Darkblood Prison - G.K. DeRosa Page 0,75
strutted toward the door.
“And I’m going to sneak out for a bite to eat,” said Hayden, following him. “I gotta power up after that.” He motioned to Talon, and my gaze flickered to his pale form. “You’ll keep an eye on him, pumpkin?”
“Of course.” Not like I could go anywhere by myself anyway.
“You want me to bring you anything?”
I shook my head. My stomach was still doing cartwheels. The pain had passed, but the anxiety and guilt seemed to have bored a permanent hole.
When the guys were gone, I crept toward my bed. Hovering over Talon’s still form, I held my breath. Without those intimidating silver irises boring into me, it was the first time I’d gotten a chance to really look at him. My gaze skimmed over his handsome face, his dark brows and sooty lashes. With his eyes closed and the sharp angles of his jaw relaxed, he seemed younger, even with the blood splatter. I’d always assumed he was at least in his thirties, but looking at him now, he was probably closer to my age, mid-twenties at most.
I bent down and pulled the dingy towel from under my bed and soaked it in the small basin. Apparently, angel healing power didn’t remove dried blood. Folding down beside Talon, I sat on the very edge of the mattress. The big guy dwarfed my tiny bed, his arms and legs hanging over the ends. Gently, I ran the cloth over his forehead and cheeks, then moved down to the scruffy line of his jaw.
He exhaled softly, and I froze. I waited for an excruciating second, but when his eyelids remained closed, I continued. Dipping the towel in the basin once again, I moved down his neck to his bulging pectorals. Gingerly, I skimmed the cloth over his skin, avoiding the already healing gashes and bruises.
I swept the rag over his torso, my fingers light over each ridge and valley of his perfectly cut abs. A swirl of heat unfurled in my core, flooding my insides. Stop that, Azara! I bit down on my lower lip to squash the lusty sensations. He was unconscious and covered in blood, now was not the right time.
A faint moan rumbled his chest and again, I jerked my hand up. Waiting, I barely breathed, my eyes glued to his. His lids fluttered, but they stayed closed. Glancing down at his bare torso, I decided to continue. Only a small smattering of blood remained along the waistband of his shorts.
As I reached for him, my fingers trembled and I nearly dropped the towel. Geez, get a grip, Azara. Drawing in a breath, I ran the cloth across his lower abdomen. The sharp V dipped down beneath his shorts, setting off another burst of heat in my lower half. I quickly finished my ministrations and raced to the basin to wash the blood from the towel.
The last thing I needed was more of his blood on me.
“Thank you.” The unexpected low, raspy voice sent my heart leaping to my throat. I twirled around. Talon’s eyes were open a crack, the silver peering between the slit in his lids.
I rushed to his side, barely restraining myself from wrapping my arms around him. He hates you, Azara. You killed his best friend. I repeated the words over and over until my traitorous body understood. “Are you okay?”
His lips pressed tighter together, a barely perceptible nod dipping his head.
“You better rest. Hayden said you’d need it after... after what happened.”
“He’s a worrier.” Talon’s voice was a faint echo of its normal husky timbre.
“You almost died, Talon.” Unexpected tears burned my eyes, and a thick lump tightened my throat. “Why would you confront Delacroix by yourself like that?”
He averted his gaze and stared at a corner of our cell.
I inched closer until I reached the side of the bed, standing over him. “I’ve hurt you so much. Why would you do that for me?”
“Because that’s what I do,” he muttered.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “Well, thank you.” Wrapping my arms around my middle, I turned away. I wasn’t sure where I was going since he was on my bed and there weren’t any chairs. That only left one of the guys’ bunks. I waffled by the sink for a minute before pivoting, having decided on Hayden’s bottom bunk. Pausing in front of the mattress, I scanned the sheets, my eyes zooming in on the tower of girly mags under the bed. Eew.
“Just take mine.” Talon’s rough