She hasn’t stopped shaking, and I doubt she will until we are out of here. I’ll make this up to her tenfold, but right now, she’s going to have deal with it. She leans into me, and I pull her even closer.
“I still need to figure out who’s watching Elyse. If it’s not you, then it’s someone else. I could use your help with that. I’ll pay you, of course.” Friend or not, Damon doesn’t do anything for free. You either work for him or you pay him. One way or another, I’m at his mercy.
He puts his gun back into his holster and takes a seat in the large leather chair behind his desk. His fingers drum against his chin, his eyes narrowing in thought. “I don’t need any more money right now. What I need is some extra muscle around here. I’m down a guy, and it just so happens you would be perfect for that job.”
“I don’t want to be involved in any more of this, Damon.”
“That’s the deal. Take it or leave it,” he smirks, knowing damn well I’m going to take it.
My eyes skirt down to Elyse. Her body’s still trembling slightly, her blue eyes sad. I don’t want to agree to anymore shit that could potentially endanger her or what we have, but I have to protect her. “Fine,” I sigh. “I’m not starting tonight, though. I’m taking her home. Call me tomorrow with details.”
“Glad we got that settled. Go home and tuck your girl in…unless you want to get one of the other girls and have a threesome with her.”
The way he looks at Elyse is sickening. I want to punch him in the face all over again.
Saving it for another day, I usher Elyse out the door, never losing my hold on her. I open the car door for her, and make her sit down, then I buckle her in. She seems to be in shock, unable to say anything, and I’m okay with that. I’ll give her time to breathe…time to come to terms with it all.
I drive straight home, wanting her somewhere she feels the most safe and comfortable. I cut off the engine and get out of the car, but Elyse doesn’t make a move. I open her door and gently get her out. “Come on, baby. I’ve got you.”
She grabs onto my shoulder and lets me help her. “You said you love me.” She tilts her head up to look into my eyes.
“I did. Let’s get you inside, then we’ll talk about everything.”
The moment we enter my apartment, I feel a million times better. My mind flickers through the events that took place. Until now, it hadn’t really sunk in that I could have lost Elyse today.
She might be the one in shock, but I am a fucking mess.
I help her out of her sweater, catching a whiff of smoke and booze. It clings to our clothes, reminding me further how close Elyse was to death because of me.
“Why don’t we take a shower before we go to bed?” I suggest, knowing it’s most likely what she needs.
“Okay.” Her voice is still a little shaky, but already sounds so much stronger than it did a few minutes ago.
We walk into the bathroom, and I start undressing her, leaving all her clothes in a pile next to the tub. I hate how quiet she is. The permanent frown on her lips, it breaks my fucking heart.
Turning on the water, I check the temperature before I let her get in. I strip out of my own clothes, adding them to the pile, and get into the shower behind her.
As soon as I step in, she leans her back against my front, and I wrap my arms around her stomach. She lets her head fall back to rest on my shoulder like she needs this…like she needs me.
Lowering my head, I kiss her neck, and a sensual moan escapes her plump lips. My dick twitches in excitement at the sound, and I pull back an inch. She doesn’t need this right now. She’s in shock, afraid. I grab the soap and squirt some into my palm. I start washing her shoulders, massaging them, kneading all the tension from her body.
“That feels so good.” She turns in my arms, and I start massaging her front, giving extra attention to her breasts. My thumb skims across her hardened nipple, and I listen as an audible gasp fills her lungs. I do it again, to the same nipple, and am rewarded with the same breathless tone.
Her beautiful blue eyes flutter closed, and she teeters on her feet before leaning into me more.
“Hero,” she whimpers against my skin, her lips blazing a trail of fire over my chest.
Fuck, I wanted this to be more than this, but my dick is hard as steel.