Page 114 of Knot What I Expected

Wreck looks offended.

“You left my mate's present in your truck?”

“It survived the wildfire better than I did.”

He stalks toward it. I leave him to his priorities.

My cabin smells stale after days away. I strip before I even reach the bathroom. Gear gets dropped by the door. Boots come off. My clothes hit the floor next.

The mirror tells me Justin wasn't exaggerating. My shoulder is fucking ugly.

Red.

Blistered.

Raw patches stretching across the upper part of my back.

It'll heal. Monster is already pouring energy into the damaged tissue. Another two days and there probably won't be much left besides pink skin.

I turn on the shower. Hot water hits the burns.

“FUCK!”

I nearly punch the wall.

Maybe lukewarm.

I adjust it.

Better.

Soot circles the drain.

Smoke.

Ash.

Sweat.

Days of fire wash off me. I should be bone tired. Should fall right into my bed and stay there for a month.

But instead? What’s on my mind?

Gabby.

Always Gabby.

I can practically smell her even though she's miles away.

Woodsmoke.

September mornings.

That warm female note that makes Monster lose his fucking mind.

I brace my hands against the shower wall, and my hand runs down my body to that part of me that’s already hard and aching for her.

Fuck.