Page 48 of Last Light

He blinks in surprise. “What?”

“You’re hurt. That man got you with his knife. Why didn’t you tell me?”

He looks down at his side, at the slash in his skin that has started to bleed again—probably from his washing up. “Oh. It’s nothin’. Barely even noticed it.”

“I didn’t realize he’d gotten you. You haven’t even doctored it up.”

“I said it was nothin’.” He looks rather bad-tempered. It’s almost a relief. It means he’s himself again.

“Well, it’s going to get infected if we don’t take care of it. How stupid can you be?” I keep losing my towel, so I drop it and reach for my jeans. My panties are almost dry now anyway.

Travis’s eyes run up and down my body before he jerks his head away.

When I’ve got my jeans on, I walk over to the Jeep and get our first aid supplies.

Travis scowls. “I told you—”

“I know. I know. It’snothin’.” I glare up at him. “Well, I’m going to fix it up, nothin’ or not.”

He doesn’t object any further, but his body is tense as I carefully clean up the cut, apply antiseptic ointment, and put two bandages over it. His towel is in the way, so I unhook it from his waist. He holds it loosely in his hand. He’s got his underwear on still, so it’s not like he’s naked.

As I’m pressing the bandages in place, I’m suddenly aware of how close I’m standing. I can feel the warmth of him. Smell the mostly clean scent of him. His body is tight, stiff. But it’s real and male and right next to me.

I slide my fingers up from the bandages to brush along his side, and I hear his quick intake of breath.

I glance at his face and see his eyes are raking over me from my face to my chest. My hair is loose. My tank top is still slightly damp.

I feel desirable in a way I normally don’t. His blue-gray eyes are hot with something akin to hunger.

I glance down at his body. The fabric of his boxers is tented.

He’s hard.

A throbbing awakens between my legs.

Both of us are silent except our accelerating breathing. His eyes linger on my breasts. They’re loose beneath my clinging top. I look down to discover that my nipples have tightened visibly.

It’s like I can feel them. My nipples. Brushing against my shirt.

They’re straining toward Travis like all the rest of me.

Then suddenly he makes a choked sound and turns his head away with a dramatic jerk. He’s flushed a deep red. “Sorry,” he mutters. “Sorry.”

I take a few deep breaths and look back down at his groin. His erection is clearly visible beneath the damp cotton. It makes me think about hearing him masturbate in the bathroom of that house a couple of days ago. The soft rhythmic slapping. The way he groaned at the end.

I want to touch him so much I’m almost shaking with it. “It’s fine,” I manage to say.

“Didn’t mean to.”

“I know. You don’t have to be sorry.”

I wait, holding my breath. My fingers are trembling, so I fold my hands into fists.

“We should get goin’.” Travis makes an awkward turn away from me. “Can get another hour or two in before dark.”

I let out my breath. “Okay. I’m ready.”

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