Liam’s voice was gentler. “There you go.”
I dropped my head back against the mirror, breathing hard.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, cailín,” he whispered, almost to himself.
Without another word, he pushed off the doorframe, turned, and went back to bed.
It took another five minutes before enough blood pumped to my extremities that I was able to peel myself off the counter. I wiped the mess off the granite and threw the towel in the laundry bin after searching blindly for it. In those thirty seconds, I had the distinct notion that the cloth didn’t smell. I brought it to my nose to test. Maybe something was wrong with my bladder. I was almost certain that liquid wasn’t pee. But…what else would gush like that?
Shaking my head, I tossed the cloth in the bin and then got redressed. By the time I crept back into the bedroom, Liam’s soft breathing filled the space. It was quite possible he wasn’t asleep. I didn’t move toward him to find out, only slipped under the covers on my side and pulled them over my head.
I can’t believe I did that.
But the yawn a moment later didn’t let me dwell too long on the situation. Later, I could add “masturbation to my husband’s dirty talk” to the list of things that blackened my soul. Or…I could just let it go, the secret kept safe in the dark of night. The place where the monster prowled.
Chapter 24 – Liam
The gloves collided with air. My feet stepped out as I jabbed, bounced back as I raised my fists to defend. They were the only part of me, other than my face, that was bare. Sweat soaked the long sleeve shirt. It dripped down my thighs, even though the athletic pants were supposed to be breathable.
Boxing had been added to the list of life-altering things I couldn’t do like a normal man.
The gym might be empty, but I didn’t want to look down and see my ravaged body if I’d worn the skintight shorts I used to wear in the ring. A man should be able to grapple and spar without clothing. Bare chested. A warrior facing down an opponent. I was covered as tightly a nun on a Sunday.
A soft click broke my concentration.
Whipping my head around, I searched the dimly lit space.
“You’re a hard man to find, devil,” a suave voice called out.
Anger lashed through me. “Get out!”
Dominico strolled across the gym. He shook his head as he slowly unbuttoned his suit jacket. “We need to have a little chat, and since I don’t have your number….”
His voice trailed off.
I retreated to the darkest corner of the ring where the muted light from the sky window didn’t fall. I stopped. It took more strength to face him than to hit the heavy bag.
The mafia princeling let out a low whistle, kicking out of his shoes. “Guess I know now why you’re here so fucking early. Alone. With the lights off.”
I bristled. “Fuck off.”
“Nah.” Dominico tugged his crisp white dress shirt over his head. “Think I’ll stay a bit. I don’t have shorts though. Should I keep the pants on or strip to my briefs?”
“Fine,” I snarled. “I’ll kick your ass either way.”
The bastard chuckled. “That’s the spirit.”
Dominico kept his slacks on. Pulling an arm across his body, he stretched his shoulder as he climbed onto the raised platform. He ducked gracefully under the ropes and stretched the other side.
“Are you going to offer me gloves?” he asked with a jerk of his chin. “Or do you want to do it the old-fashioned way?”
Battling the urge to cover my scarred, ugly visage, I growled and sank my teeth into the tape. It tore from the glove. Once my left hand was free, I began to peel off the left. I didn’t have to look to see the red, angry skin as I shook my hand free.
Dominico bounced up and down. The pretty pixie was going to walk away with a bloody face when I was done with him.
“Ask me why I stopped by?” he dared, twisting and turning, inching closer.
I made two fists at my sides and waited for him to come within striking distance. This wasn’t going to be a proper, bare knuckle boxing match. I was going to unleash everything on him.
