Cas grunted, and Ryuji grinned. “Peachy.”
I doubted that, but I wasn’t going to push it. I’d lived with Ryu long enough to know his difficult nature stemmed from his own insecurities, and the sooner Caspian realized that, the sooner their friction would diminish. It wasn’t that long ago that we frequently fought.
“Where is Leona?” I asked, changing the subject. I hadn’t seen her on the couch when I came in.
“Shower,” they said at the same time and then went right back to glaring.
I glanced between them both. Why were neither of them with her, especially considering her injury?
My thoughts clicked together and I whirled. Sothat’swhat this was about. “You made her angry. You’re both in trouble.”
They said nothing, but a muscle feathered in Caspian’s jaw as he turned toward the windows and drug a hand down his face.
“Well, since you both were idiots, you can put the groceries away.” I set down Ciel’s carton of almond milk and headed for the hallway.
“Where are you going?” Ryuji called.
“To make sure she doesn’t slip and fall.” Then, with a grin, I added, “Also, to shower.” I didn’t stick around to see how they’d react; I knew already. They would be angry with one another, and that left a perfect opening for me.
This partnership was already tenuous enough, and even though I was reluctant to add to the tension, it wasn’t safe for Leona to be in the bathroom by herself with her concussion. The two of them should have realized thatbeforethey pissed her off. Her safety was more important than their grievances.
I pulled off my jacket and tossed it in my room before I entered Leona’s and Cas’s shared room. Puffs of steam rolled out from the attached bathroom, the sound of running water muffling the sound of Leona’s soft humming.
She did that when she thought no one was listening. Talked and hummed under her breath.
I slipped into the bathroom. Condensation covered the glass shower doors, so I could barely make out the silhouette of her naked body. My cock stiffened. It had only been a day since we’d had sex, and I could still feel her on my skin. I’d never had sex like that before. Besides the satisfaction of bodily urges, it usually left me feel hollow and lonely. But I’d never felt so peaceful, so balanced, as I did with her wrapped up in my arms.
I would never let her go. She was my path to redemption.
She stopped humming and glanced over her shoulder to see me leaning against the bathroom countertop with my arms crossed.
“You assholes!” she shouted, still washing her hair. The condensation blocked her view of me just as much as it did me of her. “I fuckingtoldyou to stay out of here!”
“It’s just me, darling.”
She paused and wiped a hand across the glass, her face peeking through. “Wynn. Finally, someone with more than half a brain.”
Her breasts pressed against the glass, and my jaw tensed. I rubbed the back of my neck to gain control over my body. “How are you doing?”
It was hot in here, and I wanted to be close in case the steam messed with her head.
She sighed, stepping back under the spray. Soap trailed down her body and my eyes followed every bubble I could see through the foggy glass.
“I’m just tired,” she said finally.
I gripped the counter. Exhaustion filtered through her voice. We were all feeling it today. The tension, the tiredness, the failure of the night before. I’d only slept a few hours, dreaming of her being crushed under that rubble. I’d been trying to put it out of my mind, which was why I volunteered to do grocery pickup.
Past Wynn would have tried to dissect every wrong step that led to mission failure. I would have obsessed over the problems that led to Volpe’s disappearance. The version of Wynn that stood before her now only wanted to help Leona feel better. If she felt better, it lifted some of the stain from my soul.
Besides, Ciel was obsessing enough for all of us combined.
“Can I come in?”
“Please.”
I pulled off my shirt and kicked off my pants before opening the shower door and slipping inside. The warmth of the water caressed my skin as her eyes took in every inch of me. My cock already stood at half-attention, but the longer I stared at her, the harder it got.
She reached out her hand, but I paused before taking it.
