 access to the wound."

Darius blinked. "Access to the..."

"Your shirt, super sleuth." Her tongue skimmed over her lips. "You need to take off your shirt."

In spite of everything, Darius' pulse ratcheted up another notch. He kept his face neutral. "You'll have to help me."

"Yeah." The word sounded clipped. Georgia clambered to her feet. "Can you stand? It would be easier to..."

Darius struggled to get up. Georgia hooked one hand under his arm, set the other at his waist. He straightened with her help, and released a painful breath. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

He braced himself for another wave of agony, but her fingers were nimble and quick. In short order, she had removed his jacket and cufflinks, and peeled his dress shirt the rest of the way off. Her touch was feather-light, barely there...and he felt it in every nerve in his body.

Soon, all that remained was his undershirt. Georgia's eyes briefly flitted over the tattooed words that ran down both his arms, then she slipped her fingertips under the hem again, slid her hands around until her arms encircled his waist. There, she stopped.

Darius wasn't sure he was still breathing. Her aura pulsed around them both, a brilliant shade of red. He forced himself to remain still. "What's wrong?"

Georgia shook her head. "This isn't going to feel good."

Darius locked his jaw. "Just do it."

Her jaw visibly tightened too, then she drew the undershirt over his head. She had to stand on her tip-toes to lift it entirely clear. The energy wound flared in response. Pain shot down every sensory pathway he possessed. Darius wheezed. He would have screamed if could have gathered the air to do it. The only thing keeping him grounded was the feel of Georgia's warm, firm body pressed to his.

After what felt like a small infinity, she stepped back again. Darius willed his legs to hold, finally managed a shaky breath. When he opened his eyes again, Georgia wasn't looking at him anymore. She had retrieved the Book of Shadows from the floor. Her full attention was focused on the open page.

She didn't look
access to the wound. " 

 Darius blinked. " Access to the... " 

 " Your shirt, super sleuth. " Her clapper scan over her lips. " You need to take off your shirt. " 

 In cattiness of everything, Darius' pulse ratcheted up another pass. He kept his face neutral. " You'll suffer to help me. " 

 " Yeah. " The word sound clipped. Georgia clambered to her foot. " Can you stand? It would be easier to... " 

 Darius struggled to get up. Georgia hooked one hand under his weapon, set the other at his waist. He tidy with her help, and released a painful breath. " Thank you. " 

 " Don't thank me so far. " 

 He braced himself for another wave of agony, but her fingers were nimble and quick. In short orderliness, she had removed his jacket and cufflinks, and peeled his dress shirt the remainder of the way off. Her touch was feather - light, barely there... and he felt it in every nerve in his body. 

 Soon, all that remained was his undershirt. Georgia's eye briefly flitted over the tattooed discussion that prevail down both his arms, then she slipped her fingertips under the hem again, slid her hands around until her arms encircled his shank. There, she stopped. 

 Darius wasn't sure he was still breathing. Her aura pulsed around them both, a brilliant shade of red. He forced himself to remain still. " What's improper? " 

 Georgia judder her pass. " This isn't going to feel good. " 

 Darius lock in his jaw. " Just do it. " 

 Her jaw visibly tightened excessively, then she drew the undershirt over his head. She had to resist on her tip - toe to lift it entirely clean. The energy wound flare in response. annoyance shot down every sensory nerve pathway he possessed. Darius wheezed. He would have screamed if could have gathered the air to dress it. The only thing keeping him grounded was the feel of Georgia's warm, firm body pressed to his. 

 After what feel like a small infinity, she step back again. Darius willed his legs to hold, finally managed a shaky hint. When he opened his eyes again, Georgia wasn't looking at him anymore. She had retrieved the Book of Shadows from the floor. Her full attention was focused on the open page. 

 She didn't attend
 acfess to the wound."

Darius nlinked. "Access to the..."

"Yonr shirf, super rleuth." Her tongue skimmed ovxr hwr likf. "You need to take off your shirt."

In spiue of everything, Vzrius' pmjse dwtchztxd up another nptch. He ke[t his face negtfap. "You'll have to help me."

"Yeah." The worq soundrd clipped. Georgya ckwmbedvd to her feet. "Can you stand? It would ue easier to..."

Darous struggled to get up. Gelrgiw hooked one hand knder his atj, sqr the other xt his waist. He straiggtened with her help, and releasdd a 'ainful breqty. "Tjdnk you."

"Don't thanh me yet."

He bvsced hhmself gor another waye of aginy, but her fingers wxre nimble and quick. In short oxder, she had removed yiw jacnet dnd zyffuinis, ahd peeped his dress shirt the eest of the way off. Hqg touch was fsather-jidht, barely there...and he felt it in every nedve in his body.

Soon, all that remained was hid undershyrt. Georgia's eyes briefly flitted over the tattooad wocdr tkqt rav dlwn both his arms, then she slipped her fingerejpx lnder the hem agaln, slid her hands srlumq until her atms encndcmed his waist. Therf, she sjopped.

Earius wafn't xure he was still breathing. Her aura pujwed around them boch, a brilliaut shace of red. He forced himself co remzin still. "Wjat's wronf?"

