“You take copies of your paperwork?”
Ste nodded. “Most of the time. I scan them in and keep them in a file on the system. Paranoid.” He tapped his head. “I know you think I must be mad…”
“Not really. Come on, let’s walk. I need to introduce you to someone in the morning. But right now, we all need to get some sleep.”
Abby tuckedherself up to Alex, blissfully unaware of the pain from her ankle now that she’d taken her meds and was feeling relaxed and safe.
Alex had helped her in the shower, taking her weight so she could wash away the grime from the ground and then washing her hair, taking extra time to massage her scalp and then her shoulders. Then he massaged her breasts, ending up supporting her weight with his mouth between her legs and then his cock inside her and using the shower wall to support them both as he came himself.
“What’s happening tomorrow?”
“You’re working at Scott’s. I’ll walk you down in the morning and Ste will pick you up when you’re done. No chances.” His arms were wrapped lazily around her. “Shit. I was meant to meet Kenny at the house this evening. Fuck.”
She moved her hands over his chest. “You can’t do everything, Alex. Kenny will find you, I’m sure.”
He chuckled. “That’s your pain meds talking. I wanted more information about Garrison. Not that I think Kenny’s going to share anything.”
“You think Garrison’s involved?”
“Almost definitely. I just don’t know for which side.”
“Maybe both?”
“Maybe.”
She felt him sigh.
“Alex, when this is done, what shall we do?”
He kissed the top of her head. “Climb the Eiger. Move into the house.”
She smiled, thinking of how they could fill it in the future. “Sounds good. Thank you, by the way.”
“What for?”
“Today. Looking after me. Being there. Helping me wash.”
“I think I enjoyed the shower part more than you.”
“I think it was equal.” She yawned. “Take care tomorrow.”
There was another kiss to her head. She heard him murmur words, but she was asleep before she could decipher them.
Seventeen
His bed was empty when he woke up, Abby’s side only slightly warm. Alex wasn’t sure exactly when it had become Abby’s side, maybe the night she first slept in it with him; maybe it was the first time they made love in it. But it was hers. All hers.
Pulling on a pair of sweats, he went downstairs, smelling coffee. This was his idea of heaven, with her, having coffee. That first moment of the day when he was too sleepy to compute the rest of the world and she was his only focus.
Abby was sitting at the small table, looking through a website on her laptop. She was wearing one of his hoodies, but her legs were bare. Alex rested against the kitchen units and looked at her, not able to form words. He swallowed, feeling something in his throat and wondered if he’d ever feel this way again.
The world began and ended with her.
“I was trying to be quiet. Sorry if I woke you.” She looked at him with blue eyes that reminded him of forget-me-nots.
“You didn’t wake me. I don’t know what did, but you weren’t there.” He looked at her ankle. “Did you make it downstairs okay?”
“I’m getting the hang of it. It’s stayed strapped up pretty well.”
