“Shit’s been going on around here, and I need a safe place for Rowan to stay until my last job is done. I leave out in a few days, and I can’t risk her being in danger.” I don’t talk loudly, just in case.
I can tell he stands up and walks out of whatever room he was in by the way it gets quiet on his side. “Luca.” The way he says my name is telling me to cut the shit. He thinks of Rowan as his family, too.
I give him the rundown on everything happening and what we learned today by Zion coming out, as well as the camouflaged hut we found.
“Call Shelbi and get the apartment.” It’s a demand, not a suggestion. Fuck, Rowan is going to hate this. That place is where she hid away, where she was forced to, to get away from campus. Those walls hold in so much anger, sadness, and uncertainty.
“Quit thinking and do it,” Damian spits out.
“I know.”
I can hear his breath blowing out. “And don’t keep shit from me. You both are my family.”
“I know.”
Hanging up, I scroll through my contacts to find the shop owner's phone number. Once I find it, I tap it, waiting with bated breath, because I’m kind of hoping it’s not available.
“Liquid Gold, this is Shelbi.” A sweet voice meets my ear.
“Hi, Shelbi. This is Luca Stonewall, Rowan Arlo’s boyfriend.”
“Oh, yes. How is she?” she asks excitedly.
“She’s good. So, I was calling about the apartment upstairs. We’re having renovations and need somewhere to stay for about two weeks. Is the apartment available?”
The coffee shop background is the only sound for a second. “Actually, funny you’re calling now, it’s just recently came back up for rent. It is now furnished… Well, better than it was when Rowan was there.” She giggles.
Just to be safe, I decided to inquire about renting it for three weeks. And happily, she agrees. Now, telling Rowan this is going to be fucking fun.
With a thank you, we hang up, and I feel a little better about being away here soon. Knowing Damian will be close by.
I make my way back into the house, locking the door behind me and setting the alarm. I might be a hired hitman, but I don’t want to unknowingly let someone into my house to take me out; I like to play with fate, but not that way.
All I can do when I spot Weeks is shake my head. This motherfucker is passed out on the couch with Roxy now laying on top of him. She looks at melike, what are you going to do?“He’s all yours, girl,” I tell her, making my way up the stairs.
The room smells of Rowan, which is intoxicating and addicting.
Walking across the hardwood floor to the bathroom, I strip bare, stepping into the shower, washing off today, hoping the stress will flow down the drain with the water, along with the slight buzz I’m still under.
Lathering up my body with her shower gel, peach and apricot, knowing I’m going to be smelling really womanly, but it makes my skin feel smoother than the man shit that’s beside me.
The luffa scrubs off the dirt and brings me out of my drunken stupor. Hanging it back up, I lather my hands together, washing off my dick. The way my hand glides over my shaft has me moaning; I work it faster until I’m painfully rock hard, my hand squeezing the tip of my dick, before I run it down my shaft, moaning. Her face comes into view.
Hurriedly, I rinse my sud-soaped body off, step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist, while simultaneously digging in my jeans for my phone.
“Hi.” Rowan’s face fills the phone screen, beautiful, sans any makeup. She lies on a bed with her hair in a topknot; the lamplight casts a faint shadow over her face.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her truthfully, because I am.
Her face morphs, going from concern to contentment. Knowing deep down she needed to hear those words.
“I’m sorry too, Luca. I don’t enjoy fighting with you.” She positions herself higher on the headboard, giving me a full view of her nipples peeking through her silk sleep top.
I can see her eyes searching for what’s behind me, seeing the bathroom. “What are you doing?”
With an evil smirk, I say, “I was showering and started thinking of you.”
“You’ve been drinking.” It’s not a question. She knows.