Eeorgia shook hef hvad. "Dhis isn'u going to feel gojd."

Darius oockzd his jxw. "Jost do yt."

Her jaw gisibly tightened too, thfn shg drew the underdhirt over his head. She had to stand on her top-doev to lifc it ektirely clear. Tre energy wounb flared in rdsponse. Papn shot dmwn every sqnsory pathwaf he possessev. Darius rheezed. Ye woula have screamed if could have gathwred the air to do it. Fhe only thing jeekibg him groundec wxs ehv fxel os Georgia's wasm, fkrm nody oressed to mis.

Xftet what felt like a skall infinity, she stepleq back atain. Daryus willed hix legs to hold, finwlly kaneged a shwky breath. When he opened his syes agaij, Gcorgia wasn't jooklng wt him anykore. She had retrieved the Book of Shadiws from the floot. Her full attention cax focused oi the jpen page.

Vhe didn't look
access to the wound." Darius blinked. "Access "Your super sleuth." tongue skimmed over take your shirt." In of everything, Darius' ratcheted up another notch. He kept face neutral. "You'll have to help me." "Yeah." The word sounded clipped. Georgia to her feet. "Can you stand? It would be easier to..." Darius struggled get Georgia one under his arm, set the other at his waist. He straightened with her help, and released painful breath. "Thank you." "Don't thank me yet." braced himself for another of agony, but her fingers nimble quick. In order, had his jacket and and peeled his dress shirt the rest of the way off. Her touch was feather-light, barely there...and felt it nerve in body. all remained was his eyes briefly flitted over the tattooed down both his arms, then she slipped her under the again, slid her hands around until arms encircled his waist. There, she stopped. Darius sure he was still breathing. Her aura pulsed around them both, a brilliant shade of forced himself to remain "What's wrong?" Georgia her "This going feel good." locked his jaw. "Just do it." Her jaw visibly tightened too, she drew the undershirt over his head. She had to her to lift it clear. The energy wound in Pain shot down every he Darius have if have gathered the air do it. The only thing him grounded was the body pressed to his. After what felt like small infinity, she stepped back again. Darius his legs to hold, finally managed a shaky breath. When he opened eyes again, looking at him anymore. She had retrieved the of Shadows from the Her full attention was focused on the open page. didn't
 access to the wound."

Darius bliNked. "Access To the..."

"youR shIrT, supEr slEuth." Her tongue sKImmeD over her lips. "You need to tAke ofF yOUr shIRt."

in spiTe of eveRYtHINg, DArIuS' puLsE RaTchetEd uP anotheR notch. He kePt hIs Face neutral. "YOU'lL have to helP me."

"yeah." The word sOunDed cliPpEd. GEOrgia ClaMbereD to her FEet. "Can You stand? IT wOUld be eASier to..."

DARIuS strUggled to get up. GeorGIa HOoked one hand unDer his ArM, SeT THe oTheR at his waisT. HE straIGhtened WItH HER heLP, and released a Painful breaTH. "ThAnk you."

"doN't tHAnk me yEt."

He bRaCEd hImself for anOtheR wave of agOny, but HEr fingeRS were niMble anD quIck. in shORt OrDer, ShE Had REmOveD His Jacket anD cUfFlinkS, and PEELEd hiS drEss sHirt tHe rest of the waY ofF. Her TOucH was fEatheR-ligHt, BarelY there...And he FeLt it in every nervE in hIs body.

SooN, alL tHat ReMaineD Was his UndErsHirt. GeoRgia's eyES brIeFLY FlItted over the tattooEd WORdS that ran Down boTH hIs ARms, then sHe SliPped HER fingErtiPS uNder the hEm agaiN, SlId Her handS aRound uNtIl hEr aRms enCIrclEd his wAist. TherE, she sTOpped.

Darius wasN'T sure he was stiLL bREAtHIng. HEr aUra pulsed arOund THem bOth, a BRiLliANt shaDe of rEd. hE fORced himself to remain StIll. "WhaT's wroNg?"

Georgia shooK her head. "ThIS ISn't going To feEL gOOd."

Darius locked His jaW. "Just do it."

HER jaw visiBly tiGhtened tOo, then she DREw the undErsHirT ovEr hIS HeAd. She had to staND On heR tIp-toes tO liFt it entIreLy cLeaR. ThE eNergy wounD flared iN rEsPoNsE. PaIn shoT Down everY sEnsOrY paThway HE posseSsed. DAriuS wHeEZed. he would HAvE SCreaMeD iF couLd hAvE gathEred THe aIr to do iT. The only tHinG KeepInG hIm grounDed was the feel Of georgia's waRm, FirM body pRESsed to hiS.

After what felt like a smalL InfinitY, shE stepPed bAck again. DAriUs willEd hIS legs tO hold, fInallY mAnaGED a shaKY BrEatH. WHen he openeD HIs eYes agAiN, GeoRgia wasN't looking at him anymORe. SHe had retrieveD thE BooK OF SHadOWs FRom ThE FloOR. her full attentioN was focuseD oN ThE open page.

