Falling With Grace

I winced. “Sorry.”

“You’re quiet.” He sighed, dropping the cloth in the sink. “I’ll give you that.”

“Product of…” Heat crawled up my cheeks as I moved closer to him. “Never mind.”

Just breathe.

“You’re supposed to be lying down.”

“Shouldn’tyoube the one lying down?” I braced myself against the countertop. “Maybe I should have Javier call Dr. Navarro?” I turned for the door.

His strong, wet hand clamped around my wrist, spun me around, and lifted me in a single breath, my ass hitting the vanity top. “Don’t run from me.”

I shook my head. “I wasn’t…”

He’d wiped the blood from his face and throat, leaving a watery, wet smudge where the cloth had touched.

My mouth dried as the pink dribbles crossed over his nipple towards his stomach wound. He stepped between my legs and handed me the bloodied cloth, my tongue turning to sandpaper. “You wanted to help.”

I glanced at the fuzzy balled material in his hand and reached for it. “How do you want me to help you?”

“You can start there.” He took hold of my hand and guided it toward his side wound, which had stopped bleeding. “Let’s break you free of this hemophobia.”

“My what?”

He released my hand, and I patted the cloth below the deep cut with trembling fingers.

“The fear of…” He hissed through clenched teeth. “Blood.” He growled, his jaw pulsing as he glanced down at me, our height still unmatched despite me sitting on the counter.

“Sorry.”

“Gentle.”

“I’m trying.” I glancedup through my lashes. “My hands won’t stop shaking.”

“Don’t look at me like that.”

I swiped the cloth against his abs. “Like what?” My bottom lip sucked between my teeth.

He hissed again, reaching behind his back as he clamped down on my wrist. “Better yet…” He pulled his hand forward, holding a pistol tucked inside its holster, then placed it on the far side of the vanity, my wrist never leaving his grasp. “Remove my belt.”

I glanced down and followed the faint trail of hair that disappeared into this waistband, then reached for his buckle.

This was on my terms.

He’d stop when I…

I reached for his belt buckle with my free hand and tugged on the metallic buckle when he trapped me in his other.

“Only if you want to,mi pequeña.”

His little one.

“I’m a monster, Grace, but I’m notthatkind of monster.”

My stomach flipped and fluttered, and my heart skipped a wild beat, stealing the breath from my lungs.

I tipped my chin up, meeting his gaze, our lips a single breath from touching. “Okay.” I gave a subtle nod, wrapped my fingers around his belt buckle, his hand falling away from mine, and pushed the lever, releasing it from the thick leather fed through.