Deadly Seduction (Feral Protectors 3) by Liv Brywood Page A

and stalked to the fire. She sat with her back to him. Great. He’d already screwed up, just when she was starting to trust him.
    A few minutes later, Lucian strolled into the room carrying two huge buckets of water. “Hey, you’re up. Nice. I thought you were a goner at one point.”
    “Are you kidding, I’m ready to run five miles.”
    Lucian laughed. “Sure you are…”
    Nosh nodded toward the buckets. “Apparently I smell worse than a pile of bear crap.”
    Gwen’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t say that.”
    Nosh chuckled. “I know you didn’t. You’re much too polite for that.”
    She lifted her chin. “Well, you do smell like a hibernating bear.”
    Both men burst out laughing. One corner of her mouth twitched and then the other as if she was trying to suppress a smile. She finally relented and grinned.
    Lucian edged toward the door. “Well, before all my nose hairs singe off, I’ll leave you to it. You’re doing a great job taking care of him. The whole pack thanks you.”
    Gwen smiled shyly. “Thanks for saying that.”
    “I’ll be back later to check on you guys.” When he reached the door he turned back. “Hey Nosh, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, buddy.”
    Nosh rolled his eyes. “I already promised I’d be the perfect patient.”
    Gwen dipped a large cloth into the water and approached. Apprehension was written all over her face. He groaned inwardly. He’d hoped joking around would lighten the mood, but she look terrified.
    “Hey,” he whispered. “I was kidding. You know that, right?”
    She swallowed. “Sure. Of course. I know.”
    She leaned over and ran the cloth down the length of his arm from his shoulder to the tips of his fingers. The warm water washed the tension from his aching muscles. As much as he wanted to watch her, he closed his eyes. She’d probably be more comfortable if he stopped staring at her.
    It worked. Her tentative strokes grew bolder. She washed both arms before turning to dip the rag in the water. He peeked out from his lowered lids. He couldn’t help but notice the way the flames from the fire reflected off of the curves of her breasts. Heat flooded his body. If he didn’t stop looking, he’d have a very obvious erection. She was jumpy enough without knowing how much he wanted her.
    As she turned back toward him, his eyes snapped closed. The cloth trailed across his chest and over his belly. His stomach clenched as he fought the growing tide of arousal. He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and bit the flesh. The distraction wasn’t enough.
    To his horror, blood flowed into his cock. As it stretched and grew, he prayed she wouldn’t panic. The bath felt so good. She’d washed away days of sweat and dirt. Each stroke made him feel like a man, like a virile, hungry, lust-filled man who wanted to pull her into the bed.
    His fingers clenched at his sides as the urge to reach for her surged through his muscles. He needed to think of something other than her swaying breasts and full hips. The extra weight she’d put on in the last year only served to enhance her beauty. He liked a woman with curves. It gave him something to hold onto when he was…
    No. Stop. He had to keep the salacious thoughts under control. Maybe later he could get her to leave him alone in the room long enough for him to take care of business.
    When the constant motion of the cloth stopped, he opened his eyes. Gwen’s gaze raked across his chest before traveling lower. Her gaze dropped to his cock for a split second before she blinked and looked away.
    She flicked her tongue out to wet her lips. “I’m sorry.”
    “Why?” he murmured.
    “I got… um… distracted.”
    “I’m sorry too.”
    “Why?”
    He dropped his gaze to his fully erect cock. “I can’t help it.”
    “Oh. That. It happens. Stimulation. Guys. They can’t control it. I mean, they can. But not always,” she stammered.
    He reached for her hand and held it gently. “I can.”
    “What?”
    “Control