Page 9 of A Bond Beyond Blood

Wait, what?

I gave my head a subtle shake.Thoughts like those were dangerous.

Down, girl.

Glancing at his chest, Vinny frowned at the stain of blood, then reached behind his head to grab his shirt.In one quick motion, his shirt was off and tossed aside.

My breath caught in my throat and his gaze flicked to mine, becauseof coursehe’d heard the sound.My self-control at an all-time low, I dropped my eyes to his bare chest.The wound had already healed, but that wasn’t what had my stomach twisting deliciously and heat pooling low in my belly.

Muscles, distinct and hard, beneath smooth, taut skin.

Washboard abs.Eightof them.

A defined Adonis belt.

Good Lord, send help.

My mouth watered as my mind wandered.

That V was dangerous, had led me astray too many times, into thoughts I shouldn’t have about a man I shouldn’t want.

“Jacqueline,” Vinny warned.

And itwasa warning.

I should heed it.

His nostrils flared.His eyes went dark, crimson sneaking in around his brown irises.

Shit.

“Jacqueline,” he said again

And oh, how delicious those three syllables sounded on his lips.

Come on, Jack, focus.

I closed my eyes and willed the sordid thoughts away as I breathed deeply and fought to calm myself.He could hear my pulse.Smell my arousal.

Nope.Don’t think about arousal.

Shit.

I strained to concentrate on anything but Vinny standing a few yards away from me, his black track pants sitting low on his perfect hips—

No, no.Focus.

To help myself, I began listing items that grossed me out or made me sad.Either would be better than lusting after a monster.

Cottage cheese.

Green olives.Bleagh.

My ex.

Black olives.What even are olives?A fruit?A nut?You can’t even eat them off the tree.How weird is that?

My sister-in-law.

---