Page 60 of Bonds of Pain
I follow his collarbone to where the shoulder has obviously been pulled from its socket. The Enclave taught basic first aid, but this injury probably requires more than a simple bandage. “Nope. I assumed you could talk me through it.”
His free hand shifts to my hips, maneuvering me until I’m straddling his lower stomach. “It’ll be easier from here.”
If I lean back even the slightest inch, I know I’ll feel the full length of him nestled in the curve of his ass. When I shift up, my center grinds against the hard wall of his abdomen, sendinga spike of pleasure up my spine. I’m literally caught between a rock and a hard place, which is clearly no accident.
I keep my back iron rod straight as I continue to prod at his injured shoulder. “What next?”
Poe’s chuckle reverberates through his chest against my palms. He guides my hands into position with his free hand. “Just hold my arm up like this and then lift it up while pushing hard and fast toward my body.”
I hesitate. “What if I make it worse?”
“You won’t.” The eyes that meet mine are full of a trust I don’t deserve as he gives me a crooked smile. “It already feels better just from you touching it.”
“Idiot,” I murmur. “Okay, fine. Here we go.”
Taking a deep breath, I grip his arm firmly, feeling the solid muscle beneath my fingers. The warmth of the water makes everything slippery, but I maintain my hold.
“On three,” he instructs. “One... two...”
I whip his arm up before he reaches three, feeling a sickening pop as his shoulder slides back into place. Poe’s entire body tenses beneath me, his free hand gripping my hip so tightly that I’ll probably have a bruise tomorrow. A sharp exhale escapes him, his eyes squeezed shut.
“Sorry,” I whisper, not entirely sure why I’m apologizing.
His eyes open slowly, pain still evident in their depths. “No, it’s good. The surprise actually helped.”
We stay like that, my body hovering over his, neither of us moving. The steam rises around us, creating a hazy barrier between us and reality. In this moment, I could almost forget why I’m here—why I need to destroy these men who’ve claimed me against my will.
Almost.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I ask, the question slipping out before I can stop it.
Poe’s expression shifts, something unreadable crossing his features. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You know why.”
“Then you tell me.”
I can’t hide the bite in my voice. “Because you’re getting tired of waiting your turn?”
His hand moves from my hip to my face, brushing a strand of wet hair behind my ear. The gentleness of the gesture catches me off guard.
“Is that really what you think?”
“It’s what I know,” I counter, refusing to be swayed by false kindness. “Your pack Alpha claimed me. If you want an Omega, then I’m your only option.”
Poe’s head swings up so he can stare at me, gripping my hip tighter when I instinctively lean away. “Is that actually what you believe?”
I shrug, feeling inexplicably guilty. “I don’t know what else there is.”
“You really think I don’t see you? How amazingly unique you are?” Poe’s hand cups my face, his eyes more serious than I’ve ever seen them. “You think you’re just a prize? Maya, you’re the first person who’s seen me—really seen me—in years.” His thumb traces my cheekbone. “I like your quick mind and your bravery. I’ve never met anyone else like you, and I sincerely doubt that I ever will.” I look away, because I refuse to let him see my reaction to his words. He lets me, fingers so featherlight on the curve of my cheek that I barely feel them at all. “I like that you’re still fighting when anyone else would have broken. Your strength terrifies me sometimes. His forehead touches mine, our breath mingling in the steam. “I like that when you call my name, it feels like coming home to something I never knew I was missing.”
The water laps around us, and I realize I’m trembling—not from fear, but from the weight of his words. This isn’t manipulation.
This is something far more dangerous.
He studies me for a long moment, water droplets clinging to his eyelashes. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m not waiting for my turn, Maya. I’m just waiting. For as long as you need me to.”
The sincerity in his voice threatens to crack something inside me. This is dangerous—far more dangerous than Logan’s possessiveness or the reluctant pull of my bond with Cillian. This illusion of choice, of respect, could make me forget what they’ve all taken from me.
