body.” He was still looking at her chest, and her breathing kicked up, causing her breasts to rise and fall at a rapid pace. “It isn’t just about the fact that you light my body up, Kenzie. Just having you near makes me feel so good. It feels so right, baby.” He took a step closer, and the mix of his cologne as well as his natural scent washed through her. “I have to fight my bear every minute not to tear your clothes off, run my tongue over your skin, and make you mine.” He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. At that moment, he looked so vulnerable and nothing like the fierce male she knew he was. “But I know I have to be gentle with you and go slow. You’ve been through so much, so much more than I can even comprehend.” He opened his eyes but didn’t lift his forehead from hers.
“Bram?” Her eyes fluttered
