With Everything I Am by Kristen Ashley Page B

one of those times that set her teeth on edge and made her want to scratch his eyes out.
    Sonia did not do that.
    Instead, she said, “Give me the boxes.”
    “Goddamn it, Sonia –” he started but she interrupted him.
    “You want me to show you? Then give me the boxes so I can gosh darn show you!” she snapped.
    He scowled at her a moment before he handed her the boxes.
    Then with extreme ill-grace, Sonia showed him how to load the needle and with even more extreme embarrassment, she turned, undid her belt and cords and pulled her pants down to expose her upper right buttock.
    “Just jab it in and press,” she bit out angrily. “The faster the bet –”
    She stopped talking when she felt the heat of his fingers grazing her bare skin. She jerked up and whirled.
    “Callum, just jab –” she started but he set the injection aside, grasped her hips and turned her. “Callum,” she said, twisting her head to look at him then snapped, “Callum!” when his thumb hooked in her pants and pulled them a few inches down over her hip while his other hand held her firm.
    “Baby doll,” he murmured as his thumb slid along her skin.
    “What are you doing?” she tried to snap but it came out breathy.
    His thumb stroked back, softly, even tenderly.
    Then his eyes came to hers. “You look like a fucking pin cushion.”
    Her body grew tight and she looked away.
    “That happens when you have to take an injection every night,” she informed him. “Now if you’d just –”
    His hands at her hips became arms around her belly and he pulled her into his big, hard body.
    “I don’t like this,” he said into the hair on top of her head.
    He didn’t like it? He should try being her.
    “I don’t like it either,” she replied. “It’s not fun. That’s why it’s better just to do it fast and get it over with.”
    For a moment, he was silent. Then he sighed.
    Then, without letting her go, he reached out with one hand to nab the injection.
    “Pull down your cords for me,” he ordered gently.
    She did as she was told and without delay, she felt the jab.
    Then she felt the burn.
    Her arm flew out and her fingers curled around the basin while she sucked in breath, closed her eyes and fought the pain.
    When it burned out, she found herself wrapped tight in his arms, tucked in his body with his face buried in her neck.
    His warm embrace unsettled her.
    Because it felt good.
    She’d always battled the pain alone. It only lasted a minute or two but it still hurt.
    She’d never had anyone, not anyone, help her battle the pain. Not since her Momma and Papa, who held her close after giving her the injection. Gregor was not a “holding close” type of guy.
    It also surprised her.
    Callum was a pretty domineering man though he’d also shown moments of tenderness.
    But nothing like this.
    Her fingers curled around his forearms, “Callum.”
    “It hurts.” It was a statement.
    “Yes.”
    “It looked bad.”
    “It’s excruciating.”  
    His arms tightened further.
    “Callum, it’s okay. I’m used to it.”
    “There’s no other way?”
    She shook her head.
    His face shoved deeper into her neck before he whispered, “Baby doll.”
    Before she could say anything else, he’d done up her cords and belt then she was cradled in his arms and they were out of the bathroom, Callum striding to the living room.
    He laid her on the couch and didn’t hesitate in joining her, stretching out and pinning her between his big body and the back of the couch.
    She looked at him and announced, “I’d like some tea.”
    “I’ll get you some in a minute. Tell me about your thing.”
    “What thing?”
    “Your blood thing.”
    She pulled in breath.
    He was being way too nice. And way too concerned. And way too sweet.
    And it was messing with her head.
    Then she thought it best to give him what he wanted. It’d be over sooner that way.
    “I don’t know much about it, no one does. It’s that rare. I’ve lived with it my whole life.