I follow him around to the truck bed, clapping my hands to my mouth in shock when I see a bound and bloodied man. A dead one, if his open eyes and the stiffness to his body are anything to go by.
“What the fuck? Who is that?” I’m whisper-yelling, hoping our other neighbors aren’t peeking out through the windows because we are both covered in blood.
“Cary. Forgot he was there, to be honest.” Tanner huffs a laugh, shrugs as though this is no big deal, and pulls out hisphone. He types something out then covers Cary’s body back up. “He’ll be gone by morning.” Winking, he holds his hand out for mine, a smug smirk transforming his handsome face like he is the winner of all winners.
I look to his held out palm, then his face, back and forth, my eyes dancing between the two, before I sigh and give in. Taking his hand, I allow him to lead me into his house, and it feels exactly as it did before I left. Safe. Warm. Like home.
“I’m going to need you to explain how you found me and who that dead man is at some point. Plus the whole stalking video room you have upstairs, and I need to know why you used to be so aw—”
“Shhh.” Spinning me so my back is against the front door, he places a thick finger over my lips before kissing me. When he pulls back, the smirk is gone…for a very brief second. “We can talk about all of that tomorrow, but for now, let me get us into the shower because I am going to fuck you so hard that you forget how to speak.”
The door is unlocked, then opened, all with his body pressing me against the red wood. Before giving me a chance to walk inside by myself, he sweeps me off my feet and carries me over the threshold.
I wince at the pressure against my bruised rib and he pauses, slamming the door closed behind us with his foot.
“Are you hurt?” His playful expression darkens and his hold loosens, but he doesn’t put me down.
I nod. “One of them kicked me in the stomach…ribs…this general area.” I gesture to my midriff.
A low growl escapes him, an angry one, but it’s still sexy and gives me flutters.Damn him.
“Is he dead?” The question comes through gritted teeth as he carries me upstairs like fragile glass.
I try to recall the bodies, but as soon as I was out of that basement room and saw Tanner, my entire focus was on him.
“Maybe. I don’t know. He told someone to call the boss or get the boss, kicked me, knocked me out, then I woke up to shooting and dead people, and now here we are.” I’m trying to make a little light of the situation, the hard fuck Tanner promised at the top of my priority list because I need to forget today.
“Have you seen him before? Did you know him?” In the bathroom, Tanner steps us both into the large walk-in shower and turns on the spray. We’re both still fully clothed, although me, not so much, because apparently I dressed for the summer in my haste to leave.
“You can put me down. You shouldn’t be exerting yoursel—”
“Answer the question.”
I huff in exasperation. “Fine. Yes, I’ve seen him before. He was in my house…” I clear my throat, the words unwilling to come out, but he knows what I mean.
“And you don’t know if hisbosswas there or not?”
I shake my head. “No idea.”
A sharp nod and a sigh, then he finally places me down, feet first. “You still want to kill the bastard?”
We’re both soaked, red water pooling beneath us, and he pushes my hair away from my face before sliding his hand down to my top. His lips garner my full attention as his tongue pokes out, swiping across them. Ducking his head, he kisses from my forehead, down my cheek, across my chin, then he pauses at my neck.
“Every time you need a reminder to answer a question, I’m going to withhold your orgasm for an extra five minutes.” He continues to kiss and nip at my neck, his palm pushing down the straps of my top and bra at the same time.
“What was the question?” I’m breathy, my throat still sore too, but he makes it easy to forget anything but his touch.
He chuckles against my throat. “Do you still want to kill the bastard, my sweet little Karma?”
Tingles rush through my body as my breasts are exposed to the wash of hot water and his still-clothed chest, but I find it in myself to answer. “Yes.” I don’t need to explain any further. Tanner knows me inside and out, and more than I ever really understood, but he does, so I say nothing else.
My bra is unfastened and falls into the red-stained water along with my tank top and skirt.
“Good girl.” The two words set my body alight and I start to undress Tanner, desperate to have some skin-on-skin contact.
His clothes slap against the wet floor alongside mine, our hands exploring each other’s bodies like we’ve been deprived for years. Lips connect, teeth clash, tongues duel, and all pain is forgotten as we chase the pleasure.
I squeal as two thick fingers waste no time in entering me, easily sliding in and out as his thumb tweaks at my clit.
