The Healer's Hellion - Miranda Bridges Page 0,30

them like you have,” Erix says.

Braxton’s expression turns murderous. Despite my best efforts to control it, my body flushes with heat. The idea of being the one Braxton is committed to beyond all reason is so tempting I can hardly stand it.

So I sabotage it to protect myself and my stupid heart.

“I think you’re confused.” I try to keep my tone even and not sound like a jealous, insecure person, which is closer to the truth. “Teresa is Braxton’s mate.”

Erix’s brows gather as his lips pull down. “I don’t understand. He—”

“Enough, Erix,” Braxton all but growls.

Now Erix’s brows are soaring toward his hairline as disbelief washes over his features. “But in the shuttle, you said that Skylar was your namori. You also said that she is to be treated like royalty and that we are to protect her while maintaining a respectful distance.”

“Fuck me.”

Braxton’s expletive has me giggling. I can’t help it. He never acts more than mildly exasperated, and the look of fury on his face, paired with his cursing, has me almost in stitches.

Until he pins me with his gaze.

Then I try to hold back my laughter by pressing my lips together. I am not successful in the least.

“You find this amusing?” He asks the question in a deceptively calm tone, but I sense the threat lurking underneath.

I shake my head but belie my true emotions by snorting. And then I’m laughing fully. Erix looks back and forth between the two of us, a genuine look of confusion plastered on his face.

“I don’t understand why you are upset, Braxton,” he says. “I have not offered to entertain Skylar since that one time on the ship, so there is no reason to be upset with me. And she refused my offer anyway.”

“You what?” Braxton grits out.

“She was crying, and I wanted to distract her, so I asked if she wanted to see the gardens.” Erix waves a hand in dismissal. “She declined, so all is well. Although I wouldn’t have asked if you’d told me what she meant to you. Actually, I place the blame at your feet, since you never expressed how important she is.”

“Oh sweet fuck,” Braxton mutters. “Erix, please do me the courtesy of shutting the hell up.”

At this point I’m about to fall on the ground and roll around with laughter. Instead, I cover my mouth with my hand while using the other to wipe tears from my eyes. Erix is a train wreck, and Braxton’s response to it is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Very well,” Erix says, pushing off the rock.

As he walks away, I inhale deep, trying to get my fit of laughter under control. Braxton assists by snatching my wrist and pulling me to my feet. Immediately I dig my heels into the ground. I open my mouth to ask him what he’s doing, but he interrupts me.

“If you fight me, I will toss you over my shoulder and spank that curvy ass of yours until your laughter turns into something else entirely.” He tugs me forward, and I automatically follow, still in shock.

Did he just threaten me?

And did I just get wet because of it?

As we walk, I assess the dampness between my legs. Yes, he totally turned me on, and now my panties are as drenched and humid as the swamp around me. Awesome.

He leads me to a small grove of trees far from the other soldiers and drops my hand to lift his. Using his gift, he manipulates the moss lining the trees until it weaves together, creating a screen of privacy.

“What do you want, Braxton?”

Now that we are alone, I find my nerves surfacing. It’s not that I think he’ll hurt me. The real problem is it’s tempting to be alone with him. I haven’t forgotten our kisses or the orgasm he gave me without even touching my skin. It would be embarrassing if it hadn’t been so amazing.

“What I want,” he says, placing emphasis on every word, “is to know why you were crying when you ran into Erix on the ship.”

“I was upset.”

There’s a part of me that realizes it’s ridiculous to keep the incident with Teresa a secret. Yeah, I don’t want Braxton to know I was jealous, but since he’s mentoring me when it comes to my gift, I should tell him so he can help me not do a repeat of nearly murdering someone. Besides, he’s already seen me break down over my parents, so it’s not like I’ve