Free Bonds of Desire by Lynda Aicher

doctor had sent home a dose to hold Tyler over until the drugstores opened.
    “I’m good,” he insisted. He released his hold on Seth’s wrist, relaxing incrementally but moving no more than to tuck his hand back under his pillow.
    “Are you?” Seth asked. The swap of biting words with this gentle complacency had him on edge.
    Tyler contemplated Seth before the corner of his mouth curled up. “No. But the drugs are worse than the pain.”
    “How?” Allie tugged the hem of the T-shirt down, stretching the material over her bent knee until it was pulled tight and hid the teasing curve of her breasts. Her gaze landed on Seth’s hand, his grip on Tyler’s neck seeming to hold her attention. Her innocent question made it clear that she’d never been in a place of vulnerability. Must be nice.
    “No one will harm you here,” Seth assured Tyler, ignoring Allie’s question but shooting her a hard glare. “I promise.”
    “W-what?” she sputtered. “Are you implying that I would hurt him?” Her mouth opened in disbelief. “I don’t believe this.” She ran her hands through her hair. Her jaw worked like she was chewing on her next words. “Look. I promised Tyler I’d help him. And I won’t go back on that, no matter how much you—” she pointed at Seth, determination flashing in her eyes, “—keep trying to chase me away.”
    “I’m not trying to chase you away.”
    “Then what was that kiss about last night?” Her triumphant smirk was accompanied by the thump of her arms crossing over her chest. She arched her brow at Seth.
    He didn’t look at Tyler, wouldn’t give her the point by looking away. But Tyler hadn’t tensed at her words. His muscles were still lax under Seth’s palm. “Just a kiss. One you liked, if your reaction was honest.” It was his turn to raise a brow.
    “Then what’s all this about?” She waved her hand at the two of them lying on the bed.
    He did glance at Tyler then. The smile lighting his face was surprising enough to make Seth pause. The mischief danced in the other man’s eyes to banish the haggard cut of life’s trials. In its place remained a stunningly beautiful man who eyed him with a calculation that left Seth speechless. He cleared his throat so he could answer Allie. “Comfort? Kindness? Either of those familiar to you?”
    She laughed. Her soft chuckle eased over them and sent shivers down Seth’s back. She dropped her defensive pose to stare at her lap and fiddle distractedly with the hem of the shirt. “I don’t get it. I’m obviously way out of my element here. I don’t know what to think, let alone how to fight.”
    Tyler turned his head to look at Allie. The soft rustle of the pillow sounded loud in the quiet room. “Why are you fighting?”
    She huffed out a puff of air. “I don’t know. I don’t...” She closed her eyes.
    With aching slowness, Tyler eased his arm out from under the pillow to rest his palm on Allie’s knee. She flinched at the touch. Her eyes jerked open, but she didn’t look up.
    “Don’t fight. It doesn’t help. Don’t give up, but don’t fight.”
    She glanced down Tyler’s arm, her lashes lifting to stare at the man between them. “Then what should I do?”
    Seth was held spellbound by the exchange. The power shift was so quick and subtle that even he didn’t know how it’d happened. But it was beautiful and it gave him hope. The small warmth bloomed within him without his consent.
    “Stay,” Tyler answered.
    Her gaze skated over Tyler’s head to land on Seth. “Do you want me to?” She was still speaking to Tyler, but the question was posed to both of them.
    “Yes.”
    Seth remained quiet, letting the other man control the moment. But he watched Allie, her chocolate eyes appearing both contemplative and rebellious. There were layers upon layers of distrust to peel back before anyone would ever get to the core of who Allie was. It was so clear now that the flirty, aggressive persona she’d displayed in