9
Granger
Sitting on my couch with my head back against the cushions, I replay everything that happened tonight. It took everything in me not to grab Kat and throw her over my shoulder at the sight of those damn fingerprint shaped bruises on her body. I can’t help wondering if it was Jeff, because I’ve seen the way he watches her and the guy is a douche. I want to beat him until blood is spilled at just the thought of him even daring to touch her. I didn’t even have that urge when I found out about him sleeping with my ex behind my back. There’s something about Kat that has me wanting to be closer to her and to protect her. I wanted to ask her who left those bruises, but I saw her stubbornly raised chin and the pride in her eyes. She doesn’t want my pity, but the words came out of my mouth without even thinking about it…offering her to live with me. I wanted to avoid women altogether but here I am, still thinking about her even hours later. Maybe I can try convincing her again to live here so I can keep an eye on her. Yes, that must be what it is—just the need to make sure she’s safe. Absolutely nothing else.
My phone ringing brings me out of my thoughts, and I see it’s the front desk downstairs calling. I swipe right to answer.
“Hey, Roger, what’s up?” I ask the doorman, wondering why he’s calling this late.
“Sorry to bug you so late, sir. There’s a young lady down here asking for you. Says for me to tell you your favorite color is blue,” he says worriedly, but I’m half paying attention because I’m already out the door and jogging to the elevator.
“I’ll be right down. Thanks.” I hang up and curse at the numbers to hurry up from the first floor.
Finally, the elevator opens with a ding, and I’m striding barefoot around the corner to reach the lobby. I come to a halt for a split second at the sight before me. Kat is awkwardly standing beside Roger, eyeing him warily, but she forces a small smile. I shake myself mentally when I notice her lips are blue and she’s dripping wet from head to toe. I walk over to her, towering over her smaller frame, and without a word, I pick her up. With my one arm under her knees and the other spread across her back, I ignore her squeak as I jog back to the elevators. I nod to Roger in thanks as I pass him and tuck a shivering Kat deeper in my arms, pressing her closer to my body for heat.
After I hit the button with my elbow to open the doors, I glance down at her while we wait for our ride to the fifteenth floor in silence. Eventually, I can’t take it anymore.
“What the hell were you thinking? Did you walk here? I could’ve picked you up,” I growl down at her upturned face, resisting the urge to kiss her blue pouty lips so I can warm that part of her too.
“I-I wasn’t thinking. I had t-to get away… I’m s-sorry Granger. I’m s-so freaking c-cold,” she whimpers as her body shivers uncontrollably in my arms.
The doors finally slide open on my floor, and I’m at my door with my next breath because she has to get warm or she’ll get very sick, probably from hypothermia. I shift her in my arms so I can open my front door as she wraps her hands behind my neck, running her nose along my collarbone, which causes me to shiver. Once inside, I slam the door closed with my heel and stride down the hallway to my master bathroom. I set her down on the mat next to the shower’s glass door so I can go to flick on the lights and get the shower started for her. I’m not going to leave her alone in here until I at least know she’s okay. Turning back around to her, I find her shrugging off my leather coat with body shudders, and her wet hair is clinging to her breasts. I try not to stare at her pebbled nipples, but it’s damn hard when they’re saluting me.
Focus, Granger. She doesn’t need you staring at her with barely contained lust when she can hardly function. Stare later when she can sass you.
She tries gripping the bottom of her dress, but her frozen hands won’t cooperate. I’m trying not to get mad all over again, but hell, it’s freezing cold outside and she decided to take a stroll through this weather? Seeing her struggle, I decide a shower won’t do, since she’s barely standing up on her own two feet. Opening the shower door, I reach through the stream and turn it off before hurrying over to the tub. Turning the taps on hot, I spin back around to see her still struggling, and she’s too stubborn to ask for my help. I calmly take her hands and place them under my shirt until her cold fingers touch my abs. We both hiss at the same time, but I don’t let go so she stops trying to do something she can’t by herself. I wait until she looks up at me with tears in her big, blue eyes, and fuck, I’m drowning again.
“I got you, Princess. Let me take care of you, and then we can talk, okay?” I ask, and wait until she nods before I bend to scoop her up again into my arms.
Without warning her of my plan, I lower her into the warm bathwater and can't help chuckling at her shriek the moment she's sitting in the tub fully clothed.
"Y-you ass! Oh God, it stings," she moans in agony while giving me a death glare as I straighten back up and go to retrieve her a towel from the bathroom cabinet.
I turn back around to see her dunk herself under the water and stay under there for what seems like a minute, but is only seconds. I kneel next to the tub just as she resurfaces and let out a relieved sigh when I notice her lips returning back to their soft, pink color.
God, she's gorgeous, even dripping wet. She makes a small moan of bliss and twists her body to the side to lean her forearms on the edge of the tub so she can look at me. My cock hardens at that moan, echoing in my head, and I can't stop picturing her making that noise with her wrapped naked around my body as I sink between her soft, silky thighs to bury my cock deep in her tight pussy. Right now, she cocks her head at me, and I reach out to twirl a lock of her hair around my finger as I try to figure out what it is about her that makes my world stop like she's the only thing I can focus on. She clears her throat as her eyes watch my every movement.
"Thank you for doing this. Why are you being so nice to me?" she whispers softly with a hint of curiosity in her tone and I feel like I have to whisper back. It’s like any second this bubble we’re in will pop and all the noise will come rushing back.
"You need me, and I need you." I realize I'm staring intently into her eyes, and fuck if my emotions aren't all over the place. "It's that simple, Princess. Be my fake girlfriend, and I'll help you with whatever you need." I drop the lock of her hair that I'm playing with and stand up, rubbing the back of my neck as I flash her a smirk that says I'm willing to help her with anything.
She rolls her eyes at me, but I think she can see past my bullshit attitude, and that fucking scares me like no other. I don't want these feelings every time she's within reach of me.
"I think I can handle it from here… Captain?" she says with a disbelieving expression on her face.
I’ve already turned around, heading towards the door to escape because everything feels too real and I don't want these feelings, but her tone stops me just as I'm about to walk out. I glance over my shoulder to see her eyebrows pinched as she looks down into the water.
"What's up, Princess? Need me to help you?" I ask with a sarcastic smirk as I spin back around, but my words came out as more of a purr. She looks up at me real quick and flips me off, but she’s shaking her head with a small grin. Damn, once again, she sees me.
"You put me in the tub fully clothed. I'm in the tub with my clothes on." She starts laughing, her head thrown back, and her contagious laughter makes me chuckle and eases something inside of me.
I'm so fucked, and not in a good way.
"Just now realizing this? Would you rather I’d stripped you naked and watched a blush work it’s way up your body, covering those perky breasts and those nipples that beg to be sucked?" I ask deeply, trailing my gaze down to her waist that’s beneath the water and slowly taking my sweet time with my gaze climbing up her body until I’m staring into her wide, beautiful eyes again. I'm back in asshole mode so she can start hating me again. It's better that way for us both.
Her cheeks turn light pink as her laughter trails off at my words, and her nipples peek through her wet clothes at my words, which my gaze latches onto. She crosses her one arm over her chest as she scowls at me while her other hand waves me away.
"Granger." She gets all growly as she narrows her eyes at me, and I want her to chant my name with that growl as I pound into her wet, delicious pussy. "You're unbelievable. Get out so I can get dressed… Oh, can you get me some clothes while you’re at it?" She bites her bottom, pouty lip, and I notice the uncertainty in her eyes at this whole situation. It’s a clusterfuck, but we can make it work.
