But Nunca’s goons had fists like brick walls, and even avoiding most of the hits had left him aching. Shapeshifter healing was a boon, however, and by the time they were back to the safe house he could move without wanting to wince with every step. Mel wasn’t prepared to let him tend to his own wounds. She made him sit on one of her chairs and ordered him to remove his top if he didn’t want her to cut it off. He thought she was serious and moved as quickly as he could, baring himself from the waist up. She didn’t bother with a first aid kit. Instead, after taking a minute to secure their bounty in a hidden safe, she knelt down in front of him and placed her hands on the purple bruise on his naked torso. Luke sucked in a breath, and not because it hurt. Well, it did hurt, but the feel of her delicate fingers on his exposed flesh was enough to turn his mind in another direction. He clenched his fists at his side and tried to think of anything else, anything appropriate that wouldn’t lead him down the road to another massive mistake.
