Page 192 of Savage Hearts

Again, it’s the wrong thing to say. She glares at me with the heat of a thousand burning suns.

I’m sick for thinking how cute it is.

“Excuse me for not being deadened to all sense of humanity, Mr. International Assassin, butmybody is not meat tome.”

What am I missing here? She’s not afraid to jump in front of a bullet for me, but she doesn’t want me to see her naked?“Are you angry because you think I might have touched you inappropriately?”

“Jesus!”

“Because I didn’t. I would never take advantage like that. I’m a psychopath, not a pervert. I believe strongly in consent.”

Her face turns beet red. She snaps, “Well that’s tremendous news! I feel so much better now!”

Withering sarcasm aside, she’s genuinely embarrassed. I realize it’s not fear that I did something to her while she’s unconscious that’s driving this, it’s simple vanity.

Awake, asleep, or under anesthesia, she knows I wouldn’t harm her.

She trusts me.

A seismic shift occurs inside my body. Volcanoes erupt. Mountains crumble. The sky turns to ashes, and the earth shudders under my feet.

When the dust settles, all that’s left is her.

My voice thick and my body on fire, I say, “And there are many things I’d like to get your specific consent for, Riley Rose, but touching you while you’re unconscious isn’t one of them.”

Her lips part as she stares at me, but she’s not the only one surprised by the tone in my voice. I sounded like the besotted caveman I am.

Don’t just stand here like a fool. Do something!

I test the bathwater again. That seems reasonable. Like something a man in control of himself would do. Then I shut off the faucets and turn back to her, determined to act calm and rational and keep my shit together.

If I believed in any gods, this is when I’d start praying to them for help.

“You can’t get your sutures wet, so the water will only cover your legs. I’ll wash your hair first.” I point at the metal bucket at one end of the bathtub. “Tip your head over the edge of the tub.”

When I tug on her hem again, she makes a face and stops me.

“Mal, I can’t. I can’t get naked in front of you. If this wound doesn’t kill me, the embarrassment will.”

“Embarrassment over what?”

“You seeing me naked!”

“I’ve already seen you naked. I just explained that.”And all of you is beautiful, Riley Rose, inside and out, wounded or not.

“You haven’t seen me naked while I was awake!”

Don’t think about it. Don’t picture her sweet naked body underneath yours. Keep your game face on! Say something to convince her she needs this.“You want to smell like a pigpen, is that it?”

Insulted, she curls her lip and huffs. “No!”

If there were a contest for the most wrong things said in a single conversation, I would fucking win.

“Then let me give you a bath.”

“You say that likeI’mthe unreasonable one!”

You are. You’re not afraid of me, which is completely unreasonable.And I’m the fool trying desperately not to fall at your feet.“The faster you get over your useless modesty, the faster this will be done.”