Chapter 282
WILLA
"Does it bother you?" Lucian's eyes flickered to the bowl of water that had already turned red almost as soon as I started cleaning the wound. "The blood, I mean."
I shook my head. I got up to throw away the bloody water.
I got fresh water, soaked it in the rag, gently dabbed at the edges of the wound on his chest. Those wounds would leave scars that would probably take a long time to heal.
It did bother me that he had lost a whole lot of blood. I had no idea anyone could bleed that much.
I really would have insisted he got taken to a hospital, only he actually seemed much stronger than he had been a half hour ago. I supposed it was the Lycan blood in him, making him stronger.
Outside the tent, I could hear the others talking about incident. Sample collection had of course been halted for today.
My fingers clutching the rag, traced the raw angry slashes on Lucian's torso. If the wolf had sliced a little deeper into his skin, it's claws could have nicked some vital organs.
"Why?" I said.
Lucian's had thrown his head back and closed his eyes. Now his attention snapped back to me.
"Why what?" he said.
"Why do you keep helping and risking your life for me?"
"Adrenaline," was his response.
I arched a brow. "Adrenaline?"
"Yes, Willa. I'm an adrenaline junkie. Haven't you noticed? I don't suppose a little thing like you knows anything about the rush you feel when you're inches away from dying or being seriously, maybe even mortally wounded. Do you? No. Of course you don't."
He gave me a mocking little smile, let his head loll back again.
"So you saved me because you loved feeling like you were going to die.*
"In a sentence... Yes. I live for the thrill."
Lucian was lying. There was no doubt about it. I remembered the panicked look in his eyes when he had shouted at me to take cover.
I snorted.
"I think you're lying," I said. "Why do you always... deflect your emotions? So everyone would think you're brave and strong?"
"I am brave and strong," he said in the tones of one stating a fact. "And I told you why I did what I did. Don't even think about convincing yourself I saved you because I actually cared about you. Ask around, Willa, I'm not a hearts and roses kind of guy."
Already the conversation was inching towards a path I didn't like. The next words out of Lucian's mouth would likely be how inappropriate or inadequate I was. I kept my mouth shut and worked in silence.
"I don't think you're going to need stitches, after all," I said as I put away the bowl and rag.
"Too bad," he said. "Was kind of looking forward to you all signing on them."
I rolled my eyes at him. "People sign on casts, not stitches. Anyway, I'm done here."
I was almost out the tent door when he called my name.
"Stay the night," he said.
*************
Outside thunder rumbled. Inside Lucian's tent it was warm and comfortable. Moving carefully so I wouldn't wake him, I lay on my side and looked at Lucian's perfect face.
He looked so vulnerable in sleep. Well, almost.
The hard slant of his jaw told you he had a really quick temper. Still he looked peaceful. One lock of wavy brown hair fell across his brow.
I itched to touch it. To trace the curves and planes of his face with my fingers but I couldn't.
I settled for tracing the angles of his face in the air instead. I wished I was a sculptor or a painter. Lucian would make the perfect subject.
The rest of his body was as perfect as his face. Now that I wasn't worrying about him bleeding to death, I could see clearly in my mind's eye his rippling abs. The sprinkle of hair on his chest I had run my fingers through.
"So handsome," I whispered into the stillness.
"Am I?"
Startled, I opened my mouth to scream. Lucian covered it with one large hand. Looking at him, his lips spread into a smile.
"Ssh. You don't want to wake them all up now, do you?" he said.
I pushed his hand away. "I- You- I thought you were asleep!"
"Well I was but I'm a light sleeper. So you think I'm good looking?"
I huffed, turned on my back so I could glare at the tent's roof. I could feel my cheeks burning. "Don't let it get into your head."
He grabbed hold of my arm. He kept tugging lightly until were lying close to each other again. The chemistry was like static electricity crackling between us.
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