Free A Kiss of Revenge (Entangled Ignite) by Natalie Damschroder Page B

white sheet folded just so at his waist. He was staring at his phone and looked relieved when she walked in.
    “You’re not supposed to have that in here,” she chided.
    He avoided her grasp and tucked it next to his leg. “I know. It’s off. I was just debating breaking the rules to find out where you were.”
    She glanced at the clock. She’d been gone longer than she realized. “Sorry. I was wired and afraid I’d do some damage.” She winced. “More damage.”
    “Hey. I’m fine.” He grabbed her hand and smoothed his thumb over her knuckles. That was becoming a habit.
    She tugged away. “Then why are you in bed?”
    He rolled his eyes. “They want to keep me overnight for observation. They didn’t see any problems, but electricity can cause neurological and organ damage, and they want to make sure there isn’t anything like that.”
    Every word was like a punch in the stomach. “I am so, so sorry. I never—God, I don’t even know what to say.”
    “It’s not your fault.”
    He sounded utterly sincere, but she shook her head. “I hurt you, and it may have been accidental, but it happened too easily. The harm I could cause if I can’t get better control…”
    “So you’ll get better control. I’ll help you.” He licked his dry lips and flinched. “They gave me some ointment.” He motioned to the rolling cart serving as a side table. “Can you put some on?”
    She picked up the tube and turned it over in her hands. She couldn’t refuse, but was in no hurry to get that close again, especially if she had residual static issues. She closed her eyes and tested her shields and seals. Everything seemed okay. When she touched the metal rail of the bed, nothing happened.
    “Okay.” She lowered the rail and sat on the side of the bed, unscrewing the cap and squeezing out a dollop of the cream. As gently as she could, she dabbed it against his swollen lips. They curved a little, and she risked a glance into his eyes. He was staring directly at her, and the intensity in his eyes burned deep. Now that she’d had a taste of him, she knew what to crave. She swallowed, the sound audible in the curtain cocoon.
    His hand slid under her hair and caressed the back of her neck, pressing into the tight muscles there.
    “Relax, Reese,” he whispered. “Everything is going to be okay.” His fingers dug deeper into her hair, rubbing against her scalp until her eyes closed and she breathed out a quiet moan.
    “Griff.” His name sounded like a sigh on her lips.
    She braced her hand on his chest and felt his heart slamming into his breastbone. Their foreheads came together, breath mingling, and it was the most intimate moment she had ever shared with someone.
    “All-righty-then!” The curtain ripped open and Reese hopped off the bed, busying herself with replacing the cap on the tube while the orderly released the brakes on the bed and got it ready to move.
    “My things are there.” Griff pointed to a chair against the wall, where his clothes were folded. “Can you take them tonight and bring me a change out of my duffel for tomorrow?”
    “Of course.” She picked up the clothes and hugged them to her chest. “Your phone?”
    He winked and slid his hand under the covers. The orderly was already maneuvering the bed and didn’t notice.
    “Uh, what room number?” she asked him.
    “Two-forty-two. He’s going for a CT scan first, so you can go up there and wait if you want. It’ll be a while.”
    A wave of fatigue surprised her, and the monitor Griff was no longer hooked up to made a fuzz- ing sound.
    “You go home,” Griff told her. “I’ll get some sleep and see you in the morning.”
    She would have protested but knew the smarter thing was to go home and settle herself so she could come back in the morning.
    First she drove her car to a point halfway between the park where Artsfest was still going strong and her house. Then she searched for Griff’s car, using his key fob as she walked up and