Reid shook him like a rag doll. “The next words out of your mouth better beI’m sorry. Or I’m going to make sure you won’t be able to touch another woman with that useless husk hanging between your legs ever again!”
Tom immediately sneered at me and spit his blood on the ground “I’m sorry. Now let me go so I can get the fuck away from this useless whore.” He spat in my direction.
Rage passed in Reid’s eyes again as he punched Tom in the gut. Tom’s breath left him with a whoosh, and he went a little pale.
When I thought Reid was going to keep hitting him, he pushed him away so hard Tom landed on his ass. My ex scrambled up, swaying a little. I didn’t know if it was from the alcohol or getting his assed kicked.
Tom looked at me and Reid one more time as he got on the elevator. He pointed at me and said, “This isn’t over, Kate.”
I had to hold Reid back before he grabbed Tom again and beat him to a bloody pulp.
The elevator started to go down and Reid turned, grabbing my face between his big hands. The damage he saw made his face go red with anger all over again.
“If I ever see him again, I’ll fucking kill him,” he said in a calm voice that left chills on my skin. I cupped my hands over his, leaning against the rough warmth of them, but I winced a little when I put pressure on my throbbing cheek.
He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I nodded and led him to my apartment. He shut and locked the front door, double-checking the lock. “I’ll be calling the landlord in the morning and telling him what happened tonight. We need a doorman to keep people out that don’t live here,” he said gruffly.
Grabbing my hand in his, he led me to my bathroom. After flipping on the light, he turned to me. He gathered me up, running his hand soothingly down my back, before he picked me up and placed me on the countertop. He looked through the drawers until he came up with what he needed. He placed the peroxide, cotton swabs, and gauze on the counter next to me. Wedging himself between my open thighs, he went to work.
I flinched at the sting as he cleaned my lip with practiced hands. He was quiet while he worked, but I could feel his tension getting higher with each passing moment. It was obvious that looking at what Tom had done to my face upset him.
I needed to take his mind off of wanting to track down my ex and beat him all over again. “How long have you been an EMT?” I asked.
He blew out a shaky breath and looked into my eyes. “About five years now. I floated around after high school and kind of landed into it. I’d gotten into a motorcycle accident, and the EMTs were amazing. I signed up for classes the next week.” He smiled at the memory.
Gently, he grabbed my chin and turned my face so he could look at my cheek. I felt his breath fan across my face as he said, “It doesn’t look like he broke anything, but I think you will probably get a bruise. I’ll go get you some ice. Stay put.”
I did as I was asked and sat still. I heard him in the kitchen getting what he needed, and he was back within seconds. He handed me two night-time pain relievers with a glass of water and told me to drink.
I swallowed the pills with a big gulp of water and I blanched when he put the ice to my cheek. He stood between my legs and held it still. Holding my ice pack with one hand, he gripped my upper thigh with the other. He seemed to be searching my eyes for something as I looked at him.
Taking the ice pack from him, I grabbed his other hand and inspected his knuckles. He had a couple of splits that needed attention.
He looked down at me and shrugged. “Don’t worry about it, I’ve had a lot worse.” He gave me a small smile.
I put my ice down and grabbed a clean cotton swab. After pouring some of the peroxide solution on it, I set to cleaning his cuts.
This whole situation seemed really intimate. After I was all done cleaning the blood away, I wrapped his knuckles with some gauze that he had set out earlier. Finished, I looked up to see him staring down at me with some indiscernible emotion in his amber eyes. God, what I wouldn’t give to know what he was thinking. I blushed as I looked away.
Reid grabbed my chin gently and moved me to look at him. “I want to kiss you so bad right now, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
I felt butterflies flutter in my lower belly. My breathing came out in little puffs as I said, “You would never hurt me.”
He lowered his hand to my neck. The motion should have scared me, given what I had just gone through, but I leaned into it. I believed what I said—he would never bring any harm to me.
When Reid lowered his mouth to mine, it was the gentlest kiss he had ever given me. Though he was gentle with my lips, he did dominate in other ways. He tightened his hand at my throat, just enough to let me know he was there. Stepping closer between my legs so we were flush together, he pushed me until my back was against the mirror.
I moaned as he dipped his tongue in enough to make me want more. Before I wanted him to, he pulled away. “It’s late and you have been through an ordeal. Let me get you to bed.”
I nodded, and he picked me back up and carried me to my bedroom. I didn’t think I would ever get used to being carried around like my weight didn’t bother them.
Reid set me on my feet beside my bed so he could pull back my blankets. He turned to leave, and I grabbed his arm. “Would it be too much to ask if you would stay the night with me?” I didn’t think I would be getting much sleep tonight.
He looked at me like I was crazy. “You think I am going to leave you alone after what just happened? If you kicked me out I would still sleep in front of your door, bunny.” He gave me a small peck and then left the room.
I heard him in the living room, picking up my takeout boxes and turning out the lights. I turned to my bed and lay down with my ice pack on my cheek.