Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 224

Sylvia followed Rupert into the room, her nerves jangling like a loose screen door in a windstorm. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure as Rupert gave her a sidelong glance, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Need any help?" he teased, his voice smooth as Tennessee whiskey.

Sylvia snapped back to reality, trying to sound nonchalant. "No, you're the patient, and I'm supposed to take care of you."

"Didn't ask for an explanation," Rupert said, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he was just asking the time.

She bit her lip, quickly undoing the buttons on his shirt. Underneath the crisp fabric lay a body that was anything but modest. His muscles were firm, his abs defined but not overly so. The belt sat just right on his hips, hinting at the lines of his physique.

Sylvia took a deep breath and looked away, but Rupert leaned in closer.

"You unbutton shirts that quickly for anyone else?" he asked, his voice flat, like he was asking about the weather.

She felt her heart skip a beat. "No one."

He acted like he hadn't heard her. "Warren?"

"No! Besides..." you.

mouth shut, but Rupert

"Besides who?"

she noticed the blood trickling down his shoulder and

You need to sit

of the shirt. As she did, a

years, but being an outsider, she was never allowed into the family's private chapel. The irony

after marrying Rupert, she and her daughter were barred from the family's annual memorial services. They were

chapel, seeking the ancestors' blessing. At that

only allowed a

always thought

too much to really hurt Rupert there. Maybe he'd scold him, sure, but nothing too serious. After all, what father

she never imagined Rupert would be so brutally

back was a mess of crisscrossing scars, some so

healing patches, they'd surely be

of emotions

touched the less severe scars. The skin was slightly raised, and she felt Rupert's shoulder

couldn't see