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All I could think about was the list of people Caleb had read out. Hayden’s brother and his mom. They shouldn’t have to lose him.
I didn’t want to lose him.
I got up in his face, making sure his eyes locked with mine. “Hey. Don’t you freaking die, Hayden. That’s not happening, you hear me. Keep pressure on that wound, and I’ll be right back.”
I stepped away.
The instant I did, I knew I’d made a mistake.
The door handle clicked.
Cold night air rushed the cab of the ambulance.
And Hayden Whitling fell out into the night, hitting the asphalt with a bone-crunching thud I’d never be able to forget.
32
REBEL
“Soooo. Exetere is the legit actual middle of nowhere?” I got out of the car and twisted until something in my back cracked. As short as I was, sleeping awkwardly on the back seat of the car wasn’t actually very comfortable.
Nor was it comfortable for watching your guys get each other off.
But I hadn’t minded it so much then, once the touching and groaning and sucking had started.
So. Fucking. Hot.
Kian scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder. “Not planning on seeing any of it other than the inside of this motel room. Vaughn, get the bags, will you?”
Kian strode toward the reception doors, with me dangling down his back, my bare legs kicking somewhere above his shoulders, his arm banded around the backs of my thighs tight to stop me from falling. If it had been anyone else, I probably would have fought them, but frankly, after the little show in the car, I was willing to be carried anywhere Kian wanted to take me.
Vaughn scowled after us.
I couldn’t help but laugh as he opened the trunk and started pulling bags out.
Kian’s palm crept up the back of my thigh, and he tapped my barely covered ass. “Do you know how hot it is that all you’re wearing is underwear and that coat?”
I was finding it pretty hot too, especially with his hand resting there on my ass cheek, gently massaging it.
He pushed open the door to the motel, and a little bell chimed over our heads.
“Can I help…oh my.”
Kian stopped. “Gonna need a room, please.”
The woman paused, then said, “Did your friend agree to going to a room with you?”
Kian turned around so when I lifted my head, I was staring at the bewildered face of a young receptionist. I gave her a half wave. “Hi. Yep. I consent. I very much consent. But thank you so much for asking. It’s really good of you to look out for me—”
Kian spun back around, cutting me off. “Really gonna need that room, please. Her talking about consent seriously gets me hot.”
I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh.
Vaughn limped in, dropping all our bags at our feet with a huff.
Kian glanced back at him. “You need to go to the gym more if that tiny load of bags has you all hot and bothered.”
Vaughn glared at Kian’s back. “Seriously? All of that in the car and then you ruin it all thirty seconds later.”