Free Destiny Forgiven (Shadows of Destiny) by Leia Shaw

today. She didn’t appear at first and he wondered if he’d have to drag her in. But with a groan, she rounded the corner. An ache started in his chest as he took in her pained expression.
    “Sit down,” he commanded softly, motioning to the toilet seat.
    She obeyed though it took her a moment to get there. He parted her legs so he could stand between them then he placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her head.
    Just a day ago, he’d held her in his lap. He’d stroked her, soothed her until she’d fallen asleep. And he’d never felt such satisfaction. Though her hair had been covered in grit, it still felt like perfection between his fingers, her skin soft despite the lumps from being hit.
    Hands shaking, he pressed the cloth to the scab at her temple. Curse him for not having brought her an ice pack after the ordeal. But what kind of torturer provided medical attention to his prisoner? The giant egg on her head made his heart ache like nothing he’d ever known. He wanted to fucking kill Grant.
    Taming his anger with a deep breath, he dabbed at the blood surrounding the gash. She hissed in a breath and his gut twisted.
    “I…” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”
    Could she hear him over the running bath water? She gazed up at him, her eyes soulful pools of trust and innocence. How could anyone hurt such a beautiful, sweet girl? But he had. And it was killing him.
    He swallowed hard and stepped back. “Get undressed.”
    Her eyes widened. “What? I… No.”
    She was modest? After she claimed to have been in love with him, now she refused to get naked in front of him? Fuck that.
    “You’re going in that tub whether you strip yourself or I do it for you.”
    She frowned then looked down at her ragged clothes. “What’s the point of getting clean when I just have to put these dirty clothes back on?”
    “The water’s warm.” He dipped his hand in to check. “It’ll help you heal.”
    After a moment of contemplation she finally shrugged, then mumbled, “It’s not like I haven’t been naked in front of you before.”
    He took a deep breath and held it as she lifted her shirt over her head. Fuck. The bruises caught his attention first. And that her ribs showed too much to be healthy. Ugly black and purple marks made a pattern across her torso to just under her breasts. The urge to hit, to kill tore through him again. He stamped it down with thought of his mission – why he couldn’t fail. His people were counting on him. What he stood for was right. What she and the rebels did was –
    When she unsnapped her bra and slid the straps off her shoulders, his mind blanked. Creamy white skin surrounded her puckered nipples. He longed to suck one into his mouth. When she crossed her arms over her chest, he realized he was staring and shook himself out of the daze.
    “Uh,” he explained brilliantly then cleared his throat. “The pants too.”
    Despite the blush that spread across her cheeks, she boldly stood and shimmied her jeans down her hips. He grimaced at the crackling sound they made from being stiff with dried dirt and sweat. Underwear went next but before he could catch a glimpse at much more than her sexy ass, she jumped into the tub and sunk down in the water.
    He heaved in a breath and stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.
    “Thank you,” she said, peering at him from just above the tub wall. “I can take it from here.”
    The hell if he was leaving the room now. His cock was pulsing thinking about her naked just a few dozen feet away. He wished he could strip and climb in there with her. The Jacuzzi tub was big enough – why shouldn’t he?
    No. He almost let out an agonized groan. Naked in a tub with the enemy was a stupid idea. And by the way his pants were tenting, he’d fuck her up against the tub wall in a matter of minutes. She was too hurt for that and she deserved better.
    Fuck. He rubbed his hand over his head. The small splashes of water caught his attention. He