"Understood." I end the call and find Andi in the kitchen making coffee. "Hutchins was released."
Her hand stills on the coffee pot. "When?"
"Fifteen minutes ago. Security has surveillance on him, but we need to stay alert." I move closer, wanting to be within reach. "You stay here. Don't go anywhere alone."
"I won't." She pours two cups, hands me one. "We knew this might happen."
Her calm acceptance doesn't quite hide the tension in her shoulders. She's scared but refusing to show it. I respect that, even as the protector in me wants to wrap her in bubble wrap and lock the doors.
The rest of the afternoon bleeds into evening. Andi's been quiet since the news about Hutchins, processing everything in her own way. I recognize the signs of someone running on adrenaline who's about to crash. She's been strong all day, practical and focused, but the tension is there in her shoulders, in the way she keeps checking the windows.
"I'm going to take a shower." She stands from the couch where she's been reviewing work schedules. "Try to wash off this entire day."
"Good idea." She heads down the hallway, Duke following her to the bathroom door before returning to settle at my feet.
I try to focus on the security reports spread across my coffee table, but my mind keeps wandering to Andi in my shower. The water running over her skin. The steam filling the small bathroom. The fact that after everything that happened today, she's still here. Still choosing to stay with me instead of running from the danger.
Duke lifts his head, looking at me with those knowing eyes. "Yeah, buddy. I know."
I stand, moving down the hallway. The bathroom door isn't locked. I knock once. "Andi?"
"Come in." Her voice carries over the sound of running water.
I open the door, steam billowing out. Through the frosted glass of the shower door, I can see her silhouette. "You okay?"
"No." Honest and direct. "Someone's stalking me. They photographed us last night. Hutchins is out there somewhere, and we both know he's planning something. And I'm exhausted and wired at the same time and I can't shut my brain off."
I strip off my clothes and open the shower door. She turns to face me, water streaming down her body, her hair loose and wet instead of in its usual braid. Beautiful and fierce and completely unguarded.
"Let me help with that." I step in, closing the door behind me.
She comes to me immediately, her mouth finding mine under the spray of hot water. This kiss is different from last night's exploratory passion. This is need and release and the desperate reassurance that we're both still here, still alive, still capable of feeling something other than tactical fear.
I back her against the tile wall, the water cascading over both of us. My hands find her hips, lifting her, and she wraps her legs around my waist with practiced ease. No hesitation, no question about what we both need right now.
"You're sure?" I manage, even though holding back is costing me.
"Stop asking and just take what we both want." Her nails dig into my shoulders. "I need you, Devlin. Right now. Hard and fast and enough to make me forget about cameras and stalkers and tomorrow."
I enter her in one thrust, and the sound she makes echoes off the tile walls. She's already wet and ready, her body welcoming mine with urgent heat. I set a punishing rhythm, my hands gripping her hips, her back braced against the wall.
"Yes." She gasps against my neck, her teeth finding my shoulder. "Just like that. Don't stop."
Water streams over us as I drive into her, each thrust pushing her up the slick tile. Her fingers tangle in my wet hair, pulling my mouth to hers in a kiss that's all teeth and tongue and raw need. This isn't about tenderness or exploration. This is about burning off fear and stress and the accumulated tension of a day spent waiting for violence.
One hand slides between us, my fingers finding her clit, and she cries out. "Devlin, I'm close."
I increase the pressure, the rhythm, driving us both toward the edge. Her body tightens around me, muscles trembling, and I feel her right there on the brink.
Her orgasm hits hard and fast, her body clenching around me as she moans my name. The sensation pushes me over, and I bury myself deep as I come, groaning against her throat as pleasure whites out everything else.
We stay like that for a moment, breathing hard, hearts pounding, the water still running over us. Slowly, I lower her back to her feet, my hands steadying her when her legs threaten to give out.
"Better?" I brush wet hair back from her face.
"Much better." She leans against me, exhaustion finally catching up with her. "Thank you."
"For the sex or the distraction?" I reach for the body wash, starting to actually clean us both now that we've burned off the worst of the tension.
