I nod, the idea of washing up too tempting to ignore. I pull the covers back, revealing the same blue button-up shirt Shadow wrapped around my shoulders last night. He holds out his hand, and I take it, smiling to myself at how warm and familiar it feels already.
A few minutes later, I’m standing under a hot stream of water while steam billows around me. The water stings slightly from the temperature, but I welcome it. I hope the heat burns away the layer of filth coating my skin.
I lather up some shampoo in my hands, noting the pine scent. That must be why Shadow smells so good. There’s something else to his scent, though. Fresh rain, clean linen, crisp autumn air… I must be going crazy. I’ve never noticed a man’s scent before, let alone picked it apart.
When I’m done with my hair, I move on to the body wash. My vision blinks in and out for a moment. One second, I’m standing in Shadow’s shower, and the next, I’m being shoved into that padded room with Melodie.Where did they take her? Will I ever see her again?
More scenes from my ghoulish evening bombard me, one after another. Everything dims and grows blurry, then the world spins and tilts to one side. My feet slip out from under me, and I come crashing down with a thud on my right hip.
I cry out, and the bathroom door swings open, revealing Shadow in all of his muscled glory. “Mika,” he says breathlessly.I try pushing my wet, naked body up from the floor of the shower, but I can’t find purchase on the slick tile. “Here, let me help.”
He springs into action, grabbing a big fluffy towel and draping it over me while lifting me up and out of the shower. My giant teddy bear keeps a hand around my waist to steady me, his ice blue eyes searching mine for any signs of distress.
Shadow tries taking a step back when I’m a bit steadier, probably to give me my privacy, but I don’t want space right now. I lean into him, wanting to burrow into his chest and never leave. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs, tucking my head under his chin as he wraps his arms around me.
I surrender to his gentle touches and whispered words, letting myself relax in his embrace. I didn’t realize how starved I was for human touch. Or, at least, a human touch that doesn’t hurt or leave scars.
“Are you okay?” Shadow asks.
I nod, though tears stream freely down my cheeks and onto his shirt. Shadow simply holds me tighter and presses his lips to the top of my head. Why is he being so sweet? I don’t deserve this.
Suddenly, I snap back into my body, realizing I got water all over the bathroom floor, and of course, soaked Shadow as well.
“Sorry,” I stammer out. “I made a mess.”
“I don’t care. I’ll be here whenever you need me.”
“But… Why? Why are you so nice to me? Why are you doing any of this?”
Shadow leans back just enough for our eyes to meet. His normally rugged features soften, and he gives me a sad smile. “One day, you’ll see what I see,” he murmurs. “Someone worthy of safety and love.”
My eyebrows lift up to my hairline at his words. Surely, he can’t mean that, right?
Shadow’s phone dings with a text, causing us both to jump apart. “Ah, shit,” he curses. Shadow runs a hand through his messy hair and blows out a breath. “The president called church.”
I tilt my head in confusion. “The President opened a church?”
Shadow grins, and his blue eyes sparkle with mischief. It’s the most playful look I’ve seen on him, and I get the sense he doesn’t show this side of himself to many people. “It’s club business,” he clarifies. “I’m in a motorcycle club, Wicked Riders. We’ve been tracking the auction business and trying to dismantle it, which is why I was at the mansion last night. I don’t want you to think I’m like those other men.” His nostrils flare, and he grits his teeth.
“You’re nothing like them,” I assure him.
He gives me a grateful look and a small smile. “I will explain more when I get home. Right now, I’m about to get my ass handed to me by the Prez.”
“Did I get you in trouble?”
Shadow pulls me into another hug and kisses the top of my head. He breathes me in, and I swear I see him smile when he smells his shampoo on me. “Nothing I can’t handle,” he replies easily. “Besides, I’m hoping we’ll get into all kinds of trouble later on.”
A blush creeps into my cheeks. Is he flirting with me? Do I want him to? Scratch that. Of course, I want him to. I just don’t know how to reciprocate.
Shadow gives me a wink and then takes a step back. “I better go change my clothes,” he says, looking down at his soaking wet shirt and jeans. “Lunch is set out for you on the kitchen table. Eat up, and I’ll be home soon, okay?”
I nod and watch him walk out the door. Is it weird that I like the idea of Shadow coming home to me every day? I shouldn’t trust him this much already, but there’s no denying I’dhave woken up in a much worse situation this morning without Shadow’s intervention.
I dry off my hair and body, then slip into the sweatpants and shirt Shadow left for me. The clothes hang off my curves, making me feel dainty for the first time in a long time. As a plus-sized woman, I don’t often find myself drowning in clothes. I must admit, it’s a nice feeling.
The front door opens and closes, signaling Shadow’s departure. I’ve only known him for a handful of hours, yet our connection is undeniable. Loneliness curls around my stomach and lungs now that he’s not here. I should be used to being on my own, but now that I know what it’s like to have the attention of someone like Shadow… I don’t know if I can go back to life before I met him.
4
