“They only have the one room,” I say as I try to help him out, “but they have a vending machine in the lobby with some Tylenol and water.”
I feel hot and uncomfortable, though, and the thought of sleeping with him in the same bed is messing with my mind.
He looks down at me as we make our way to the room.
“There’s something else you’re keeping from me?” It’s half-accusation, half-question.
I hate that he can tell, and I just shrug, trying to look nonchalant.
“Just the one bed is all.”
He’s looking down at me, brow arched in silent questioning as we reach the door.
“I dunno if either of us is in much shape for sleeping on a floor tonight,” he says. He’s still holding his side as he leans against the door and I work the old-fashioned keys in the door. “And as old school as this place is, they might take issue with us livin’ in sin like that.” He has a big grin on his broad, handsome— but battered— face.
I roll my eyes, but I have no idea how to feel about it as I push the door open and take in the familiar smell. It’s like I’m taken back five years, and I’m just a kid again. But I flick on the light and help Kaiden to the bed and I’m reminded of just how much I’m not.
“Stay here, I’m going to grab you some Tylenol,” I say before making my way out once more and to the machine. I’m grateful for the time away, but honestly, all I can think about is coming back to him.
Spending the night with him.
It’s so wrong, picturing his body pressed to mine, the way it makes my knees tremble with desire and my hands shake with uncertainty. Maybe I should just spend the night in the car, get away from it all and then just... take off.
But I know I can’t. We’re in this together now, and I’m not going to run from it.
When I return to the room with the Tylenol and water, though, and see him shirtless, laying back on the bed, I can’t help but stare.
His broad chest exposed, thick, corded muscles all on display as he rubs at his body, testing his ribs, clearly checking to see if any were broken. He's bruised, badly so, and cut in a few places, but none of that ruins just how much sex appeal my he has as he lays there, inspecting himself.
“Luckily, none of those idiots were clever enough to buy a pair of steel-toed boots,” he says. Judging by the grimace he gives as he presses along one rib, though, they’d done one hell of a job without it anyhow.
I go into the bathroom, grabbing a towel before returning to him, kneeling on the bed.
“Here,” I say, passing him some pills and the bottle of water as I bring the slightly wetted towel to the bow of his lip, cleaning him of the blood from his nose.
The motel is completely silent, and I know it’s probably just before dawn. There’s that strange stillness in the air, like all the world has fallen away. Everyone but Kaiden and I, holed up in a motel room at the edge of town.
“We should really go to a hospital,” I say with a whisper, my hand reaching out, trembling before I lightly touch my fingers to the bruise along his side. He winces, and I withdraw my hand, but I continue to stare.
“You know we can’t do that,” he says, his bare chest heaving with his heavy breathing. He’s a massive man, and so battered and bruised, he looks like he’s a gladiator from out of the past, having come to save me when I needed him most.
He lets me clean his wounds with the wet towel, knocking back the pills and water after I move from his face, on down to his bloodied torso. Though all the while, his eyes are upon me no less intently than mine are on him.
“Whatever happens, I don’t want you to be in any more trouble, Princess. You hear me? That money is sittin’ and waiting for you, and whatever comes, I need you to be safe, so I know you’ll be able to enjoy it. That means more to me than anything right now,” he says, his husky voice so rough and firm.
When I don’t respond fast enough for him, pondering his words and what they meant, he reaches out, grasps my arm and squeezes. His bicep bulging as he does.
“You hear me, Princess?” he says, but his words aren’t angry, they’re… loving.
My eyes flit to his, and I nod gently, though I have that sick feeling in my stomach and I know I’m not going to run this time.
More importantly, I’m not going to let him run.
I hold his green, smoldering gaze and swallow.
There’s always been this strange emotion, this connection, and we’ve both tried so hard to ignore it. It wouldn’t be bad just to ignore it one more night. Just fall asleep, like we were kids sharing a bed.
I sit back, putting the towel aside before taking off my high heels and letting them drop to the floor.