This man has had his dick inside me, but this moment is strangely the most intimate that we’ve had.
The way he gently caresses my body, not leaving a single spot untouched. Even when he brushes against my center, he does so in a way that shows the caring meant in the motion.
Once done, he turns me so I’m facing him as he leans my head back into the water. Then he takes the shampoo, lathering it into my hair. Once done conditioning my hair as well, he moves to turn off the water, but I shake my head.
Then, as gently as he washed me, I wash his body. Tears prickle my eyes at the amount of bruising already on his body. I feel the tears fall as I clean his face of the dried blood.
“Shh, baby. Don’t cry,” he murmurs, leaning down to kiss each cheek.
“You’re hurt because of me, Nate.”
“No. I’m hurt because the Mitchells wanted to take a hit at my family. They failed. They wanted to use you as a tool, but they never realized that you couldn’t be used because you were loyal to us. I don’t agree with how you and Willow went about this, but it was smart. You had everyone convinced you were a turncoat. Even me.”
I sob as I let my forehead fall to his chest. “How do you not hate me right now?”
His hand comes down, pulling my chin up so I’m meeting his gaze.
“How could I hate you? You put yourself in danger in order to help us catch these shady fuckers. You gave up Willow, your only friend, to put yourself into the viper’s den for us. That’s brave as fuck, Comet. I’m in awe of you.”
My next words come out in a whisper, “I killed a man.”
His eyes soften. “You protected your family. I know it’s going to take time to come to terms with it, but you eliminated a threat. Fuck, babe. I was so fucking proud of you in that moment.”
Falling forward, my head back on his chest, I close my eyes. He holds me, letting me sob as the emotions of the day settle in fully.
When the water runs cold, he turns it off. Stepping out, he gestures me forward before wrapping me in a towel. Just like when he washed my body, he dries me with gentle care. Then he takes my hand, leading me down the hall into his bedroom.
I’ve been in here before, back when I was beaten but it feels different somehow. Tonight is different.
I guess surviving such an ordeal will do that to you. Make you see things differently.
Pulling the towel away from me, Nate slips a T-shirt over my head. It falls to mid thigh so I reject his offer of sweats. Then he pulls on a pair of boxers before leading me to the bed.
Lying down, he pulls me down next to him, wrapping me in his arms.
“Nate?” I whisper into the darkness.
“Hmmm,” he murmurs against my hair.
“Will I be okay?”
He moves his head, kissing below my ear. “You will be.”
“How do you know?”
“I won’t let you be anything, but okay. More than okay.”
With those lingering words, I focus on him, letting my thoughts fall away. Just before blackness takes me, I swear I hear the sweetest words fall from his lips.
“I’ll never let anything happen to you again, Comet. I love you too much.”
-
Twenty-Seven
“She’s fine,Willow. Let her rest.”
The rumble of Nate’s voice against my head wakes me.
