The thing is, I’m in too deep now. I’m no longer fascinated by Katie; I’m downright obsessed. If she doesn’t get it, if she figures it out and can’t handle it, I can’t let her walk away. I can’t kill her. I won’t kill her. But there is no way in heaven or hell that she is getting away from me.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my waist and make my way into her bedroom, halting as soon as I open the door. “I don’t know what this entails.” I grin down at her.
Katie is all but naked, bar some frilly lace underwear. She’s on her back, on the floor, and it takes me several beats torealise that she’s lying on her suki mat. The room is dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background. I barely take any of it in. My gaze is fixed solely on Katie.
“But I’m in!”
I jump over her and land on the bed, pulling myself to the edge so I can peer down at her.
“It works better with no clothes to act as a barrier,” she blushes, then grimaces slightly, adjusting her neck on the spiked pillow to get more comfortable.
I reach down, skimming my fingers along her bare skin, feeling the warmth radiating from her body. “Are you terribly sore, love?” Her poor body is constantly coiled like a spring as a result of her CPTSD. She’s perpetually drained from the tension and pain she carries.
Her heavy-lidded eyes flit up to meet mine. “Not so much anymore.” Her smile is soft and genuine, with a small glimmer of relief in her weary eyes.
Her thighs press together, drawing my eyes to the pink lace covering her delicate skin. I know that twitch. One look at her face confirms it. “Are you thinking about something naughty?”
“No!” She barks a laugh.
“Are you sure?” I cock an eyebrow, kicking free of my towel to better see her reaction. She blushes, her cheeks turning a shade of pink that matches the lace on her thighs. “You look a bit.” I pause, searching for the right word. “Flustered.”
“It’s the mat,” she mumbles, avoiding eye contact. “It’s the pressure of the spikes in my lower back…”
“Ah.” I’ve heard that massage can arouse some people, but I didn’t think a suki mat could do the same. “I should set it alight.”
“What?” She looks at me in surprise.
“It’ll take care of the competition.”
“I’m hardly going to hump the mat!”
“Well, I can’t take that chance now, can I?” Droplets of water fall from the ends of my hair onto Katie’s stomach, between her breasts, and down her sides. “I can’t be seen to be sharing my woman.”
She arches an eyebrow, smirking as I raise her hand to my mouth, kissing her fingertips. “Even inanimate objects?”
“Especially those,” I have so much paperwork to do tonight that I most likely won’t be able to make the drive here afterwards. I don’t want to sleep without her by my side. I can’t. I tried three nights ago and spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to find any rest. “Come to Dublin tonight.”
“No.”
My eyes narrow to slits. “Why?”
She doesn’t look at me. Instead, she pretends she doesn’t hear me. Or she simply doesn’t care about my plea now that she has made up her mind.
“This is about Tracy, isn’t it?” She’s still pissed that my old fuck buddy showed up out of the blue. I can’t say I blame her. I’d have lost my shit if one of Katie’s exes randomly appeared and refused to leave without seeing her.
“No.”
“Liar,” I grin, refusing to let her retract her hand from my grasp.
“I hate Dublin,” she admits, still refusing to look at me.
“And you’re afraid I’ll have more random women showing up like Tracy did.”
Her head snaps in my direction. “Will you?”
I release her hand and fall from the bed with a sigh, catching myself above her and caging her between my arms. She looks delicious. The murderous look she gets in her eyes when she’s jealous sends a thrill down my spine. “No, bug,” I assure her, nipping at her neck and tugging lightly on her earlobe. A soft moan escapes her lips, and I grin against her neck.
“You’re sure?” I watch her throat bob as she swallows nervously. “If any unexpected visitors show up to the house, feel free to hit them with my car.” My lips find that sensitive spot just behind her ear, her breasts graze my chest as she rises into my embrace.
