Page 175 of Puck Me Back to Life

I stay down on him until he’s writhing beneath me, whining. “Ash, I'm ready. Please.”

I kiss back up his chest, pulling his sweatshirt off, licking between his pecs as more skin is shown.

Then I stop.

There's a wide bandage wrapped around the inside of his forearm.

It wasn't there this morning.

My stomach tightens. “Kai.”

He follows my gaze, lust clouding his eyes slightly. “Hmm?” Almost imperceptibly, his shoulders tense.

“What happened?”

His answer comes too quickly. “I cut myself cooking.”

I frown. “Cooking?”

He nods. “I slipped.”

“And cut your forearm?”

“Yeah. I wasn't paying attention I guess.”

The explanation doesn't make sense. Not because people can't cut themselves in the kitchen.

Because of where it is.

Because of the way he's suddenly avoiding my eyes.

Because he's pulling his arm slightly behind his back.

“Kai.”

“It's fine. I promise. Keep kissing me.” He pulls my face towards him, but my eyes are glued to the bandage.

“Let me see.”

He immediately shakes his head. “It's really nothing.”

Something cold settles in my chest. “Hayes.”

He still won't look at me.

I gently catch his chin between my fingers until he finally meets my eyes. “Are you lying to me?”

The silence lasts only a second. “No.”

He's a terrible liar.

His breathing changes.

His eyes drift away.

He tries to push me off, but I pin him down into the bed. I reach over to his arm.

“Let me see.”