My eyes widen.
“Anyway, don’t worry about that. You’re safe, they’re not.” Then he levels his gaze with mine again, making sure I hear him. “And they’ll regret what they did for the rest of the miserable life they have left. Okay?”
Hands still cupping my face, I slowly nod.
I’m not quite sure what emotions are brewing inside me. Relief, concern… and something dangerously hot at the thought of these men making these people suffer for hurting me.
“Are you hungry, preciosa?” His touch gently falls away. “We can make you something.”
“I’m okay. Thanks.” I shift against the pillows, grimacing at the feel of my t-shirt clinging to my skin. “I’d like to have a shower, though.”
“Then you’ll eat.” But it isn’t a suggestion. He stares straight at me until I relent with a small nod, which he returns.
Val takes his time removing the wire in my arm; he’s so gentle that I almost cry again. But with a speed my foggy brain can’t quite handle, he sweeps me up into his arms.
I try to fight back the tingle shooting through me, but it only worsens when I realise I’m only wearing underwear and my t-shirt.
When he places my feet down on the cold tiles, it takes me a few seconds to find my balance. I’m still a bit out of it, a little hot, but not filled with the burning aches I remember.
“I’ll wait here for you. I’ll go get your things.”
“Thanks.” I smile, and for a moment, he just stands there, staring at me, like I’m not the grossest thing right now.
He brings my suitcase from across the room and places it on the bathroom counter. He reminds me he’ll be right outside before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
Thank god the shower is simple.
I remember all the protocols Kaiden had to perform just to get past the gates and into the house. Kinda thought the shower would be voice-activated.
It’s so large, it’s even got a seat. A whole seat the size of my torso carved from white marble.
I sink onto it, letting the hot water run over my shoulders.
Yesterday, I was hiding in a hotel room, convinced my life was about to implode. Now I’m taking my first-ever sit-down shower in a luxury bathroom after Val saidit’s over.
Just like that.
Even after pushing them away with that text.
Even when they thought I didn’t want them… they still came.
And fixed it.
My chest tightens a little at the thought.
I take my time in the shower, indulging my hair with a shampoo that is definitely a man’s. Definitely expensive.
When I step out into the fog, I sigh at the sight of my wet hair in the mirror. I don’t want to dry it, I doubt anyone with long hair ever does, but especially not while my body’s riddled with aches. But when the water drenches the back of my clean t-shirt, I decide to try.
God, I’m weak. My travel dryer feels so much heavier, and when I try for the third time to lift it high enough to dry my roots, it slips from my hand and cracks against the marble floor.
“Shit,” I hiss.
“Everything okay?” Val’s voice slips under the door.
I groan as I stretch down to grab the plastic handle. “Could you come in here, please?”
I quickly glance at my reflection, checking I’m decent, which is absurd when this man has seen me naked.
