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His lips parted as if he were hurt by the accusation. But then he pressed his lips together tightly and half-shrugged. There was no point in arguing about something we both knew was true.
“Go get the medical kit out of the car and let me take care of that properly,” I scolded him. “I’m sure Stone has one.”
I caught the faintest pleased glimmer in his eyes, as if he liked being cared for. When he returned, he still looked pleased as I directed him to the one chair in the room. I settled myself onto the end of the bed to tend to him.
His enjoyment lasted until I poured antiseptic into the wound. He hissed and crinkled his nose. “This is completely unnecessary. If I just shifted…”
“There isn’t room for a wolf in this tiny hotel room, and I want you here with me.”
His lips tilted up again.
I couldn’t help it; I smiled at him as I laid a fresh bandage over his skin and began to tape it properly. It was hard to stay mad at Liam. “You know I am going to find out eventually.”
“It’s not important.”
“Mm.” I carried his shirt off to the sink to wash out the blood.
“That’s not necessary,” he protested.
“I like taking care of you,” I told him. I’d been forced to do so many domestic tasks, told that was my role in life as a woman. I never wanted to be treated like a servant again. And yet… Liam expected nothing from me, and so it was nice to take care of him.
Dylan sat up, rubbing his eyes. Liam grabbed his damp shirt and pulled it over his head, and it clung to his every rippling muscle. The fabric did nothing to calm my desire, but at least it meant Dylan didn’t realize he was hurt.
Dylan yawned and stretched. Then he saw Liam and his face lit up. “What are you doing here? Is Cole here too?”
Liam looked surprised as I felt.
“No, Cole isn’t here,” I said.
When Dylan’s face fell, my heart twisted in my chest.
“Okay.” Dylan looked disappointed, but then his eyes brightened as he looked up at Liam. “But you’re here!”
I wasn’t sure when Dylan had bonded with Liam. After all, Liam drifted through the house seeming as if he only rarely snapped into our reality. I was pretty sure he had tripped over more Lego builds than he’d ever touched in any other way. Liam gave me a look that was just as confused as mine must have been.
“I’m here,” Liam said. Which was a pretty safe statement of fact, given that he was hesitating at the end of the bed. I sat next to Dylan and began to absently twist one corner of the floral bedspread.
“We need to go back to the hospital to see Aunt Rose today.” I glanced at Liam, who had that faraway look in his eyes. He looked different today, his hair short, his dark t-shirt and jeans neat and clinging to that well-cut, muscular body. At first glance, he seemed like he had a commanding, solid presence.
Now that I’d begun to think about how Liam might or might not be willing to fight if it came down to it, I wasn’t sure if we were any safer with him at our side. Maybe he would scare away any potential attackers. He looked scary as hell.
No one had to know Liam’s brutal life had turned him into a marshmallow on the inside.
And if we hadn’t been scared for our lives, honestly, that would have been refreshing. Liam was the only one I knew who didn’t want to see more violence. Everyone else seemed to think blood was the answer.
“Let’s take two cars,” I said.
I was going to check out of the motel. I didn’t plan to come this way again.
“Dylan and I can go grab some breakfast and meet you back here,” Liam suggested.
“No,” I said too quickly and Liam, who noticed way too much when he was present, gave me a quizzical and slightly hurt look. I couldn’t stand to let Dylan out of my sight. “I know I’m overprotective—”
“I didn’t say that. It’s alright. We’ll go together to the lobby, and then we can all go over together.” To Dylan, he added, “This way you can pick out your own donut.”
Dylan had brightened at Liam’s appearance, and he brightened even more at the mention of donuts.
We checked out of the motel and walked across the street to a little mom and pop breakfast place.
