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Darien fought back the wave of protectiveness that le anyone who hurt Jade

“She feels sensations acutely,” he explained between clenched teeth “Probably ht because of the multitude and severity of her wounds”

“I had no idea”

“I know” He waved a hand dismissively, more so to help calht about…a liquid form?”

“I’ll leave some with you In the meantime, I have to stitch the cut on her chest Immediately”

Darien could see by the look in Schaeffer’s eyes that he was reluctant to cause ht set Darien off—but that he ultimately refused to be sent away before he’d finished what he’d started

Darien continued his pacing Then he made a decision “Give me a couple of minutes”

He toed off his boots and then reached for the towel he’d discarded After drying his pants, he whisked off his drenched shirt so he didn’t soak the linens He climbed into bed next to Jade, on the opposite side of where the doctor prepared to work on her

The prospect of tapping into hershe was in extre exactly how much pain she was in

He stretched alongside her, careful to neither jar her nor touch her His eyes closed and he pushed past her suffering, which clouded his ownfor hie, he had to put so Jade The key was to occupy her subconscious and create some sort of peaceful state for her

Choosing a beautiful locale, he envisioned them in a lush, tropical hideaway A tepid, turquoise-colored pool at the bottoe She swah for her to stand in it when she reached hih for her

He visualized her with her face co hair et and slicked back Droplets rolled down her throat and between the valley of her bare breasts The cut on the left side of her chest had vanished and her skin was flawless He reached a hand out to her and lightly trailed his fingers along her collarbone and then down to the inner swell of her breast

“You’re perfect,” he told her

She smiled at him

He pulled her into his ar, slow, deep kiss Her body melded to his and she wrapped her aro on and on His hands roa her spine and down to her ass He kneaded the soft flesh, while keeping her tight against him His erection pressed to her belly, but he was in no hurry He enjoyed the feel of her body against his and the taste of her kiss