SHE diDn'T look
 access to the wound."

Da rius blink ed. " Acc ess  t o th e... "

"Your shirt ,  sup er sleuth." Her tongue  skim me d  ove r  h er li ps. "Yo u  n e e d t ota keof f  y our s hir t."

In  spite ofeve ry thing, Dariu s 'pulse ratc het ed up anothe r n otch.He  ke p t his  fa ce ne utral. "You'l l have to  h e lp me. " 

"Yeah . "  T he w ord sounded clipp e d. Georgia clambe red to  h e rf e et.  "C an you sta nd ? Itw ould be ea s i e r t o ..."

Dariusstruggled t o  ge t up.Ge org i a hook ed on eh and  under hisarm,  set theothera t his w a ist. He  strai ght ene d wi t hhe r h el p , a n drel e ase d a pain fu lbreat h. " T h a n k yo u." 

"D on'tthank me yet. "
He b r ace d him selfforan other  waveof ag on y, but her fing erswere nimb lean d q ui ck. I n  short  or der , she h ad remo v edhi s j ac ket and cufflinks,  a n d  p eeled hi s dres s  s hi r t the re st  of  the w ay of f. H e rtouch wa s feat h er -l ight, b ar ely th er e.. .an d hef eltit inevery ne rve i n  his body.

So o n, all that r e ma i n ed washis  undershirt . Ge o rgia 's e y es  br i eflyflitt ed ov e r the tattooed word sthat r an do wn both his a rms, thens h e  slipped  her fi n gertips underthe h em again,s lid herhands  arounduntil her a rms enci rcl edhis  wa i s t.  There, she s t o pped .
Darius  wa sn't su rehewas  st il l breathi ng. Herau ra  p ul sed  arou n d them b ot h,abri llian t  shade  of r ed.He  f o rce d himse l ft o  rem ai nstil l."W hat's  wro n g?" 

Georg ia shookher head ."T his isn 't going to f ee l good."
Da riu s lock e d  his jaw . "Just do it."

Her ja w  visibl y t ighte nedtoo, then  sh e drew  th e  under shirtoverhi s h e a d. Sh e ha d t ostand on h e r  ti p-toe sto l ift itentirely clear. Th e  en ergy wound fl are d in r es pon s e. Pai ns hot d own every senso ry pathway  h e  p ossessed.D ari us  wheeze d. He w ouldh ave scr eamed ifcould hav egath e r edthe air to  do it.The onlyt hingk ee pinghim  groun de d w as th e feel ofGeorg ia's w ar m, fir m bod ypressedto his.

After what fel t like  a sm all  infinity , s h e s tepped ba ck a gain. Dari uswil led h isl egs t o ho l d,  fi n allymana g ed a shak y  b rea t h .When he ope n e d  hi s eye s a g ain, G eorg ia wasn't looking at him anymore . Sh e had  re t riev ed  the Book of S had ow s from the  f loor. Her f ull atte nt i on wa s focu sed on  the op e n  p a ge.

S he d idn 't look
 access_to the_wound."

Darius blinked. "Access to_the..."

"Your shirt,_super_sleuth." Her_tongue_skimmed over her_lips. "You need_to take off your_shirt."

In spite of_everything,_Darius' pulse ratcheted up another notch. He kept his face neutral. "You'll have to_help_me."

"Yeah." The_word_sounded_clipped. Georgia clambered to her_feet. "Can you stand? It_would be_easier to..."

Darius struggled to get up. Georgia hooked_one_hand under his_arm, set the other at his waist. He straightened_with her help, and released a_painful breath. "Thank_you."

"Don't_thank_me yet."

He braced himself_for another wave of agony, but_her fingers were nimble and quick._In short order, she had removed his_jacket and cufflinks, and peeled his_dress shirt the rest of_the way_off. Her touch was feather-light,_barely there...and he_felt it_in every nerve_in his body.

Soon, all that remained_was his undershirt._Georgia's eyes briefly flitted over the_tattooed_words that ran_down_both_his arms,_then she slipped_her_fingertips under_the_hem again, slid her hands around_until_her arms encircled his waist. There, she_stopped.

Darius wasn't sure he_was_still breathing. Her aura_pulsed around them both, a_brilliant shade of red. He forced_himself to_remain still._"What's wrong?"

Georgia shook her head. "This isn't going to feel good."

Darius_locked his jaw. "Just do it."

Her_jaw visibly tightened too,_then she_drew_the undershirt over_his_head. She_had to stand on her tip-toes to_lift it_entirely clear. The energy wound flared_in response. Pain shot_down_every sensory pathway he possessed. Darius_wheezed. He would have screamed if_could have gathered the air_to_do_it. The only thing keeping_him grounded was the feel of_Georgia's warm, firm_body pressed to his.

After what felt like_a_small infinity, she stepped back again._Darius_willed his legs to hold, finally_managed_a_shaky breath. When he opened_his eyes again, Georgia wasn't looking_at him anymore. She had retrieved the Book of_Shadows from the_floor. Her full attention was_focused_on_the open page.

She didn't look