Page 56 of Blackwood

Hart patted my knee. “I changed majors to pre-med. Maybe I can help.” He shot me a disarming smile and dropped to his knees. “Let’s see how it’s healing up.”

“All right.” I rolled up the leg of my black lounge pants.

He bent over and ran his fingertips along the scars. “Too bad about the marks, but they’ll fade.”

“I figure they’re going to be permanent.” I shrugged. “Nothing I can do about it. Bonnie brought some cream that I put on them every night. I can’t really tell a difference, but she swears by the stuff.”

“Any muscle damage?” He began kneading my leg, his strong fingers working my flesh as I leaned back against the cushions.

“That feels amazing, and no, I think the tusks went clean through. It feels weird to say this, but I think I got lucky with the injuries. And I know I lucked out with Garrett saving me that night.” I moaned when he reached a particularly knotted spot toward the top of my calf.

“You might not have any lingering muscle damage, but your leg needs a good working over to get it back in shape. Relying on the right leg has weakened the left.”

“Yeah?” I peered down at him, his bright eyes shaded by the hair along his brow.

He tried to run his fingers to my knee, but the rolled pants blocked him. “Do you mind? I can’t get a good idea of what sort of things might help without a look at the whole leg.”

“I, um…” I started to shake my head, but he pressed his fingers along my calf again, the sensation akin to a knotted ball of string unraveling.

“Let me help.” He snagged his fingers in the waist of my pants and tugged. He made an mmm sound and pulled again.

I grabbed his wrists. “I’m not sure if this is—”

“Hart!” Garrett’s voice ricocheted around the living room like a shot as he stormed in. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

I yanked my pants back into place. “He’s pre-med. He was just checking my leg and—”

Garrett strode over, fisted the back of Hart’s polo, and dragged him to his feet. “Pre-med, huh?”

Hart grinned, mischief all over his face. “Pre-law and pre-med are practically the same thing.”

I shot to my feet. “You asshole!” Mortification painted my cheeks pink.

“Oh, come on.” He ducked out of his brother’s grasp. “She owed me one after the beetle crap I fell for. And really, what’s a little perving—nice lace panties by the way—between friends?”

Garrett took a menacing step toward Hart, who backed away and almost tripped over the ottoman.

Garrett’s glower darkened. “She’s my guest.Mine.”

“Sorry, my bad.” Hart’s smile undermined his words.

Garrett lunged for him, and Hart darted around the back of the couch and out into the hall. He winked at me before dashing toward the stairs. Garrett followed, but Hart was already pounding up the steps.

“Fucker!” Garrett called after him.

Hart’s laughter grew fainter until a door upstairs slammed and cut it off entirely.

Garrett stalked back into the living room, his eyes focused on me. I stood my ground, even as he churned toward me like a hurricane on the sea. When he reached me, he took my face in his hands and smashed his lips to mine.

Possession. He lowered me to the couch, his body covering mine as we sank down. I gripped his forearms, digging my nails into his skin as he filled every corner of my being with thoughts of him.

When he released me from his all-consuming kiss, he stared down at me, his eyes darkened with desire.

“You’re mine. You probably think you can just leave here when you’re done with all this.” He pressed his thigh against me, rubbing between my legs. “Maybe find some asshole who closes his eyes as he fucks you so sweetly.”

“I—”

“Not a man like me who takes what he wants.” He slid a hand down to my breast and squeezed until it hurt.

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