Page 22 of Into the Mist

“I’ll be outside the door. Caelan’s here too. He’s gonna help get you out of here without being seen. But understand this. I won’t be leaving your side until this is over, so whatever freaky-deek notion you’ve got going on in that head of yours about not wanting to look at me, you better get over it pretty damn quick.”

“Fine.” She flung herself to a sitting position and, ignoring the ripping pain that tore through her shoulder, let her legs dangle over the edge of the bed. “Is this what you want?” she demanded. “You want to see what happens to a person’s face when their car rolls over three or four times? Are you happy now?”

Her face was hot with her anger, the slash probably glowing against her red cheeks. Eli stood about five feet away, staring at her like she’d grown another head, his jaw ticking. Served him right. Maybe now he’d get over this ridiculous idea of kissing her like she suddenly meant something more to him than just being Derek’s sister.

His feet moved, stepping closer and closer to her. She couldn’t look him in the eye anymore. Instead she focused on his scuffed, leather work boots. He didn’t stop until his thighs touched her knees. His muscles rippled beneath his jeans as he took on a relaxed stance.

“Look at me.”

She shivered and shook her head, allowing her long hair to fall forward and cover her face. Taking a deep breath, Nikki let her gaze wander up from where their legs touched and got caught on the way by the massive bulge just beneath his zipper. Swallowing was hard and her lips were suddenly dry.

“Look at me,” he commanded her again.

“I am.” Her words were whisper soft as she fixated on his cock and imagined what it would look like if she unzipped him and let it out.

“My face, sweetheart.” He tilted her chin up with one long finger until her eyes met his. “As much as I’d love for you to get to know me that way, this isn’t the time or place.”

The cocky bastard was smiling. His brown eyes, yellowed with intensity, were crinkled at the corners and she got lost in their depths. Just below one eye was a hint of a forming bruise. Her heart lurched. Somehow he’d been hurt. His thumb came up to stroke her chin, making her completely forget everything except what his touch did to her.

“You’re beautiful, sexy, smart, and I can’t wait to bury myself inside your soft little pussy.”

Nikki gasped. She squeezed her legs together and tried to stave off the impulses spiraling through her because of his words. He could not have just said that. Could he?

“Yes, I did, and we will. At home, where I can lock you away until I have uncovered every inch of your delectable body.” Her heart pounded against her chest wall, her clit throbbing right along with it. “And then I’m going to taste everything I’ve just discovered.”

“Oh my God.” The starchy hospital gown rasped her nipples, making her moan and squirm.

“Now, get off that bed and get dressed so we can get the hell out of here.”