I know he’s trying to make me smile, but it’s not going to work. The image of him being hit keeps running on an endless loop in my mind.
“I need to shower.” His hands make quick work of the buttons of his dress shirt. “I’ll wash the shirt tomorrow and drop off the suit at the dry cleaner.”
I look down at the bloodied clothes on the floor. “Why aren’t you pressing charges?”
He rubs his jaw. “He meant no harm.”
I almost laugh. “He punched you in the face. He meant to harm you.”
He maintains eye contact, never wavering. “He’s young, Matilda. He was drunk. He’s a first-year med student at Columbia with no prior arrests. I’m not going to fuck up that kid’s life because he’s a lightweight who can’t handle a few beers.”
“So he gets a free pass?” I hear the indignation in my voice. “It’s fine now to punch someone in the face? You can assault a police officer and walk away?”
“I’ll drop by his dorm room in a couple of days to remind him to keep his fists to himself.” He unbuckles his belt. “If he were a repeat offender, he would be in front of a judge tonight.”
Frustration tenses my neck. I reach back to squeeze it, my hand still shaking.
“Let me.” He rounds me in an instant, his large hand leaping to my neck. His touch is soft and gentle. “You’re still shaking.”
I am. I clench my hands together, but it does little to stop the quivering. “It’s been a long day.”
His hand slows. “Shower with me, Matilda.”
My heart hammers inside my chest, a rhythm I’ve never felt before. I don’t turn to look at him. “I don’t think that’s a …”
“Good idea?” he questions. “Why not?”
Because we had a twenty-second kiss that transported me to a place I’ve never been before where I felt safe and wanted. It thrilled me and scared me.
“You’ve seen me naked,” he says in a dangerously low tone. “I’ve seen you practically naked.”
I spin on my heel, leaving his hand dangling in the air. “Tonight felt like a lot, Sebastian.”
“The kiss or the punch?” His blue eyes sear into me.
“All of it,” I admit. “I’m still processing it all.”
“I understand,” he says in a calm and controlled tone. “Tomorrow our kiss is the only thing I’m going to remember about tonight.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, warding off my warring emotions. I want to cry and laugh, scream and hurl something at the wall out of anger. I hate that someone hurt him and love that he can see so much potential in others, even if they don’t deserve it.
“I’ll be in the shower.” He unzips his pants. “The invitation to join me is still on the table. It will help you relax and you have my word that we won’t do anything you’re not ready for. You set the pace. I follow your lead.”
I nod as I rub my chin. “I’ll wait here.”
“I understand.” He leans forward to sweep his lips over my forehead. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I stand in silence as he walks toward the main bathroom, leaving me wondering if I should throw caution to the wind and follow him.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Sebastian
I letthe warm water run over my face. It hurts like hell. I checked out my reflection in the mirror before I stepped into the shower. My nose is already swollen; light bruising shadows the skin in the center of my face.
Luckily, I have a scheduled day off tomorrow. By the time I walk into the squad room again, I’ll be mostly healed.
Listening to the people I work with chiding me over taking a punch to the face isn’t on my bucket list.
