Avenged(21)

I stepped out of the basin and wrapped a threadbare towel around my waist. I only had a couple of them on hand and I wasn’t sure if any of them were exactly clean. Back in the day, I used to wine and dine women with gourmet meals and nights spent in luxury hotels. I finally met a woman I liked, one that could matter if the situation was different, and I couldn’t even offer her a clean towel.

Shaking my head at the ridiculousness of the situation, I sent water droplets flying everywhere. I was lifting a hand to wipe away the condensation on the mirror so I could run a comb through my hair when there was a tap on the door. Leaning over, I pushed it open and was met with a red-faced and anxiously waiting Echo.

She let out a strangled-sounding gasp when the door swung open and the hand she had used to knock went to her throat. Her long lashes swept down as her eyes dropped to my still wet chest. I could feel their impact like it was touching my skin. She watched water droplets roll across my abs until they disappeared underneath the towel at my waist without blinking.

“Uhh…well, the walls are thin.” She went scarlet and jerked her gaze up to mine. “I heard the water turn off…and umm…well, when you were finished.”

My eyebrows shot up to my hairline and a chuckle rumbled out of my chest at her stuttering admission. She was telling me she had listened to me jerk off while thinking about her. A better man would be embarrassed and apologize. I wasn’t even a good man, so there was no way that was happening.

I shrugged my shoulders at her and pointed at my once again stirring cock. Anytime I was close enough to breathe the same air as her, I seemed to get hard. “You saw what I was dealing with when I climbed out of bed. It wasn’t going to go away on its own.” I had a beast that was used to being fed regularly, and lately I’d been starving it. “Give me a minute and you can get in here.”

“Well…I uh…kind of figured since you were already in here and wet, I would just jump in behind you so you don’t have to worry about changing again after you help me wash my hair. That shower is the smallest thing I’ve ever seen; there is no way you can help me without getting soaked.” She tilted her head back so she was looking in my eyes and when she smiled at me, it took every ounce of self-control I had not to grab her, lift her up on the counter, and make a permanent place for myself between her legs. “I figured this was more practical.”

What it was, was sweet agony. If the feds wanted to get me to talk, they should have sent her in with her calculating eyes and alluring body. I would have rolled over in a hot second and given them whatever they wanted if it meant I got the chance to touch her, put my mouth on her.

“It’s a lot of things, Pop-Tart, but practical isn’t one of them.” I inclined my head into the narrow, muggy room and gave her enough space to slide in around me. I leaned against the sink and gave her a challenging smirk. “I think this is the first time I’ve ever gotten a woman naked in order to clean her up instead of getting her dirty.” I circled a finger in the air in front of her. “Strip.”

She automatically moved to follow my direction, which meant my dick went rock hard. I liked a woman with fight, but I liked it even more when that fight faded to obedience. She let out a yelp when she moved her bad arm without thinking. I swore when she had to blink away tears of pain as she let the limb drop back to her side.

I took a step toward her, reaching for the hem of my shirt that covered her to mid-thigh. “I forgot for a second that you can’t handle the basics right now, which is the only reason I’m here. I’ll take care of you, promise.” I skimmed the thick fabric over her curves and off over her head, my lungs seizing and my heart stopping when I was face to face with her full breasts, perfectly pink nipples, and bare center. She was a stunner; all that white skin that looked like porcelain contrasted so vividly against her dark hair. If I was the prince, there was no way a simple kiss would ever do if Snow White looked like her. It was impossible to resist the urge to touch, to taste.

She didn’t try and cover up, but a pretty flush did find its way across her chest and up her throat. She turned on her foot and climbed into the shower I had just vacated. I leaned against the rickety vanity once again and watched her as she cranked on the water without closing the shower curtain. She was short enough that the stream hit her on the top of the head when it came on, making her jump as water touched her wound. Immediately, rivulets of rosy colored water started to track over her skin as her hair went slick, the curls heavy with moisture.

I waited for her to tell me to go, to insist. I waited for her to look at me and tell me she was fine and would call if she needed me. I kept my eyes glued to her sexy shimmy as she moved her head from side to side in order to make sure she washed away the last of her accident. I knew I should go, but I was rooted in place and it was going to take more than a conscience I didn’t have to make me move.