I gathered my hair behind my neck carefully, baring the entirety of the collar for Kyle to see. He sidled closer with an unsettling grace, bowing his head as his fingers grazed my throat. The touch was a stark contrast to Adrian’s earlier roughness, which had pressed the collar cruelly against my skin. With gentle hands, Kyle carefully probed beneath the collar as he sought out any injuries. Eventually, he released a restrained sigh, his breath tenderly caressing the skin beneath my ear. His movements were calculated as he lifted the collar just enough to administer an ointment to the irritated skin beneath. The chill of the liquid sent a shiver through me, and he instantly steadied my shoulder with a light hand.
“Just a moment, please,” he murmured as the silence stretched between us. “Stay still.”
