Page 22 of Cherished By the Sinners

He turned and approached her, his gaze flicking down then up her body.“What do you need?”His deep, dark voice rolled through her like it always did with a secret thrill that was a pleasure she never had to feel guilty enjoying.

“Can you change the bandage on my back?That cut is bleeding again.”

She turned around so he could see.

Of course, he could now see everything that asshole had done to her.Scars she would never be able to get rid of.

Mason didn’t move or say anything for so long she wondered if there was something wrong.“Mason?”

No answer.

Was he disgusted by what he saw?

“You know what?Never mind.I can ask Louise to help me.She does it most of the time anyway.Either her or another female housekeeper.”She tried to laugh, but it didn’t sound very happy.“I think they’ve all seen the spaghetti art that is my back at least once by now—”

A large warm hand came to rest gently on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry.”Mason’s voice rumbled out of him as if he were the voice of a volcano.“I wish I’d met you sooner, to spare you this.”His hand shook, the slight tremors betraying the depth of his emotions.

She wished that too, but regrets were easy.“I might not have accepted your cousin’s job offer if I hadn’t been so badly injured.I had to hit rock bottom before I could walk away from that life.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him.“It was that or die, you know?”

He nodded, his gaze following the path of his fingers.“I do know.”He blinked and gestured at the bathroom.“You have supplies?”

She nodded and stepped into the bathroom so he could join her.There had been plenty of space, but now...Mason filled it.

It didn’t matter where she looked, he was there.She closed her eyes, but his scent was all around her, telling her he was close.So close.

She sat backward on the toilet lid and hunched over the tank so he didn’t have to bend too far to reach her.

He looked at the first aid kit, pulled on a pair of gloves, and carefully peeled the bandage on her back off.He threw it in the garbage, then leaned down to examine the wound.He even sniffed it a couple of times.

“This isn’t infected, yet,” he said.“But it needs to be cleaned very well and some antibiotic ointment applied or itwillget infected.”

He seemed to know what he was talking about.“Can you do it?”

Again, he hesitated.“It will hurt.”

“I can take it.”She tried for that fake laugh again, but it fell flat.“It can’t be worse than when he...he cut me.”

“I don’t want to cause you any pain at all.”

His voice sounded...tight and unhappy, and she didn’t know what to say to make him feel better.

Three strong knocks at the door had her grabbing her t-shirt and covering her chest with it.She had her bra on, but still...

Mason went to the door, looked through the peephole, then opened the door.His brother came inside.

“What’s taking you so lo...”Magnus’s voice trailed off as he caught sight of her partially dressed state.

His wide eyes had her quickly explaining, “Mason is changing a bandage on my back for me.It’s bleeding again.”

“It needs to be cleaned first,” Mason muttered, sounding even more unhappy.“It’s quite deep.”

“May I?”Magnus asked.

“Oh, of course.”Darlene turned so he could see her back.