Savage Redemption - By Alexis Morgan Page 0,25

floor feeling cool to her bare feet. She held on to the bed for as long as she could, but then she was faced with the daunting prospect of crossing the final expanse unassisted and unsupported. She actually made it almost halfway before once again her legs gave out.

“Son of a bitch!” Conlan snarled, but his touch was gentle when he swooped in to catch her. One second she was flailing, trying to catch her balance, and the next she was cradled against Conlan’s powerful chest as he carried her across that last little distance. He set her down inside the bathroom and then stalked out.

As he pulled the door closed, he said, “Call me when you’re ready to go back to bed. I’d rather carry you than have to scrape you up off the floor.”

“Fine, I will.”

So much for her dignity, although that wasn’t what had left her hands shaking this time. Instead, it was the realization that the few seconds she’d spent in Conlan’s arms had felt like coming home.

* * *

Well, that had been a major mistake, but he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what else he could’ve done. Short of letting Kat crumple to the floor like a broken doll, he’d had no choice but to catch her. To hold her. To dredge up memories of how it had felt to hold her close.

He needed his ass kicked for even thinking about such things. Maybe he’d go ask Rafferty to do the honors, except he suspected the vampire would tell Joss about it. Conlan had no desire to go toe-to-toe with her again. The sound of the door opening put a quick end to that line of thought.

Kat appeared in the doorway, her face looking freshly scrubbed. “I’m ready.”

This time, rather than picking her up, he offered Kat his arm. She grabbed on with surprising strength as the two of them shuffled across the room. At the side of the bed, he stepped back to give her room to maneuver. When twice she failed to lift herself back up onto the mattress, he gave up and grabbed her by the waist and picked her up. Clearly startled by the sudden movement, she latched onto his shoulders with both hands. Her touch sent a jolt of heat straight through him, leaving him hard and hungry.

For the space of a heartbeat, their faces were at the same height. Her bright turquoise eyes locked onto his, the touch of her gaze almost tangible. He froze, leaving her dangling in midair as he tried to remember what he’d been doing.

“Conlan, do you want to put me down?”

No. Not yet. Not before he tasted that lush mouth. He lowered her to the edge of the bed, making a space for himself between her knees. If he stopped to think, he’d never forgive himself. Her lips parted, maybe ready to protest, maybe in invitation. He didn’t know and didn’t care.

He swooped in to kiss her, to reclaim what had once been his. Her lips were soft, giving. She sighed, all the tension in her body draining away as her hands slid down to press against his chest, her fingers kneading his shirt like a contented kitten.

He deepened the kiss, coaxing her to join him in exploring the heat flashing between them. The connection was red-hot; the way she fit against him was absolutely perfect. The only thing that would be better was if they were skin-to-skin, their arms and legs tangled together as they rode out passion’s storm together. Then his fingers brushed against her bandage, a razor-sharp reminder of why she was in the infirmary in the first place, dragging him back into the present.

When he jerked back, Kat teetered forward. Only Conlan’s chancellor-quick reflexes kept her from hitting the floor. He shoved her back onto the bed. Madder at himself than he was at her, he waited until she lay back to quickly refasten the restraints.

“Is that really necessary?”

There was no mistaking the hurt in her voice, but he couldn’t let it get to him. They’d just crossed a line that he shouldn’t have even gone near. What the hell had he been thinking? The answer was simple—he hadn’t been thinking; he’d been feeling, something he hadn’t done in three years. This was sure no time to start.

“Yes, it is.”

Even as he started to fasten the straps, though, he noticed her skin was already rubbed raw in places. Damn it, why did everything have to be so