When he leaned over to wash the back of her legs and butt, she jolted forward into the spray. Vex tightened his arm around her to hold her in a safe place. “Whoa, Angel. You’re okay.” He cleaned her quickly but completely, gritting his teeth at the condition she was in.
Her frame was reed thin. How ever many days she’d spent in that room had transformed what he guessed had been her fashionable trim shape to gauntness. Turning her to face him, Vex then cleaned her feet and legs first.
Angel sagged more against him. Her energy definitely dropped with each passing minute. Vex washed her arms and torso, pretending he didn’t notice her small, upturned nipples and that her blonde hair was natural.
He needed to wash her hair, but she was almost deadweight against his supporting arm. He guessed she was out of gas. After grabbing his shampoo from the rack, Vex scooped her up and sat down cross-legged on the tiled floor. He helped her lean forward into the spray to wet her hair.
Sitting up, he rounded his torso to hold her as he had while on the bike. He poured a good amount of shampoo on her hair and smoothed the lather through her tresses. Rubbing his fingers over her scalp, Vex focused on removing the grime with the suds. Her sweet moans of pleasure at his treatment went straight to his crotch despite his best efforts to control his burgeoning erection.
Finally, he helped her rinse away the grime. Her hair was not only blonde but a beautiful sun-kissed, almost white shade. His baby liked to be outside.
He smiled at that thought as he lifted them both to their feet and turned off the water. Grabbing a towel from the hooks at the far end of the stall, he wrapped Angel in the thick cloth. Before snagging the other for himself, he considered the pool of water beneath him.
His soaked jeans had to weigh eight pounds. He’d slog water everywhere if he walked into the bathroom with those on. Quickly, Vex stripped off his pants, hoping she wouldn’t notice his stiff cock tenting his boxer briefs as he covered himself with a towel around his waist.
Angel nestled on his chest with her eyes closed. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom. She needed to eat but was already ninety percent asleep. Rest would have to come first.
He pulled a clean T-shirt from a drawer and threw back the covers on his bed. He’d changed the sheets two days ago. They’d have to do. A slight snore came from her lips as he laid her on the bed. Vex decided not to wake her by putting on the shirt but simply spread the covers over her slight form.
Standing by the bed, he watched her sleep. Her face contorted, reflecting whatever she was dreaming. When she cringed from an imaginary threat, he whispered, “Rest, Little girl. I’m here to make sure you’re safe.”
Her hand sneaked out from under the covers and curled around his lower thigh. Contact with him seemed to calm her. Vex waited until she dozed easily and then eased away. The moment her fingers slipped from his skin, her reaction to nightmares reignited.
Vex juggled maintaining a touch with her skin as he got ready to join her. After roughly rubbing the water from his skin and taking off his wet underwear, he wrestled with the decision between leaving her to grab clothes or being naked. Unwilling to upset her by losing contact, Vex climbed in beside her. She curled against him with a contented sigh. Vex wrapped his arms around her and held her as she tumbled into a restorative sleep.
Chapter 3
“Let me out of here!” Angel demanded, thumping her fists on the hard surface beside her. The barrier didn’t feel like the rough wooden door that had locked her inside. She opened her eyes to meet a mesmerizing green gaze, a few shades darker than her own. “Vex?”
“Hi, Little girl. Is that awful dream gone?” he asked, smoothing his hand over her shoulder.
That movement drew her attention to her bare skin. “Oh!” She yanked up the covers to her neck to hide her nudity.
“I have a shirt for you to put on. You crashed before I could get you dressed. Want that now?” he asked with no signs of annoyance or anger.
“I’m sorry. I just pounded on you.”
“Nicest beating I ever took,” Vex said easily, relieving some of her guilt. “Let’s get you dressed, and hopefully, you can eat something before you rest again.”
Her stomach growled furiously at the mention of food. “I’m starving.”
“Perfect.”
Vex tossed the covers off himself and stood to stroll over to the dresser. Angel pulled the material higher over her eyes when she noticed his naked butt. It was a nice one. She peeked over the comforter to take another glance. Hard muscles formed his powerful form. He wasn’t bulky like a bodybuilder. Those muscles came from hard work, and she bet, through sports activities.
That derrière was memorable, hard and tight. Vex was tanned except for a small area where he’d obviously worn shorts or swim trunks. When he picked up the T-shirt from the dresser, she covered her face again so he wouldn’t catch her ogling him as she continued to think about that memory burned into her mind. Could you bounce a quarter off that ass? They talked about that in spicy books.
Soft footsteps on the carpet approached. “Can you sit, Angel?”
Angel pushed herself up quickly and closed her eyes immediately as the room swam in front of her. Strong hands steadied her shoulders. When she dared to look again, Angel stared at his handsome face. “You have green eyes like me.”
“I do. Your eyes are prettier,” he complimented her. “And you’re a lot less hairy.”
She laughed as he stroked his thick beard. “Thank goodness.”
“Has the room stopped spinning?” he asked, with his eyebrows drawn together in concern.
“I think I sat up too fast.”
