I held her tighter, needing to remind myself she was safe in my arms. I’d spent years pushing everyone away, not wanting to feel the pain of loss like I had with Sofia and there I was living my worst nightmare. I’d held myself back from Alexandra for so long, and I’d still almost lost her. And no matter how much I pushed her away, I would have been devastated if the night had ended any differently than her standing in my arms.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for saving me.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner. I’m sorry I wasn’t here this morning.”
“You’re here now.”
Unable to stop myself, I pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “Tell me what to do. Tell me what you need.”
Her warm breath puffed against my skin. “I guess I could probably use some soap.”
I reached for the bar of soap on the shelf and handed it to her. I expected her to ask me to leave at any moment, now that she was done crying. But resilient, brave, Alexandra did no such thing. She stepped back, soaped up a washcloth, and began washing her body. Every once in a while she’d give me a side glance from under her lashes, but it was as if I wasn’t even there.
“Are you going to wash off? You have a little blood on your cheek.”
“I can do it when you’re done and settled.”
She stepped into me and tipped her head back to meet my eyes. Fuck she was beautiful. Even when I didn’t look directly at her, even when it was only shadows and blurs from my periphery. She was beautiful.
“I don’t want to be alone.” Her small hands brushed my sides and tugged softly at my pants. “You can take your pants off and shower with me, Erik. I know you won’t hurt me.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded and passed me the soap. I ran the soap efficiently over my body, quickly since she was almost done, and we finished at the same time.
“Are you ready to get out?”
“Yeah.”
I turned off the water and reached for a towel off the heated rack and wrapped it around her shoulders. Another towel went around my waist before I grabbed another and gently dried her hair. She held the thick white cotton around her and let me take care of her, wiping away the day one drop of water at a time.
I’d just finished running the towel over my own hair when she stepped back into me. I dropped the fabric and wrapped her in my arms. She didn’t cry or even sniffle. She pressed her warm cheek to my chest and breathed me in, finding comfort in my arms.
Holding her, I felt like a giant. Like I could carry the world on my shoulders and I’d happily do it if she could feel safe again. I felt like more of a man than ever before in my life. All because this young woman had been traumatized and was still able to find solace in my arms.
“Do you want to lay down?”
“Will you stay with me?”
“Of course.”
I directed her out to my bedroom and she wrapped the towel under her arms and around herself before curling up on the bed. Moving slowly, I lay beside her and let her curl around me however she needed.
I didn’t know how long we laid there, but after only a few minutes, she fell asleep. Her soft, even puffs of air against my chest lulled me into my own sleep.
Sometime in the middle of the night, she jerked awake with a cry. I rested my hand on her arm, letting her know I was there, but not trying to trap her against me.
“Shh, Alexandra. I’m right here.”
When she curled into my side, I wrapped my arms around her body, holding her close. “Erik?”
“I’m right here. You’re home. You’re safe.” I murmured the words into her hair, over and over until her breaths slowed.
My muscles tensed when her warm lips pressed to my chest. I hadn’t been sure at first, but she repeated the process, moving across to the other side before working her way up my neck.
“Alexandra,” I moaned. Fuck, I didn’t want to take advantage of her and no matter how much I told my cock it was wrong, I couldn’t stop it. She felt it and didn’t hesitate. She continued to kiss and press her hips against me.
“Touch me, Erik. Wipe it away. Replace it with yours.”
“Alexandra,” I tried again, but she knew she had me. She could hear the desire coloring my voice.
“Please.” Another kiss to my neck, except she opened her lips and slicked her tongue across my skin. “I choose this. I want this.” A puff of air hit my neck with a small laugh. “I’ve wanted this for so long. You make me feel safe. You take the women you rescue to Haven, but you’re my haven.” She pulled back and looked up at me, letting me see the earnest need blazing from her eyes. “Take me there.”