Page 23 of Never and Always
“Hey, hey.” Big hands cupped my cheeks. “Big city, stay here with me. Look at me.”
My gaze locked on his. On his beautiful hazel eyes. They were a soft green and I wanted to count the gold flecks in them.
“You’re safe.”
I nodded, my breathing still shallow.
“Say it. Say, I’m with Everett and I’m safe.”
“I’m with Everett and I’m safe.”
“Good.” His thumbs brushed my cheeks. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
I nodded.
“Say it,” he murmured. “Say Everett won’t let anyone hurt me.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Everett won’t let anyone hurt me.”
Chapter 8
Everett
“Another deep breath.”
I watched as Piper dragged air in. She was shaky, but holding it together.
Seeing her with her hair mussed, clothes dirty, and blood on her skin had some protective feelings welling up inside me.
If you’d asked me this morning if Piper Ellis could be vulnerable and need protection, I would have laughed.
I fucking hated that some asshole had done this to her.
“You’re safe, yeah?”
She nodded jerkily. I could see her working to calm herself down.
I strode to the cupboard above the fridge and pulled out my bottle of Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey. I poured a few fingers into a glass and handed it to her.
“Drink that.”
“I’m not really?—”
“Drink it, Piper. It’ll help settle the nerves.”
With a nod, she tipped the glass back and downed the whiskey. Her nose wrinkled and she wheezed. “I hate whiskey.”
“It’s a good American single malt made right here in Colorado.”
She set the glass on the bench. “Um, thanks.”
I stroked a finger along her jaw, took in how soft her skin was, then quickly turned to the first aid kit.
“That looks well used,” she said.
The kit had multiple half-opened packets in it. “Yeah. Like I said, I like woodworking. I have a little workshop in my garage. I’m always cutting myself. Job hazard.” I ripped open the antiseptic wipes. “I’m going to clean the cut on your neck.” I wanted the blood gone so I could see how bad it was.
She pushed her coat open and tilted her head to the side. I swiped the blood off her skin.
