“What are you doing? I want my gown.”
“From now on, you sleep naked next to me unless you’re on your period, then you can have a pair of panties.” He conceded the last.
“Go to hell.” She snapped.
Viper smiled at her temper, pulling her close. “I take it you don’t want to earn my vote tonight?’
She tried to hit him but he grabbed her hand carefully turning her until he was plastered against her back.
“I’ll take that as a no. Go to sleep.”
Winter wanted to yell at him but exhaustion from her long day had drained her body. The shower had relaxed her muscles so she was able to lie comfortably against him. She would deal with him in the morning, she promised herself.
Chapter 8
The morning sun woke her. Winter lay still, not wanting to wake Viper. Carefully, she edged to the side of the bed and maneuvered herself into her wheelchair. Grabbing some clothes, she went to the nightstand glancing at the bed to make sure Viper was still sleeping as she snagged his phone. Going into the bathroom, she made a quick phone call. Dressing herself and brushing her hair into a ponytail, she rolled her chair to the bathroom door, peeping out to make sure that he was still sleeping.
Going slow so no squeaking floorboards would raise an alert, she slowly moved across the bedroom until she reached the door, peering out into the hallway and seeing no one, hoping everyone was still sleeping after their late night. She rolled her chair out into the hall before shutting the door quietly behind her. Winter rolled the chair down the hallway, sure this time she would be able to make her escape. When she got to the head of the stairs, she unintentionally let a small scream of fright escape her.
Shade was leaning casually against the wall hidden from view from the hallway. He looked tired and cranky, which on him wasn’t a good look, it was a scary one.
“Going someplace?” He asked casually.
“Breakfast?” Winter tried not to appear guilty.
“No one is up yet.”
“I can make my own.”
“How were you going to get down the steps?” He said coldly.
Winter didn’t answer his question.
“What are you doing here?” Winter asked impatiently.
“Viper had a feeling you would try to make a run for it after last night.” Shade shrugged. “Seems he was right.”
“He asked you to stand here all night?” She asked in disbelief.
“Yes, need a lift downstairs or do you want to go back to bed?”
“Downstairs, please.” She needed to be downstairs for her plan to work. The doorbell rang just as he was about to lift her.
“Your accomplice?”
“Who is it?” Viper asked from behind her.
Winter stiffened, he was wearing faded jeans that hung low on his hips and no shirt. He wasn’t even wearing shoes. She almost did not answer him but knowing all he had to do was open the door to find out the answer to his question, she decided it would be stupid to argue.
“Pastor Dean.”
Viper grinned. “Could be worse, Shade answer the door while I get Houdini.”
Expecting Viper to pack her back into their room, she was surprised when he lifted her into his arms and carried her downstairs.
Pastor Dean was walking in the door as Viper reached the bottom of the steps.
“Viper, Shade, Winter it’s good to see you all again.” Pastor Dean smiled at each of them. Winter was embarrassed that the handsome minister saw her in Viper’s arms.
“Want some coffee?” Viper asked, not waiting for a reply while he carried Winter to the kitchen and sat her at the table, leaving to start a pot of coffee.
“Sounds good to me,” Pastor Dean sat down at the table next to Winter, giving her a reassuring smile.
“Going to bed, Viper.”
“Thanks, Shade.” He left without a word to her or Pastor Dean. Winter’s angry glare followed him out the door.
“So what brought you out so early in the morning Dean?”
“I called him.”
Viper leaned against the counter with his arms folded against his chest. His eyes pinned her to the chair before he moved to get cups and filled each with coffee. Setting them down on the table, he took a seat.
“Why?”
“I asked him to take me home.”
“In that case, he has wasted a trip. You’re not ready to be on your own yet. Give it a couple more weeks, if you still want to go home then I will take you myself.” He said lifting his cup to his lips.
“I want to go now.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Why?”
“I think that is self-evident.” He replied.
“No, it’s not. I can get myself in and out of the wheelchair. I can get dressed and cook. There are people in worse shape than I am who stay by themselves.”