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  “Oh, well…okay, I guess” Tess clutched the towel to her chest with her right arm and held up the left to him, wondering what he was going to do.

  “Thank you. And as I said, I’m not certain this will work but I think…” He didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, his eyes began to glow again, just as they had when he was trying to pull the metal anti-theft screen out of the concrete around the window at Pierce’s house.

  His other—the part inside him he said was dangerous—is he accessing it now? Using it somehow—letting it come forward?

  Tess didn’t dare to ask. She just bit her lip but didn’t try to pull away as he leaned down and brought her wounded limb to his mouth. With long, slow, smooth strokes, he bathed the torn flesh with his tongue.

  Tess bit back a gasp. His mouth on her skin was hot, wet…and sensuous. But somehow she knew he wasn’t trying to seduce her. He actually thought he could help her in some way although how in the world he expected…

  Her thoughts dried up as he pulled back, exposing her hurt arm.

  Her hurt arm which was no longer hurt.

  Oh, the bruise was still there but the cut was gone—sealed up into a faint white line and even that seemed to fade as she watched.

  “How…how did you do that?” Tess gasped. She held her arm up and examined it from every angle, trying to figure it out. “Is this some kind of alien magic or something?”

  Garron shook his head. “Not magic—chemistry. The chemistry of my dr’gin.”

  “Your what?” she asked, looking up at him dazedly.

  “My other,” he clarified. “The other that lives within me. I…called on it to help me and it did. Or rather, I called it to the surface enough to use its healing powers.”

  “But…didn’t you tell me that was dangerous? Letting it come up…out?” Tess still couldn’t stop staring at her healed arm.

  “It would be if it wasn’t for you. You seem to…quiet it somehow. To tame it.” He looked as though he was groping for an explanation but finally he shook his head. “I’m sorry I can’t explain it better but I actually feel more in control of myself—of my dr’gin—when I touch you. You calm the fire in my blood.”

  Tess remembered him saying similar things the first time he held her, back when he thought she was a Pairing Puppet, and also after he had pulled the cage out of the window and had begged her to put her arms around his neck.

  “All right,” she whispered, looking up at him. “Now what?”

  “Now I’d like to heal your back as well…if you’ll let me.”

  “I…” She bit her lip uncertainly. “You want to…to lick my back?”

  He nodded. “It’s the only way.”

  “But I…I don’t know.”

  “Tess…” He took her hand in his and looked earnestly into her eyes. “These scars I bear are old—there was no one to help or to heal me when the wounds were inflicted. But yours are still fresh. If I heal them now before they have time to set…”

  “You really want to do this, don’t you?” she whispered, watching his face.

  Garron nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. “I can’t…can’t bear to think of his marks on you permanently.” His deep voice was tight. “Please…let me erase them.”

  God, can’t believe I’m actually considering this. Tess shifted, feeling incredibly vulnerable and naked behind the thin towel.

  “And…you swear that’s all you’ll do? Just…heal me?”

  He frowned. “Remember, I told you that I have made a private vow to be true to a memory of another? One I loved?”

  “Oh, yes…you did say that. Sorry. So of course it would only be healing.” Tess felt her cheeks go hot.

  “Of course,” he repeated.

  Tess felt like all the breath had been sucked out of her lungs. It’s okay, she told herself. He’s not looking to do anything but heal me. So it should be fine.

  “Well then…” she said aloud, wishing her voice didn’t sound so shaky. “All right.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  They went into the darkened bedroom and Tess was glad the only light was a thin sliver coming from between the closed drapes. It made her feel less self conscious knowing that he couldn’t see her very well.

  “Lie down on your stomach,” Garron directed, helping her onto the king sized bed.

  Tess did as he said, keeping the towel clutched tightly to her chest and wishing she could cover her bare behind as well. Unfortunately, the skimpy little hotel towels weren’t exactly made for plus-sized girls like herself. No matter how she tried, she was always somewhat exposed.

  “Don’t worry about covering yourself—just try to get comfortable.” The big Kindred’s deep voice was gentle as he propped a pillow under her head and arms. Then he lowered himself to the bed beside her.

  “I’m…trying.” Her voice came out slightly strangled. Having a big, powerful male looming over her in the dark wasn’t exactly the most relaxing experience.

  Hold still you little slut and take your punishment!

  Tess bit her lip and clenched her pillow, fighting the urge to curl into a protective ball. Her whole body felt tense as Garron leaned over her. God, why had she agreed to this?

  Somehow, just as he had before in the dark hallway in her apartment, he seemed to sense her tension.

  “Tess,” he murmured, crouching low so that his warm breath stirred a tendril of hair at her cheek. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine,” she lied. “I just…this is…harder than I thought.”

  “I can tell,” he murmured.

  Tess tried to laugh but it came out as a breathless gasp.

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “For one with my senses, yes. I can smell your fear.”

  “You can what?” She turned her face to look up at him. “Seriously?”

  He nodded, his eyes glowing softly in the dim room.

  “Yes. And I know why you’re afraid. I know how hard it is to trust again after trust has been betrayed. But please know this…I will never hurt you.” He stroked a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Never, Tess.”

  Tess bit her lip, staring up at his lovely, inhuman eyes.

  “I…I want to believe you,” she whispered.

  “Then do it—trust me. You’re safe with me. Just relax and let me heal you.”

  “I…I’ll try.” It was the best she could do.

  “Thank you.” He stroked her cheek. “I promise I’ll go slowly. And you can stop me at any time if the healing becomes too…intense.”

  Tess wanted to ask what he meant by “intense” but just then he bent over her again and she felt his hot breath on her wounded back.

  She froze instinctively—waiting for the first blow to fall. The first punch from a fist, the first slap of a belt, the first crack of a cane…

  Instead she felt only softness…warm, wet softness. The press of lips to her wounded shoulder…the soothing glide of his tongue over her vulnerable flesh. Soon the stinging ache which had accompanied that particular cut melted away—erased by the gentle action of his mouth.

  Tess felt her fear ease to be replaced by a different kind of tension. He wasn’t just healing her—he was kissing her better. Literally kissing each cut and wound as tenderly and gently as a lover kissing his mistress’s mouth. And with each press of his lips, each stroke of his tongue, she felt a deep tingling spreading out all over her body. A tingling that somehow found its way from her torn back to the tight tips of her nipples and the warm, wet spot between her thighs.

  She bit back a moan as his mouth moved downward, finding the cuts Pierce’s belt had inflicted on her lower back. His big hands held her lightly in place, resting just on the curve of her hips as he trailed tender kisses lower and even lower.

  When she felt his mouth against the top curve of her buttocks, heat surged through her. Tess bit her lip. God, was he even kissing her hurt places anymore? Or was he just kissing her because he wanted to? No, no, she tried to remind herself. He’s not intere