Page 14 of Poison and Wine

“Is that how you feel about your thigh and your hand?” he countered.

“As a matter of fact, it is. She thought I was going to rape her, and that you were there to help. You can’t fault any woman for trying to save herself.”

A hush fell over the car. I knew each of my brothers were thinking about the same thing, or in this case, the same person. When Caterina’s head once again fell against Dare’s shoulder, he didn’t move her away. Although I was grateful to him for showing her kindness, I didn’t like how she snuggled herself against him. Like she was seeking out his warmth.

When she turned her face into his neck and pressed her nose and lips against his skin, the bastard had the audacity to wink at me. “You even remotely get off on that, and I’ll cut off what’s left of your balls,” I growled.

Dare chuckled. “Then turn the light off in the car because I can see way too much through her nightgown. Or then again, don’t turn them out. I need to make sure my cock will still rise to the occasion after her mop assault.”

Before I could bark out the order, Kellan turned the interior light off. Glancing in the rearview mirror at Dare, he said, “There’s a blanket in the third-row seating.”

“Grab it,” I ordered.

“Yeah, yeah,” Dare muttered before throwing his arm behind the seat to grab the blanket. I watched him like a hawk as he draped the blanket over Caterina’s shoulders and then wrapped it around the front. When she sighed with pleasure and then snuggled up to Quinn, I turned around. Considering his aversion to touch, I knew he wouldn’t be getting any enjoyment out of having a half-naked woman against him.

Any bump in the road sent searing agony through my thigh. “You want something for the pain?” Quinn asked.

Turning around in the seat again, I jerked my chin at Caterina. “I sure as hell don’t want what you gave her,” I mused.

Quinn chuckled before digging into his medical bag. After he pulled out a pill and a bottle of water, he handed them to me. “This will take the edge off, but not knock you on yer arse.”

“Thanks.”

After tossing the pill in my mouth, I gulped down the water. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes and willed for the pain to subside.

After a silent drive, we made it to the airport in Palermo about an hour later. A jet sat on the tarmac waiting for us. To ensure our undetected escape, our pilot had logged a fake flight plan with a destination of Prague, rather than Catania. Seamus would be waiting for us at the house he’d rented. Since I didn’t know how much longer Caterina would be knocked out, I was glad our flight was merely thirty minutes.

Because she was already plastered against him, Quinn reluctantly pulled Caterina into his arms. She sucked in a harsh breath as he lifted her up and out of the car. After we’d all boarded the jet, Quinn took Caterina over to the sofa and laid her down. Before he fixed the cover over her, he threw an uncomfortable glance at me. “She really needs to come out of that wet nightgown.”

“We don’t have anything else to put her in, do we?”

“There’s a robe in the bathroom,” Kellan replied.

I nodded at him. “Grab it.”

As he went to retrieve it, I narrowed my eyes at Quinn and Dare. “You two turn yer backs.”

Dare grunted. “I could give a shite less about what your bitch of a bride looks like naked.”

“That’s sure as hell not what you alluded to in the car,” I challenged.

He laughed. “That’s just because I wanted to get a rise out of you. All I want now is a drink and an ice pack for my cock.”

“Then fuck off, why don’t you?”

“Gladly,” Dare replied before heading to the liquor cabinet.

Kellan returned with the robe. Without even having to be told, he turned his back to Caterina. “Always a bleedin’ gentleman,” I chuckled.

Bending over, I brought my hand to the hem of Caterina’s nightgown. I jerked it up her thighs and over her hips. Silently, I gave thanks for what I would’ve considered Nuns Knickers—the white cotton panties that covered not only her pussy, but most of her lower abdomen. I don’t know why I was surprised. It’s not like I expected her to be wearing a lacy thong.

After bringing the nightgown over her head, I tossed it to the floor. I then gently eased her arm in the robe before pulling her up against me to do the second arm. Once I was finished, I tied the lapels together. To ensure she warmed up, I added two blankets.

The pilot poked his head out of the cockpit area. “We’re about to take off, so I really need you all in your seats with your seatbelts fastened.” His gaze dropped to Caterina. “She needs to be belted in as well.”

“She’s fine as she is.”

The pilot’s brows furrowed. “But?—”