“Now’s not the time.” Jerking out of her hold, I walkaway.
“Cary, you need to talk to me,” she yells after me, her footsteps doubling mine as she closes in on me. “Where did you go? Cuts like this don’t justhappen.”
Stopping mid-stride, I grip the hair above my forehead and squeeze. The thoughts running through my head aren’t safe for her. Why the hell won’t shelisten?
Turning around, I let go of my hair and fling my arm out to the side, watching her flinch as I fight to control my temper. “I said leave mealone!”
Leaving her standing there with an open mouth, I stomp the rest of the way to the locker room, tearing clothes off as I go. By the time I reach the shower, my chest is heaving and I’m pretty sure my blood pressure is at stroke level. As the water beats down on my bruised skin, I watch the blood pool at my feet. I’m not sure if it’s mine or Keller’s or a combination of both, but it’s mildly cathartic as it mixes with water and disappears down thedrain.
Just like before, I feel her before I see her, and bow my head, knowing I did everything I could to keep her out of the lion’s den. It’s not my fault she jumped willingly over thefence.
“I’ve already told you once, Starshine. If you’re gonna be in here, you’re gonna benaked.”
Twenty-Nine
Shiloh
It doesn’t matterhow many times I’ve seen him naked. Each time takes my breath away. Heat flames my skin, and it’s not from the steam filling the room. It’s from the sculptured back that leads to a trim waist, which connects to the firmest ass I’ve ever dug my nailsinto.
Clearing my throat, I try to reason with him. “If you’ll just listen tome.”
His flattened palms bend at the knuckles. “Don’t make me repeatmyself.”
Ignoring the urge to run, I take a step forward. The back of his body isn’t as battered as the front, but it’s still bruised. It makes me want to tend to his wounds and take away whatever drove him to this point. He saved me today, and I want to save him. However, as I stare at the way his fingers grip the shower tile as if they’re trying to rip them out of the wall, I know saving isn’t what heneeds.
I know what he needs, and although part of me is nervous about how tightly coiled he is right now, I’m going to give it tohim.
Between my own pounding heartbeat and rapid breathing, the sound of the running water is drowned out as I unbutton my shorts. Hooking my thumbs underneath the waistband of my lace panties, I drag both pieces down my legs and step out of them. Cary doesn’t move, still leaning against the tile as the water pelts down his back. Once I toss the rest of my clothes on the concrete, I walk slowly toward him, praying I’m right and not making the biggest mistake of mylife.
“Your stubborn streak is going to get you hurt one day,Shiloh.”
“Maybe, but nottoday.”
A low laugh rumbles in his chest. “Are you sure aboutthat?”
No. I’m not sure about anything right now. However, I’m observant, and I know he needs an outlet. Whatever he did to cause such destruction to himself didn’t work. If he doesn’t get it all out, he’s going toimplode.
I don’t answer him. Instead, I place both palms on his shoulder blades and slowly run them down the length of his back and around his ribcage. Just as I turn my fingers toward the sharp V in his abs, he pushes off the wall and grabs myhands.
“Before you do that, you need to ask yourself if you’re prepared for what comesnext.”
“Use me.” The words are out of my mouth before I realize I’ve saidthem.
He sighs and shakes his head. “You don’t know what you’resaying.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying.” Breaking free from his hold, I boldly reach down and wrap my hand around his cock. As I suspected, he’s already hard, and I slowly strokehim.
Lifting onto my toes, I whisper against his ear. “Doit.”
With lightning reflexes, he grasps my wrist and spins me around, shoving my back against the unforgiving wet tile. Lost in the vacant glaze in his eyes, I say nothing as he pins both hands over my head. His kiss is brutal—nothing like the sexy, exploring ones I’ve been used to the past week. It’s punishing, his mouth probing my lips, tongue, teeth—anything he can find to possess and dominate. He pushes, and I yield, giving him what he needs in a dangerousgame.
Pulling my lower lip between his teeth, he presses our foreheads together, his grip on my wrists making me wince. “Last chance torun.”
I can’t speak. I’m terrified and exhilarated. I want this—want him—but I’m in unchartered waters and that’s a place I usually avoid at allcosts.
Instead of answering, I lift up on my toes and kiss him back. A slow, determined kiss that’s meant to reassure him of myintentions.
But it’s not my intentions he’s interestedin.
