Page 17 of Risks of Temptation

3

Emilia

"Will you keep me safe?"I ask.

Malin's smile falls, and his dimple disappears. His light-gray eyes grow darker. "Yes. Always."

Flutters bounce around in my gut like a pinball in a machine. I don't know why I'm not scurrying away from this man as I usually would.

Because he's smoking hot and ripped like the devil.

That has nothing to do with it.

Because he held me and touched me, and I didn't freak out.

Oh my God. His hands. Men touch me, and my skin crawls. It doesn't matter how good of a person they are or how long I've known them. But my skin buzzed under his hands.

Please touch me again.

What has happened to my brain? I don't know this man.

He just saved me from Santiago and his thugs.

Doesn't mean he's an all-around good person.

Another rescue guy breaks our gaze.

"Malin, take first aid."

"On it," Malin replies, and the man leaves.

"Why don't you sit down and I'll be back soon to check you out."

Heat rises to my cheeks. "Check me out?"

His lips twitch. "Clean out any cuts."

"O-okay."

Stop stuttering around him.

"Have a seat, ma belle. I'll be back." He winks and walks to the corner of the tent where a pile of supplies sit in a crate.

Ma belle.It's the third time he's called me that. I get a throbbing in my lower body every time he says it.

He probably calls all women that.

I sit on the bed and stare at the back of his muscular frame. His camouflage T-shirt strains against his broad shoulders and bulging biceps.

He could crush me without even breaking a sweat with those muscles. I swallow hard, confused about why I feel drawn to him instead of repelled and not one bit concerned that he could hurt me if he wanted to.

When I stare at his ass and thighs, my heart continues to beat faster.

"That's good. I'll hold you to it," a deep voice says and snaps me out of my thoughts.

I turn. The red-haired woman who comforted me when I first got into the pit sits on the other side of the bed. I slide closer. "Penelope."

She turns, tilts her head, and a line forms between her eyebrows. "Hey. Are you okay?"