Bonds of Desire Read Online Free PDF Page A

in. How long had it been since he’d felt this cared for? Too long to even remember.
    “I can’t afford it,” he mumbled into the pillow. He’d been around enough to know he’d need more than Neosporin and ibuprofen to feel better. And since he’d apparently thrown away his pride with his dignity, he could at least hang onto his brains and accept the bit of help he knew he needed. She’d gotten rid of the audience, an act that already had him owing her.
    “I’ll make sure The Den takes care of the medical expenses.” Again there was silence as she waited for him to respond. This woman seemed to be made of patience, or maybe she was just used to dealing with stupid assholes.
    “I’m too ashamed,” he admitted before his brain sent the cease and desist order to his mouth. He clenched his fist, the tension extending to ripple across his shoulder blades and set off another flash of sizzling pain. Fuck . The toe-tapping increased, his focus returning to the accelerated beat until he could breathe evenly once again.
    “How old are you, Tyler?”
    Did he really want to admit that? He’d purposely played up his boyish appearance once he’d discovered the number of dirty older men who were willing to pay for that illusion. Somehow it made the well of shame feel even deeper when he’d thought he’d already hit the bottom. “Twenty-eight.”
    Almost thirty, and he couldn’t even face the woman who was offering to help him. Now he felt as old as the youth he portrayed. Was the night ever going to end? Finding the bitter edge of his humility, he turned his head and lowered his arm until he could see her.
    She sat back with his movement. Her hand dropped from his hair, the offered serenity going with it. He took her in, casting a long trail from the top of her curly brown hair over her expensive-looking business suit, past her crossed legs to the black, pointy-toed heels. She didn’t fidget, not even a little. She simply held her hands in her lap and watched him.
    “Did I pass?” The lightness in her tone showed amusement, not anger. His gaze shot to hers just to be sure. She smiled, her broad mouth filling her face with kindness. “The inspection. Did I pass?” She tilted her head, curls tumbling over her shoulders to spring on her chest.
    Tyler stared into her big brown eyes, unable to answer. Her eyes fit her mouth, large but not overwhelming. They balanced her face and seemed to match the rich brown of her hair color almost perfectly. Or was it the other way around?
    He bit his cheek and willed himself to respond. He wasn’t a kid, no matter how it appeared. “Yeah. Did I?”
    Her smile widened and her eyes crinkled just a touch at the corners. “Yes. You did.” She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, a cloak of seriousness descending with her dimming smile. “Will you let me help you? We can take it in stages. But I’m not leaving until I know you’re safe and cared for.”
    He swallowed but didn’t look away. “Why?”
    She furrowed her brow. “Because you need help.” Her tone stated the answer like it was obvious.
    “That’s never mattered before.” Christ . The statement sounded even more pitiful when said out loud. Apparently the dick that’d been jammed up his ass earlier had banged against his brain and knocked the sense out of him too.
    The concentrated study that marred her features morphed to understanding. At least it wasn’t pity. “It matters to me.” She smiled, the kindness reaching out to wrap around him. “You matter to me.”
    Well , shit. “You don’t even know me,” he growled, pushing back. Of all the things she could have said, he’d never expected that.
    “I don’t need to know you to help you.”
    “I can’t pay you.”
    She shook her head. “This isn’t about money.”
    “Then what’s it about?” The doubt made his voice sharp and bitter, matching the taste in his mouth. In his experience, people didn’t help someone unless there was something in it