Page 25 of Kane's Kingdom

He crouches and looks down at the soot on my hands. "You're coming back to the compound."

"The fire department will need me here."

"They've got your number."

"I should stay until--"

"No."

I meet his eyes. "Kane."

He stands and holds out his hand. "You're coming back to the compound."

There's nothing in his tone that allows negotiation, and on any other day, I'd fight him simply to remind us both that I could. Today, I put my hand in his.

He draws me carefully to my feet and watches my face until he's satisfied I'm steady. Then he gives me his helmet and settles me on the bike behind him.

I've never ridden with Kane before. I've never felt the vibration of his machine beneath me or the solid heat of his body between my arms.

He reaches back, pulls my hands firmly around his waist and says, "Hold on."

I do. I press my cheek to his back as we leave the Landing behind us with the firefighters still putting the fire.

The compound receives us like a body closing around a wound. The gates roll shut, and brothers move the moment they see Kane's face.

Kane takes me to his room and checks me over again, wiping soot from my face and examining the scrape across my palm. He makes me sit on the edge of the bed while he crouches between my knees, his hands moving over my arms and ribs like he needs to confirm I'm still in one piece. Even now, even through the fear and the adrenaline, my body responds to his touch. Heat rises beneath the places his fingers pass.

"You need a doctor."

"No, I need a shower."

He touches the soot on my cheek, his thumb tracing along my jaw, and his gaze drops to my mouth before he catches himself. "You inhaled smoke."

"I was outside within a couple of minutes. Kane, I’m fine."

His jaw tightens. Underneath the anger, the fear is still unmistakable now that I know what it looks like. It's more powerful than anything he could say.

Kane Calhoun doesn't scare easy and he was terrified anyway.

I touch the side of his face, and his eyes close briefly beneath my palm. Then Judge appears in the doorway.

"Brother." One word, carrying club business behind it.

Kane stands. "Stay in this room."

Usually, I'd tell him precisely what he can do with that order. Instead, I'm comforted by his protection. "I will."

He leaves with Judge. I shower, change my clothes and sit on the edge of his bed, trying not to picture flames climbing over my cafe.

An hour later, raised voices carry along the hallway. I can't hear every word, but Griz's voice comes through more clearly than the others.

"The club's bleeding for Red's girl.” I go completely still.

Someone answers too quietly for me to make out.

"First the guards, then the prospect, and now the Landing," Griz continues. "What's next? We lose brothers over a woman who ain't even ours?"

"She's under Kane's protection," another man says.