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that held the heart was still hot, but it hadn’t leaked any blood into Dane’s pocket. Dane tucked it carefully into the padded box, taking the time to knot the strings of the bag seven times.

“I’m fine. Wouldn’t have been a problem except for the dying thing.”

Dane took the knife from the sheath under his vest and laid it into the lid of the box where it fit

perfectly into an indentation there and glowed blue as the box locked. Once the light faded, he put the box in his suitcase. He started to take off the damned ring and pushed it back onto his finger with a sigh. They might need it again.

“I’m sorry you got hurt. And that I couldn’t help. Again.” Lindsay frowned. The little scowl was

rather endearing, really.

“Getting hurt is what I do.” Dane peeled off his vest; when he let Lindsay see him, the last of the scars

were still visible. “I get over it. Nice that you care. Thanks.” His tone was dry, but he meant the words. He was unaccustomed to the sentiment and it made him feel awkward, as though Lindsay’s concern was a coat

several sizes too small for him to wear.

“Can you do it a little less?” Lindsay tilted his head. “You’re a fast learner…”

Dane stopped getting undressed and glared at Lindsay a long moment before he laughed. “Smartass.”

Lindsay looked unrepentant as he laughed as well, wretched little brat that he was. It was good to hear him laugh. The animal in Dane couldn’t think beyond the moment and the man didn’t want to. Nothing could be

wrong in his world when Lindsay laughed like that.

“Come on.” Dane kicked off his boots. “We both stink.”

Dane’s pants were the next to go, and Lindsay was sure Dane could smell the lust that surged in him.

He’d seen Dane naked a few times, but the wonder hadn’t faded. Dane was gorgeous. As he stood up,

though, his lust was dampened by the pain from his back that made him wince and hiss in a breath. “Let me

just…” He started unbuttoning his shirt, his fingers awkward and slow.

“Let me.” Dane was right there, though Lindsay hadn’t heard him cross the room. He ran one hand

over Lindsay’s hair, so gently. With the other hand, he hooked a claw in the opening of Lindsay’s shirt and drew it to the hem. The fabric parted with a whisper and the shirt fell open.

Lindsay stared at his torn, stained shirt. It took a moment for it to sink in that Dane had sliced it open

and his razor-sharp claw hadn’t touched Lindsay’s skin at all. “Oh,” he breathed. “Thank you.”

“Don’t think you’ll be wearing it again.” Dane pushed the shirt back from Lindsay’s shoulders, his

warm palms skimming Lindsay’s skin, and let it fall. “It’s not really you anyway.” His long hair brushed

Lindsay’s cheek and he pressed a gentle kiss to Lindsay’s temple. “Let me help with the rest?”

Lindsay nodded. He hurt too much to be able to get his clothes off nearly as quickly as Dane could

and, if he was totally honest with himself, the show of control was intensely arousing. “Please. I think I like it when you help.” He had little hope of being less than honest with Dane.

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“I noticed.” Dane sniffed playfully in the hair over Lindsay’s ear before he sank to his knees and

unlaced Lindsay’s boots.

It was such an unfamiliar pose to see Dane in, but Lindsay was begi

kinds of things didn’t matter to Dane. He was begi

hadn’t grasped before. Dane had almost died for him— again—and Lindsay knew now that these weren’t

isolated incidents. Dane would do anything he could to keep Lindsay safe. Lindsay hoped that someday

he’d deserve that kind of devotion.

Lindsay let Dane help him strip, swallowing hard as he felt the brush of Dane’s claws against his skin.

His clothes fell to the floor. God, that was really hot. After everything that had happened tonight, he

should’ve been curled up in the corner, shaking and terrified. Instead, Dane’s care and touches soothed him and let him move past the fear. Dane couldn’t fix everything, Lindsay knew, but he could fix a lot by being who he was and caring about Lindsay.

Dane stood, ru

body to cup his face. The touches left a trail of heat in their wake. Lindsay felt like he was burning up, and Dane hadn’t even kissed him yet.

Just like the walk back to the hotel, Dane scooped Lindsay up and carried him to the bathroom, only

this time, Lindsay was awake and aware enough to enjoy it. He gave Dane sweet kisses and soaked up the

warmth and the feeling of being cared for. Wanted. Dane wanted him.

Dane settled on the edge of the big, deep tub and turned on the water, still holding Lindsay to him

with one arm. His expression was definitely troubled and, though they were both filthy from the fight with

the guul, when Dane picked up a washcloth and wet it, it was Lindsay’s face he washed first.

Lindsay closed his eyes and didn’t move while Dane washed his face. When the cloth moved away,

Lindsay opened his eyes again. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing now.” Dane kissed his forehead. “Wanted that stuff off your face.” The unhappiness was

fading from his expression as he studied Lindsay’s clean face. “To see you.”

“Oh.” Lindsay couldn’t help but smile. He felt warm through at the idea that Dane liked looking at

him—at him. Leaning in, he nudged his nose against Dane’s chin and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “It’s me now.”

Dane rumbled, a happy noise, and nuzzled against Lindsay’s cheek and neck. He huffed softly there,

like a sigh, and then patted Lindsay’s hip. “Into the tub.” The hot water was getting deeper, swirling around the curves of the tub and sucking at Lindsay’s feet as he stepped in. “Izia packed some salves,” Dane said, letting go once Lindsay was steady. “I’ll see to your back.”

“Why didn’t I pass out this time? I mean, I used my magic—or tried to, at least. It felt like he

was…eating it up, like it wasn’t doing anything. But why didn’t I…?”

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