Shades of Grey Read Free

the glass, a frown creating deep crevices in her forehead, her mouth open in shock. Had she seen him shift?
    Jesus, no. Please, not that…
    She wrenched open one door and stood in the frame, hands jammed on her hips and fire in her eyes. “Travis? What in the hell are you doing out here?”
    “I…” He couldn’t manage much more than that.
    “And naked— naked in my damn backyard!” She stepped out into the driving rain, walking towards him barefoot. “Of all the people to label a pervert, I’d never have picked you, Travis Williams. Get the hell up and explain yourself!”
    He stood, difficult with the pain in his foot, and opened his mouth to speak.
    Before he had the chance to form words, Sarah said, “Oh my God. Your foot. It’s bleeding!” She knelt, hair plastered to her head now, rain running in rivulets down her face. “Oh, shit. You’ve been shot! ”
    What?
    Travis glanced at his foot. A bloody mess marred the webbing between his big toe and the next.
    That fucking Clark…
    “Who the hell did this?” she demanded, standing and holding out her hand.
    “I don’t know.” He took her hand and allowed her to lead him into her living room. “The floor. I’m going to get it filthy.”
    “Fuck the floor!” she snapped. “I’m more interested in your foot.”
    Normally, he’d have wished she was more interested in his cock, but now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. As though knowing he’d been shot had given his body permission to react, the pain grew more intense. It was only a flesh wound, but, shit, it killed like a mad bitch.
    She closed the door, snapping the lock into place. “Get yourself into the kitchen. I’ll clean you up. And maybe you can explain why you’re naked while we’re at it.”
    He lowered his head and walked to the kitchen as best he could, wishing other circumstances had led to her seeing him naked. Still, at least she knew what he looked like unclothed now. The best he could do was let her clean then dress his wound and get the hell home. He’d make up some bullshit about why he was on her property at night and hope he convinced her.
    He sat on a pine chair at the table and lifted his foot, balancing it on his knee. Sarah bustled in, draping a blanket around him then going to the cupboard under the sink where she kept her first-aid kit.
    “So,” she said, dropping it onto the table and taking off the lid. “What the fuck were you doing out there with no clothes on? You got some kind of fetish or something? Enjoy dancing naked in the rain, is that it?”
    Travis almost laughed. “No, no, nothing like that. I saw someone walking towards your house with a gun. I’d just got out of the shower…” There, that should do it.
    “And?” She took his foot in hand and began cleaning it with sterile wipes.
    It stung.
    “So, I didn’t think. I went out to follow and—”
    “Got shot your goddamned self. Wonderful.”
    “That’s about the measure of it.”
    “Well, as you know, I can take care of myself. Thanks for thinking of me and everything, but I really don’t need you babysitting me. I’ve lived here long enough alone since my daddy passed away, and I manage just fine. I have a gun in every room and intend to use them if anyone dares to break inside. So, next time you’re naked and you see someone headed here, pick up the phone instead, all right?”
    Travis nodded. He hated lying to her, but what could he do? If he told her it had been Clark and she questioned the bastard, he might tell her she’d had a wolf in her yard. It was highly unlikely she’d put two and two together—people around here still didn’t believe in shifters—but he didn’t want to take the risk.
    “Now then,” she said, “once I’m done here, I’ll make you some tea and get you some clothes. You can take the spare room for the night, if you like, or I’ll drive you over the field to your place. Whatever you want.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Yes, well, you won’t be thanking