Page 19 of Under My Skin

“Let me see it?” he gently asks.

“What?” I say breathlessly.

Oh my gosh, why does my body react to him like this, and why is my voice so low?

“The bruise,” he replies sternly.

“It’s not bad, I promise. I’m a klutz, so I’ve had lots of bruises. I’ll be fine.”

“Let me be the judge of whether you’re fine or not, Lizzie. Please. I saw you fall, and I knew you were hurt, but then you just ran away…”

“I mean, it’s a weird spot, and I don’t want to flash you or anything.” He just looks down at my hip and then back at my face.

“Please.” His voice is pleading, and I’m not sure what he’s asking for anymore. But I know I’m going to give in. It seems…inevitable.

“Okay,” I say quietly. His eyes stay glued to mine as I start to grab the hem of my dress to pull it up.

I feel like I’m suffocating under his stare, but there’s not a chance in hell I’m going to look away. He wants to see it? He’s gonna get an eyeful.

I can worry about the consequences later.

10

CAMERON

I’m staringinto Lizzie’s green eyes as she moves her hand down her dress. I feel like I’ve stopped breathing. I have no idea what I’m doing.

I shouldn’t be flirting with her.

Shouldn’t be feeling possessive of her.

I definitely shouldn’t be jealous of Reid because he got to be alone with her and touch her foot. In a medical setting, no less. And I don’t even have a thing for feet.

I don’t feel in control right now, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to pay for it somehow.

I look down as she lifts her dress nowhere near as high as I want it to go, but enough to get a glimpse of the bruise covering her skin. I’m livid and about to lose my shit. Her body is marred by one of the worst bruises I’ve ever seen, and I saw quite a few in my football career.

“Fuck, Lizzie,” I say, grinding my teeth together. I move my hand to reach out, wanting to skim my fingers over her mottled skin and take away the pain. “You’ve been walking around with this all night. That’s not okay, sweetheart.”

I catch myself at the last minute. Shit. I can’t touch her right now without risking losing my self-control and my goddamn mind.

So, I use that hand to grab Lizzie’s and drag her inside my house through the front door. I forget everything but her, my mind focused only on making Lizzie feel better. Which is why I’m completely thrown off and startled when I hear my sister speak.

“Hey, Cam.” Morgan pops her head up from the couch in the living room where she’s watching TV. “Oh, hey, Lizzie,” she says with a coy smile on her face.

“Hey, Morgan,” Lizzie and I say at the same time.

“How were the girls?” I ask.

“Perfect angels. They fell asleep about twenty minutes ago,” Morgan replies while turning off the TV and getting up off the couch. She walks to the kitchen and grabs her bag off the counter and then searches for her keys.

“Thanks again for watching them tonight,” I say as I lean back against the counter, trying to be all cool and casual.

“No problem at all. Let’s grab dinner next week, Lizzie, and catch up?” she offers.

“Yes. I’ll text you.”

“You two have a good night.” My sister winks at us and then goes to leave.

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