I filled the sink beside her with warm water, planning on soaking her feet and then bandaging them.
“The dress,” she whispered.
I groaned. I didn’t care about the bloody dress. But I knew she did. “Take it off, then.”
“Right here?”
“Shelby, I’ve seen you in a bathing suit. I think I can handle your underwear.”
“Um—”
Chuckling, I shrugged out of my jacket and unbuttoned my shirt, yanking it off, leaving me in my undershirt. “You can put this on.” I wrapped my arm around her. “Come on, I’ll help you.” Gently, I set her on the floor, my eyes following her hand as she pulled down the hidden zipper on her dress. The deep-red gown pooled at her feet, and I swallowed when I saw what was hiding underneath the satin.
Her bathing suit, I could handle.
This, I wasn’t sure about.
Red. Lacy. Strapless.
A bustier.
My gaze drifted downward.
Tiny scraps of fabric tied at her hips in the same shade of red, leaving a tantalizing strip of soft flesh between the bustier and her underwear. A strip I wanted to lick.
And the underwear…tiny straps with bows that led to…
I shut my eyes as the room became far too small and far too hot. All the blood in my body was now pooled in one place.
My hard, aching cock.
Which was at that very moment trying to punch its way out of my pants to get to that red lace.
Bugger. Shit. Damn.
I gulped in air. Tried to think of anything else. Puppies. Worms. Everett in his underwear. Anything but the warm, red-lace-wearing woman in front of me.
Who was in pain and needed me to look after her.
Not lift her back onto the counter and fuck her until she screamed my name.
At least once.
Three or four times, preferably.
Her voice broke through my thoughts. “Liam?”
I blinked at her and handed her my shirt. I needed to rein myself in. “Put this on, Shelby, please.”
With downcast eyes, she did as I asked. I realized she thought I wanted her to cover up for a different reason than I needed her to cover up. I cupped her cheek. “Hey.”
Her hesitant gaze met mine. I covered her mouth with my lips, yanking her close. I pulled her hips against mine so she knew how she was affecting me. Her eyes flew open, meeting mine that were already staring at her—trying to convey a hard message.
I smiled against her lips. “Just for now, Beaker. Or your feet won’t be the only thing that’s sore.”
I set her back on the counter, keeping my eyes averted. She hissed in pain as I placed her feet in the warm water. I grimaced in understanding. “Sorry. Now, where can I find bandages?”
“My bathroom has a first aid kit. Left cupboard by the vanity.”
“Okay, stay here.”
“Where else am I gonna go?”
I hesitated. “I’m not gonna have to touch…other things to get to the kit thing, am I?”
She smirked. “Other things, Liam?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Um…your girl…things, Shelby?”
“No, you’re quite safe.” She winked. “Just make sure you open the left cupboard. Not the right.”
“Right.”
“No, left.”
“Bloody hell, don’t confuse me! I don’t have a lot of blood in that particular head right now!”
Her amusement followed me down the hall.
It was music to my ears.