Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
The drive back to the compound passed in a blur of streetlights and my wandering thoughts. I found myself replaying the evening, particularly the moment when Tonio had shared the story about diving through a window to escape being shot. The image of my perfectly put-together father crashing through glass and plummeting two stories made me laugh all over again.
“What’s so funny?” Sully asked, his hand warm on my thigh.
“Just thinking about Tonio jumping out a window,” I said, my words flowing together more than usual. “Not sure why, but it’s funny.”
By the time we reached the Kiss of Death compound, the world had taken on that soft-edged, dreamlike quality that comes with just the right amount of whisky. The gates swung open for us, and the vehicle moved through the entrance to park near our building. No idea how or who or anything else, nor did I care because everything was so soft…
The compound looked different at night. The camo netting strung between buildings created strange, shifting shadows as we walked beneath them. Sully’s arm was firm around my waist, bearing most of my weight as I stumbled occasionally on perfectly flat ground.
“You’d think they could put some fucking lights out here,” I muttered, nearly tripping over nothing.
“They did,” Sully replied patiently. “You’re just not walking in a straight line.”
“Pfft. Straight lines are overrated.”
The lift ride to our floor was brief, my body swaying into Sully’s with every small movement. He smelled so good, a mix of that expensive cologne he’d put on for dinner and something uniquely him underneath. I buried my face against his neck, inhaling deeply.
“You smell delicious,” I murmured against his skin. “Good enough to eat.”
His chuckle vibrated through me. “How about we concentrate on getting you inside first.”
Once in our apartment, Sully guided me to the bedroom, flipping on the bedside lamp. The brightness made me squint, but I was too content to complain. He sat me on the edge of the bed and knelt to remove my heels, his movements gentle.
“Arms up,” he instructed, and I complied and shimmied my hips, letting him pull my dress over my head with careful hands. His fingers brushed against the fading bruise on my ribs, his touch feather-light.
“Still hurt?” he asked, concern shadowing his features.
“Nah, I’m good.” I looked down at the yellowish mark. “Battle scars.”
He pressed a soft kiss to the discolored skin before continuing to undress me, unhooking my bra and sliding my panties down my legs until I sat naked before him. Despite having been intimate countless times already, something about his careful attention made me feel exposed in a way that had nothing to do with nudity. And I found it didn’t really bother me all that much.
“I actually liked him,” I blurted out, the confession spilling from my lips unbidden. “Tonio. Tonight. I had fun.”
Sully smiled, brushing hair back from my face. “I know you did, darlin’. That’s great.”
“Is it, though?” I frowned, trying to organize my whisky-slowed thoughts. “I’ve spent so long not needing anyone. What if I start needing him? What if I start needing you even more than I already do?”
“Then you need us,” he replied simply. “There are worse things.”
Before I could formulate a properly cynical response, he stood and pulled me to my feet. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
He led me to the bathroom, turning on the shower and adjusting the temperature with practiced ease. Steam quickly filled the small space, fogging the mirror and wrapping around us like a warm embrace. While the water heated, Sully grabbed towels and undressed himself before helping me into the big shower.
The hot water felt glorious against my skin, washing away the last vestiges of tension I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding. I closed my eyes, tilting my face into the spray, only vaguely aware of Sully grabbing the shower gel nearby.
His hands returned to my body, slick and gentle as they glided over my shoulders and down my arms. The scent of the soap, something woodsy and clean, mingled with the steam. He worked methodically, washing every inch of me with a tenderness that made my chest ache.
“You don’t have to do this,” I murmured, opening my eyes to find him watching me intently.
“I want to,” he replied. “It’s your job to keep people off balance and to play as hard as you want. It’s my purpose in life to make sure you can do whatever the fuck you want and still be safe. So I’m taking care of you now because that’s what I do. It’s a compulsion I don’t want to fight.”
He turned me around, his soapy hands sliding down my back, tracing the curve of my spine before moving lower to cup my ass. I leaned back against him, feeling the hard planes of his body. When his fingers dipped between my legs, washing me there with the same careful attention, I couldn’t suppress a soft moan.