Page 22 of Ignite

My hand rubs over the wound on my thigh, pain pulsing under the pants. She notices.

“I told you to be careful.”

Her voice is clipped. Stern. It makes my cock twitch.

“I’m a naughty boy, Hallie. I can’t help it.”

She tuts and rolls her eyes. Christ. I like it too much.

“Does it hurt? Want me to check it, make sure you haven’t broken a stitch?”

I shake my head. “No. But I’d love a drink. That’ll cure me.”

“Dr. Quinn is going to be pissed at me.” Her gaze drops to the floor.

“Trouble, I’ve had twenty-nine years of winding my brother up. I’ll take the rap for this one. He won’t think anything of it, I promise. Trust me, it’s a skill of mine.”

I grin and she softens.

“Where’s your keys? I’ll go get your car now instead so it’s done, and I’ll call him while I’m doing it, and by the time I get back, we’ll be sweet to just relax.”

“I could use a glass of wine. Or bottle.”

Chapter 8

HALLIE

“Lily. You are not going to believe this,” I whisper-hiss down the phone.

Lily is my lifelong best friend. The woman who’s seen me at rock bottom and dragged me back from it, bloody knuckles and all.

“What? You finally came?”

“Ha-ha. No. Look, I don’t have long, but I caught Ben cheating while I was patching up Dr. Quinn’s hot brother. And now he’s in my house and wants to stay the night to look after me.”

The line falls silent.

“Damn, Hallie. I don’t see you for three days, and this happens. How hot is hot?”

I tap my nails on the counter, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Way over six feet tall, covered in tattoos, rugged… you know, like scary but gorgeous.”

Oh my god. I sound like a horny teenager.

“The kind that will fuck you up against a wall and choke you good?”

“Lily!” I gasp.

The deep rumble of my Shelby echoes down the street.

“He’s back with my car now. Come over tomorrow night.”

“Oh, I will be there. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“So that’s essentially do anything I want.”

“Love you,” she whispers, giggling.

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