My skin is a bright red, and glasses off, as I open the bathroom door. A billow of steam releases and I breathe in fresh, cool air. A shower was exactly what I needed—and of course Hayes knew.
I inspected the bruises from Roman’s attack in the mirror. They cover my spine where I slammed into the wall. I ache and my wrist throbs, but I’m glad. It could have been worse.
Hayes sits on my bed, elbows pressed to his thighs, looking off into space. He’s pensive, calm, but the energy surrounding him is anything but. He wants to react—to retaliate. He needs to avenge me.
My heart warms. He’s always been that person. When the bullies got to me, he handled it. Roman is just another bully and he wants to end it.
Sitting beside him, I’m suddenly self-conscious. Why? He saw me at one of my most unhinged moments, fed that side I keep locked up. He’s always been my safe place. As a child, it felt overbearing. Now, it feels like home.
“Better?”
“Much. And I’m a little embarrassed.” I rub my nose. “He’s not even scary. You’re more terrifying.”
He smiles, teeth bright against his rough beard. “Are you afraid of me, viper?”
I scoff. “Not at all.”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he says quietly. “It’s hard to be confronted like that and not feel something.”
“I should have stabbed him with my pen.” I really should have. He deserved it, consequences be damned.
“Probably.” He shrugs. “Want to talk about what happened?”
His jaw clenches and his hands ball into tight fists. I don’t want to talk about what Roman did, the fear, the urge to run away to somewhere I’d be protected. And it seems Hayes is battling his own inner demons.
“Nope.” I pop the ‘p’. “He’s a dick and I’m sure he’ll regret what he did.”
Hayes laughs. “Once I get my hands on him? No doubt.”
I bump his arm. “I’m not exactly hating the possessiveness, but you don’t need to pretend now. Maeve will get him, I’m sure.”
He looks to the ceiling, sighing. “Oh, Collins, what do I have to do, to prove that this is me and you’re mine.” His intense blue eyes rake over my face and body covered by a small white towel. “Roman fucked with something that’s mine.You. I don’t take kindly to people touching my things. Especially that abomination.”
Swatting him, I smile. “So I belong to you, huh?”
Grabbing my chin, he brings our lips dangerously close. My body flushes—not from the molten shower, but from the desire his touch ignites.
“Baby, you’ve always belonged to me. You’ve just never realized it.”
I swallow hard. I want to sink into him—his scent, his words, his skin, and forget this terrible day. Somewhere, Hayes became my safe harbor in rough waters and something more—deeper. He became the place where my darkness can rest and be loved.
He might know he gave that to me, but I feel it. My crush was given the tiniest bit of water and has grown into infatuation. One night is all it took. “Tell me something,” I dare. “Anything. Something that I don’t know about you.”
His teasing mask melts into something hard. “You know me, viper. Better than anyone else.”
It’s true. He’s irritated me for years and because of our time together, him guarding me—protecting me, I’ve studied him. Hayes became a fascinating subject, one who was capable of wonderful acts of compassion coupled with his uncanny ability to dive into bloody violence.
“But I don’t know everything,” I argue. “I don’t know where you grew up. I only just found out about your mother. Hell, what’s your favorite color? Just tell me something.” Something to forget the events of the day, and focus on him.
Because as assuredly as I know Hayes’ character, I don’t know him. His past, his goals, his dreams. And I want to know them. I want to knowhim.
“You don’t want to know that.”
“Really, I do.”
He struggles, pulling at his hair, avoiding looking at me. “It’s not pretty, Collins. We should focus on something else.”
I glare. “I don’t want something else. I want to knowyou.”
