Pushing through to the bathroom, I quickly turn the shower on before heading back to get my girl.
“Come on, let’s wash tonight off you.”
Taking her hands, I pull her to her feet before sweeping her off them once more.
“Toby,” she cries in surprise.
“I told you, baby. I’ve got you.”
Joanne watches us walk away, and when I look back, I find that her eyes are full of concern, but she’s got a small smile playing on her lips.
‘I’ve got her,’ I mouth, and she nods in acceptance.
The second we’re inside the bathroom, I kick the door closed and place her back down on her feet.
“Good?” I ask, but she doesn’t respond. She just stares blankly at my chest.
“Jesus, Demon,” I breathe, pulling her back into my arms, crushing our chests together as I wrap my arms tightly around her.
Her breathing becomes more ragged the longer I hold her until she completely falls apart, refusing to let go until she’s got it all out while the room has filled with steam around us.
Her entire body trembles against mine. Unsure if it’s the lingering shock, or because she’s cold, I reluctantly release her and wrap my fingers around the bottom of her hoodie.
Her large, exhausted chocolate eyes stare up at me, making my heart lurch in my chest.
“This okay?”
She nods and tries looking away, hiding from me.
“No, baby. Stay here with me, okay?”
Her eyes come back to mine, and she allows me to see the pain she’s been hiding inside her.
Unable to do what I really want and take it all away from her, make her pain my own, I do the only other thing I can and start undressing her.
Darkening bruises mar her upper arm where he must have grabbed her.
My teeth grind as I fight to keep my cool, to remain gentle with her as I drop to my knees and tug her boots from her feet before pulling her leggings down.
She stands before me in just a pair of cotton knickers and her crop top, and she totally fucking wrecks me.
“You have no idea, do you, Demon?”
She stares down at me with a deep crease in her brow.
“You have no idea just how much you own me.”
Her lips part on a gasp.
“And I’m going to fucking prove it to you. Somehow, I’m going to make to see just how much you mean to me, how fucking sorry I am for what I put you through.”
A violent shudder rips through her body, making reality slam into me.
Reaching out, I pull her underwear down her legs before standing and dragging her top off, leaving her bare before me.
“Get under the water, I’ll be right there.”
Her eyes drop down my body and she shakes her head.
“Let me look after you, baby.”
Sucking in a deep breath, she nods and steps into the shower, immediately standing under the torrent of water and letting it run over every inch of her.
As quickly as I can, I strip down to my boxers. I hesitate a beat but decide better than to push them off too. I don’t want her getting the wrong idea about this for even a second.