“Shit, my knife,” she gasps, sitting forward in panic.
“It’s with Zach and Biff. It’s okay.”
She looks at me for a beat before resting back against the seat. “I always used to. When you live in the places I have, you need to be able to protect yourself when the inevitable happens.”
“Have you ever—”
“Used it before? No. I can honestly say that was a first.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“It was just a slap.” I narrow my eyes at her. I know her tells now, and I know she’s lying. “Please, Spike. I’m okay, I promise.”
“Okay,” I agree, because she looks too vulnerable right now to do anything else.
The second we’re inside the flat, I start pulling off her bloodstained clothes. By the time we’re in the bathroom, both of us are just standing in our underwear.
I twist the taps and pour in a generous amount of bubbles that fill the room with a relaxing floral scent.
Turning to her, I brush the hair from her face and take her cheeks in my palms.
“This is the last bath we’re having like this,” I tell her, staring into her eyes.
She nods, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. An idea hits me, and my fingers twitch to do something with it, but I need to wait. I need to look after my girl before I start making any plans.
Removing our last few items of clothing, I step into the hot water and reach out for her to join me.
Just like the last time, she settles between my legs and nuzzles into my chest as the soothing water surrounds us.
Silence stretches between us. I’m desperate to ask her what happened, but I know that I need to give her the time to process. I can’t even imagine what’s going through her head right now.
“I thought he was going to kill me,” she says quietly after the longest time. My hold on her tightens, but my lips remain sealed, allowing her to say what she needs to. “His eyes. They were… they were so cold… dead. If I didn’t do what I had, then I would have been the one leaving that alley in a body bag.”
“Fucking hell,” I breathe, not really believing what I’m hearing. “I’m so proud of you,” I repeat, needing her to know just how fucking brave, how incredible she is.
“For killing someone?” she asks, sounding confused.
“No, for standing up for yourself. For taking control of the situation. For being so fucking brave.”
“I just did what anyone would do,” she says quietly, not making a big deal out of this.
Dropping my hands to her waist, I lift her and spin her until she’s sitting astride my hips.
“No,” I say firmly. “What you did was incredible. You’re so fucking strong, and I’m so fucking gone for you.”
She gasps, but I don’t allow her time to say anything. Instead, I slide my fingers into her hair and pull her forward. My lips brush hers, testing the water, but the second I feel her tongue sneak out, I know she’s on board.
I part my lips, and she hungrily slides her tongue in search of mine.
Our kiss is slow, passionate, and I try to pour into it everything I feel as I attempt to ignore the fact that she hasn’t said anything in response.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me, but I know I’m being selfish. She’s just been through something huge. Hell, she’s been going through something unbelievable since I first dragged her off that stage. However she’s feeling about me shouldn’t be her biggest concern right now.
“Spike,” she moans into my mouth, her hands gliding over my chest and stomach until one of them wraps around my length.
“That’s not—” I start, wanting to tell her that sex wasn’t where I was intending this to go.
“Shhh,” she soothes, as if she’s suddenly the one looking after me as her hand gently strokes me.
She kisses across my jaw and down my neck as she continues working me.
Part of me wants to tell her no, that she’s injured and should be relaxing, but I know better than to try to stop her when she wants something.
So instead of taking her hand in mine and forcing her to lie back down, I stretch out a little more as she kisses across my collarbones, enjoying the feeling of her touch.
After a few minutes, she lifts up, her eyes burning into mine as she sinks down on my length.
My eyes threaten to close as the sensation takes over me, but I fight it, my need to keep our connection stronger than my need to drown in the feeling of her.
“Fuck, Tiny.”
“No talking,” she demands, pressing two fingers to my lips before dropping her palm to rest over my heart. “Just feel.”
I nod. It’s all I’m able to do as she lifts up and slowly sinks back down again.
Needing to give her the escape from reality that I’m sure she needs right now, I reach down and begin to rub slow circles against her clit.
She moans in pleasure, her muscles clamping down on me as her back arches.
It’s a fucking fine sight, despite the blood that’s still covering some of her skin.
“Come, Kas. Show me just how good it feels.”
After only a few seconds, her body tenses and her eyes slam shut as pleasure races through her. Her pussy squeezes down on me so tight that I have no choice but to fall over the edge of the cliff with her.
Pulling her down onto my chest, I run my fingers up and down her back as she catches her breath.
“Spike,” she whispers.
“Yeah, Tiny?” When I look down, she’s staring up at me with awe in her eyes.
“I think I love you too.”
My breath catches at her words before a smile curls at my lips.
“You think?”
She shrugs. “I’ve never loved anyone before. But I’ve also never felt like this before either.” She draws circles around my heart as she speaks causing goosebumps to prick my skin despite the hot bath
