Difficult? He fought back a laugh. “If you mean, cold and self-absorbed elitist assholes, then yes.” He pulled out an antiseptic pad and started wiping her neck. His anger came back full force. “Dammit, Gia.”
She winced. “I’ve scratched myself worse than this.”
It wasn’t deep, but it could have been worse. Way worse. Fuck.
He spread some cream over the cut, shocked to find his damn hands weren’t steady. The thought of Gia hurt, of her dead. His chest felt like a rock was sitting on it.
“I told you not to wander the streets.”
“Okay, okay. Get the ‘I told you so’ out.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes.”
She sighed. “I know.”
That’s when Saxon felt the small tremors running through her. Her skin felt cold. “You’re okay now. You’re safe.”
She pulled in a shuddering breath and nodded.
He pushed up the bloody sleeve of her sweatshirt. There was a smaller, but deeper cut on her forearm, and he cleaned it next.
She pouted, staring at the tear in the fabric. “This is my favorite sweatshirt.”
He stared at the blood smeared on her skin. It blasted through the last of his self-control. “He could have killed you.” Saxon exploded upright and gripped the back of his neck. “He could have stabbed you, cut an artery—”
“I’m fine, Saxon.” She watched him steadily.
He growled. Her face was cool, and he could see her practically pulling herself back together. So damn tough.
He wanted to punch something. He dropped back on the bed and carefully put some cream on the cut. Her skin was a smooth, beautiful bronze.
Her breath hitched. He looked up and saw her watching him. His gut clenched. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Mostly you annoy the crap out of me. This is my annoyed look.”
“That’s not your annoyed look.” He pressed a bandage over her arm.
Then he reached up and touched her neck. He felt the pound of her pulse, feathered his thumb over it.
She was alive.
His body shuddered.
Gia licked her lips. “Saxon?”
“Not going to let anyone hurt you again.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t think. He let his instincts drive him—something he never allowed. He dragged her into his lap and heard her gasp.
Her eyes were huge. “Saxon?”
He covered her mouth with his, pulling her as close as he could.
Her hands pressed to his chest, and he felt the bite of her nails, and then they were sliding into his hair.
He slid his hands up her slim back and she straddled him. This kiss was all tongues and teeth. Heat and need. Like they were trying to eat each other.
She moaned—a throaty, needy sound.
Blood pounded through Saxon, and his cock was as hard as steel. Then he moved his hand and heard her hiss. He’d touched her injured arm.
Hell. She was hurt and he was pawing her. He drew back, both of them panting.
“This… God…” she said breathlessly. “I don’t like you.”
“Yeah, same, Contessa.”
He was sure both of them heard the lies. They liked each other just fine, they just didn’t want to like each other.
Then Gia cupped the back of his head and yanked him back to her. They kissed again, just as hot and hungry. She moaned into his mouth.
When she lifted her head, she touched her lips, her face dazed. “Oh, God, what are we doing?”
“Acting on something we both know has been there for a long time.”
Fear shot through her eyes. “No.”
“Yes.”
She tried to pull away, but he held her tight.
“Saxon, this is crazy. You’re my brother’s best friend, we don’t like each other, we drive each other insane, and—”
“I’m claiming you, Gia. I’ve wanted you a fucking long time, and I’m not letting the excuses get in the way anymore.”
“What?” she squeaked.
“You’re mine. This is the start of you and me.”
She shook her head. “No way.”
“Yes.” He tightened his grip.
Her curls flew as she shook her head wildly. “You’ve bumped your head or something.”
“Nope.” He captured her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “You know, Gia. You’ve fucking known from the first moment we laid eyes on each other.”
She closed her eyes. “I’m in some crazy dream, or maybe I bumped my head.”
He grinned. “I remember you used to close your eyes and hope I’d go away when you were a teenager. A pretty teenager who I had to fucking stay away from.”
Gia’s eyes snapped open. She held up a hand like a traffic cop. Gia’s “hand” was legendary. “Saxon, I can’t deal with this right now.”
He nodded. “I know. Right now, my number one priority is keeping you safe.”
She gently pulled free of his hands. “Um, I have something to tell you. Promise you won’t get mad.”
His gaze narrowed. “No.”
“Saxon, please.”
He blew out a breath. “Well, you’ve been in a standoff with a man with a gun, and now you’ve been in a knife fight, so what else? Have you been wrestling tigers? Taken on a tank with a nail file?”
She shot him a look designed to shrivel a man’s testicles. “No. Willow came to see me.”
Saxon scowled. That woman. He wanted to shake Gia.
“She came to my place. She said guys were after her. Dennett’s men.”
“And she fucking led them right to you.” Fury was like an acid burn in his veins.
“Saxon.” Gia’s hands moved to his forearms. “She gave me the gems.”
He cocked his head. “Say again?”
“The gems. They’re at my place.”
He cursed. Then he rose, setting her on her feet. “Come on. I’ll take you home and get the stones, then we’re coming back here, and those rocks are going in Vander’s safe.”
Gia nodded, gnawing on her bottom lip.
Shit. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to devour his best friend’s little sister.
She fiddled with her curls. “I promised her that I’d take care of them until she could organize a safe handoff to Dennett.”
Saxon growled. “That plan has changed. Vander and I will get them to Dennett.”
Gia’s shoulders sagged. “Maybe that’s for the best.”
“You are not fucking having any more knives at your throat.” He took her hand, lacing their fingers together. He pulled her out of the medical room.
“This is the perfect chance for you to berate me for my misguided decisions,” she said quietly.
Saxon stopped and spun. She collided with him.
Holding her biceps, he lifted her up to meet his gaze. “I won’t let anyone mar that smooth skin of yours. Or spill your blood. Or hurt you.”
She stared at him.
“You irritate me, but I admire your damn loyalty, Gia. You take care of the people you love. I don’t want you hurt.”
“Saxon—”
The breathless tone of her voice burrowed into his skin. He started moving again before he did something that he’d regret. Something more than just kissing her senseless.