Page 6 of A Velvet Kiss After Dark

“Your gentle nature is touching.” Wincing, Kane pulled his hands away and pulled his white T-shirt up his stomach. “Get me a towel, would ya? And some wet cloths, a bottle of alcohol, a sharp knife—hell, just bring me everything you got.”

Five minutes later, Tabitha had everything he asked for, and then some. She knelt beside him and stared at the nasty wound to his abdomen.

“What happened?”

He didn’t respond.

She slapped his arm, which made his hand holding the alcohol spill all over him. Wincing and cursing, he banged his free hand on the ground. “Ahh, fuuuu—” His garbled curse died out as he bit down hard on his lip. After a steadying breath, he leveled her a look filled with anger. “Why did you do that?”

“Because you didn’t answer me and you’re in my house. If you want my help, you’ll answer my questions.”

His didn’t look at her as his jaw ground. “Since when did you get bossy?”

“I’ve always been demanding. And you became a part of that the moment you started bleeding in my doorway.”

A knock sounded at the door.

He paused, but she didn’t notice, already moving to the door, but his hand curled around her arm to stop her. That was when she noticed the hard look in his eyes that hadn’t been there a moment before.

With a shake of his head, he warned her to be careful.

“Tabitha, is that you in there?”

Tabitha pushed him away. “It’s only my neighbor, old Mrs. B.”

“I remember her,” Kane said. “Get rid of her.”

Tabitha rolled her eyes. “What did you think I was gonna do—invite her in for tea? There’s blood on the floor!”

She opened the front door with a bright smile. “Good evening, Mrs. B. How are you doing?”

“I just came home from the salon with my friends Judy Beauchamp and Mrs. Gable. You remember I told you about them. Judy has the daughter in medical school, and Mrs. Gable’s husband died last year of colon cancer.”

“Yes, Mrs. B., I remember.”

“Yes, well, as I said, I got home and noticed all this blood on the floor outside your door.”

Tabitha glanced down and her jaw fell open. Over her shoulder, she sent a warningglare to Kane who merely shrugged. “Umm, yes, well, you see….”

Mrs. B looked her up and down through her thick-rimmed eyeglasses. “You look all well and fine. God bless your health. Is anyone hurt? Should I call the police?”

“No, thank you, Mrs. B, that won’t be necessary.”

Suddenly, the door was tugged open as Kane filled the doorway beside her. Mrs. B’s eyes grew wide as she craned her neck up to see the tall, muscular Were assassin filling the doorway.

“Remember me?” he growled.

“Why yes I do. You’re that punk I saw hassling this fine young lady before.”

“Your concern is appreciated, Mrs. B, but everything’s fine. Have a nice day.” He slammed the door shut, and Tabitha spun around and slapped him.

Grunting, he doubled over and held his side. Whoops. She’d hit him right over his wound. Glaring at her, he hobbled back over to his bloody spot on the floor.

It was on the tip of her mouth to apologize when he reached for the neck of his shirt and pulled it over his head. A very broad, bronzed back with moving muscles came into view. His back formed a V from shoulders down to his thick waist.

With some effort, she pulled her gaze away from his numerous tattoos, scars, and bruises coloring his skin in a nasty light, and knelt beside him.

This time she tried to be gentler. “What happened to you?”

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