I rolled to my side and patted her knee…like a fucking idiot. My protective instinct—one I hadn’t known was there—flared up as soon as the memory of her crying flashed inside my mind. I was too groggy to even attempt to shut that shit down. “How are you feeling?”
She gave me a shrug. “I don’t know.”
“I think we should take you to the hospital,” I said, rubbing my eyes. “Get them to take a look at your neck.”
“It’s not necessary.” Molly brushed her hand over the bruise that had formed overnight. “I can breathe and swallow fine. It’s just the skin that’s tender.” She sighed. “I should feel fine, right? I got away before anything really bad happened. I’m safe now. But I still…” Tears pooled in her eyes, and all I wanted to do was strangle the faceless asshole, just like he’d tried to do to her.
“I still feel like utter crap,” she confessed. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you. Some dead man assaulted you and tried to break into your home. You’re allowed to feel whatever you need to feel, yeah?”
She sniffled and wiped under her eyes. “I guess you’re right. Thank you for everything. I’ll get out of your hair soon enough.”
“There’s no rush.” Did she really think we’d let her leave without a solid plan in place? “You’re more than welcome here.”
“I was going to rent a room in a motel.”
I laughed because it was fucking ludicrous. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
“I won’t be able to find a new apartment for a while. The rental market is crazy. I need a place to stay in the meantime.”
“Not at a fucking motel,” I growled, curling a possessive hand over her thigh. “Like I said, you can stay here for as long as you need, but what about your sister? Mase thought you might want to be with her.”
Molly crossed her arms over her chest. “She’s wrapping up her last two weeks on tour. If I tell her what happened, she’ll fly right back here, and I can’t let that happen. I’ll go to her once she’s back.”
“Okay, so stay with us for two weeks. It’s no big deal. We’ve got room.”
She pursed her lips. “I’m literally taking up your bed right now.”
“You are more than welcome to stay in my room while I sleep on the couch.” I sat up and nudged her chin so that she’d look me in the eyes. “If you’re hesitating because you think this offer comes with strings, let me set you straight right now. You don’t owe me anything, okay? This room is yours. As simple as that. The only reason I’m in bed with you right now is because you asked me to.”
Her eyes widened. “I know that, Kaz. I wasn’t implying your offer was disingenuous. I just don’t want to put you out like that, or make you guys uncomfortable. I don’t even know how Mason feels about all of this.”
“Mason wants you to be safe, as do I.” That much I was sure of. He’d been as devastated as me to see her hurt.
Brushing her hair behind her ear, I cupped her cheek. “Let us help you, baby girl.”
Her eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned into my touch, as if she needed it as much as I did. I brushed my thumb over her cheekbone before moving it down to her lips.
I didn’t mean to start anything, not when she was in such a fragile state, but she parted her lips and gave me a look filled with unmistakable warmth. “Kiss me.”
Who was I to refuse her?
My lips brushed against hers, once, twice, and then she was opening up for my tongue and letting me taste her.
When my cock began to harden, I pulled away with a groan. “As much as I’d like to continue, we’ve got things to take care of first.”
The hazy arousal coloring her face disappeared in a blink. “I don’t want to go back there,” she said, moving to get off the bed. When she stood up, she looked down at my T-shirt hanging off her body. “Shit. I guess I need my stuff. I don’t have anything on me.”
“Mase and I will handle it,” I said, tossing the blanket off and grabbing my jeans off the floor. “Make a list of what you need, and we’ll bring it.”
Molly nibbled on her lip. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Let me see if he’s awake.”
I pulled on a shirt and exited the room in search of my bandmate.
Mase was putting some plates out in the dining room, and the delicious smell of bacon and eggs wafted from the kitchen. When he saw me emerge, he glanced at the couch, and then gave me a small, uncertain grin. “How is she?”
