Page 41 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

Merrick stalked toward her, sand whipping around his boots and dark eyes flashing, and she quickly averted hers, snagging on the small bandage wrapped around his hand.

Despite the furiousness of his gait, a smile tugged at her lips at the sight.

He deserved it.

But when she felt the rage simmering in the air, she quickly bit it down.

Best not to rile him up further.

“Most people take off their clothes to bathe,” he growled.

Her eyes clashed with his, and when she noted his furiously lowered brows, she squared her shoulders, forcing back a wince when the wet tunic shifted uncomfortably as she did so.

“Are you trying to get me undressed?” she taunted, ignoring the small voice in her mind warning her that she’d just decided not to agitate him more.

A vein throbbed by his temple. “If I were, you’d already be splayed out on the sand beneath me, begging me to join you.”

He…

What?

Heat flooded her face, and she groaned to herself when he lifted a silver brow.

“Whatever you need to tell yourself,” she forced out, using every ounce of willpower within her to keep meeting his eyes.

The corner of Merrick’s mouth twitched, and she sighed again as the smile she’d repressed earlier pulled her lips upward.

A low chuckle left Merrick when she lost the battle to keep them down, and she couldn’t stop a muffled laugh from escaping her as they continued to stare at each other.

She shook her head as more laughter bubbled up.

Stupid Fae.

She wanted to be furious at him.

Not laugh.

Merrick lifted his wrapped hand. “Don’t worry, I’m aware.”

She could smell the iron staining the white bandage, and when an ember of guilt clawed its way into her chest, her lips finally dropped.

Wincing, Lessia took a step toward him. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

She’d been so damned angry at Raine.

And when Merrick tried to keep her quiet…

Merrick offered her a crooked smile. “Not many have managed to draw blood from the Death Whisperer. You should be proud.”

More shame tore through her.

After what Raine told her last night…

She hated that he called himself the Death Whisperer.

He was so much more.

But she didn’t know what to say.

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