Page 50 of Midnight Secrets

Except for the next few minutes.

I sat down on the edge of the tub and unfastened the Velcro straps, toeing it off with my other foot. Cooler air hit my sweaty flesh. With a grimace, I wiggled my toes.

That wasn’t too terrible. It sure did look pretty, though. The outside of my ankle was a mottled purple with red around the edges and a decent amount of swelling.

“Stupid moose,” I mumbled under my breath.

It could be worse, though. The hoof that crashed to the ground near my head could have hit its mark and bashed my face.

Removing my clothes, I spun around and eased into the tub, using the grab bars to stand. It was a delicate balancing act, but I managed to wash my hair and body without falling over or sending the shooting pain through my leg again.

Once I was squeaky clean and my skin lobster red, I stayed an extra minute, then shut the water off. Using the bars once again to lower myself to the edge of the tub, I climbed out and pulled a towel from the bar to dry off. Once my skin was dry, I used the towel to squeeze excess water out of my long hair. From my perch on the side of the bathtub, I wiggled into my underwear, then pulled the loose t-shirt I slept in over my head.

Making sure my right leg was firmly planted on the tile floor, I stood and grabbed my boot and my crutch, slowly limping back to the bedroom. Ozzie sat in the desk chair, getting up when he saw me hobbling out.

“You’re supposed to wear that and use both crutches.” He pointed to the boot in my hand.

“Yeah, well, I’m still damp and this thing gets sweaty even when I’m dry.” I wished I had the other crutch, though. Walking without the boot hurt more than I thought it would.

Eyes on the bed—my goal—I didn’t realize Ozzie’s intentions until his arms were around my waist and my feet left the ground.

Startled, my gaze connected with his. This close, I could see the lighter brown flecks in his dark eyes.

His steps faltered a few feet from the bed, and he stopped, but didn’t put me down.

My mushy insides returned. The hands I’d laid on his shoulders to steady myself drifted toward his neck, my fingers inching into the nearly black hair at the back of his head.

His lips parted on a quick intake of breath.

Mine tingled, wanting to taste him.

If he didn’t put me down in the next couple of seconds, that was going to happen.

Naturally, I didn’t say anything.

What woman would when in the arms of a man like Ozzie?

I pushed my hands deeper into the silky strands of his hair.

His jaw worked. “Claire.”

“Hmm?”

“This is… it’s not a good idea.”

“Probably not.” But that didn’t stop me from bringing my hands forward to frame his face. My earlier admonition to myself floated through my mind, but I pushed it away. This didn’t count. He wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss him. I could see it in his eyes. No embarrassment happening here.

Beard stubble rasped beneath my fingers. I leaned in, pausing so close our breaths mingled.

With a pained groan, he closed the gap.

Lightning flashed behind my eyes at the first touch of his mouth on mine. It pierced through me in an instant, leaving me humming from the ends of my hair to the tips of my toes.

He pulled back. Those lovely dark eyes had turned midnight black.

For several heated seconds, he just stared. I could see the debate going on in his mind. The same one warred within me.

Was this wise?

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