Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
I avoided looking in the mirror, not wanting to see how awful I looked or how badly my hair was tangled. Instead, I focused on turning on the shower and adjusting the temperature. My hair hung below my waist in a long, thick mass of curls. There was no doubt in my mind I’d have to cut at least some of it, if not just fucking shave it all. Which, as I touched the tangled, knotted mess now, I admitted to myself wasn’t the worst idea. In fact, I’d put the likelihood of me buzzing it all off at some point in the coming minutes as more probable than possible.
As I stepped under the hot spray, I let out an involuntary sob. Yeah, I needed that breakdown to happen later rather than sooner because I had the feeling if it happened now, I’d have a man I didn’t know in the shower with me whether I wanted him to be or not. Though I’d admired him earlier, I wasn’t in any shape mentally or physically for what would happen if he decided to make good on the old lady stuff.
The water felt heavenly against my skin, washing away any lingering grime and fear. Needing to feel clean, I’d turned the water as hot as I could stand it. I stood there for several long minutes, just letting the water sluice over me before reaching for the shampoo. Three washings later, my hair started to feel clean again, though I probably would have to do it again later. My arms were too heavy to continue. I did manage to work some conditioner through what wasn’t matted together, but only because I knew there wouldn’t be a snowball’s chance in hell of working the knots out otherwise.
As I turned the water off, there was a knock at the door. “Pippa?” Knock. “You all right?” Another knock.
“Um, yeah.” My voice shook. More from exhaustion than fear. “Just a little wobbly.”
“Did you fall?” There was alarm in his voice. “I’m coming in!”
“No, wait!”
The door was shoved open. I’d locked it on reflex, but this guy broke the door facing with alarming ease. His gaze tracked the small room, looking for threats before focusing on the floor. He read the room so fast it had to have been instinct. “Did you slip? Are you hurt?” When he brought his gaze to me, he eyed me with a clinical gaze until he realized I wasn’t hurt.
I stood sideways with one arm over my breasts and one frantically reaching for a towel, which was when I finally did lose my footing. With a cry, I toppled sideways. Right into Gunnar’s waiting arms.
Chapter Five
Gunnar
I was gonna die. And I was going to hell. I had a naked woman in my arms. One who had been the sole focus of my existence for four weeks. The same woman I’d sworn to my only friend I’d give the protection of my property patch and make her my old lady. Everything in me was screaming to take care of her, not to objectify her or even look at her as anything other than a young woman who was hurting and vulnerable. Unfortunately, my dick didn’t get the Goddamned message.
“I’m so sorry!” Pippa clung to me, breathing hard. She kicked out, trying to get her feet under her, but I lifted her with my arm around her waist. She sucked in a breath, her eyes going wide. “Gunnar?” That breathless whimper was the only thing keeping me from seeing how far she let me take us. But there was no way she was able to consent to anything. And I wasn’t nearly ready my own damned self.
“Are you OK?” My voice was a husky groan as need punched through my body like a spear.
She nodded, looking up at me. I couldn’t tell if she was frightened or not, but instead of resting passively in my arms, she gripped my shoulders and pulled herself closer to me. Her breasts were mashed against my chest, and I couldn’t stop myself from shuddering.
“Words, honey.” I cleared my throat. “I need words.”
“Yes.”
I sat her on the vanity and snagged a towel from the shelf over the toilet. I wrapped the towel around her shoulders and snagged another one to wring her hair out. She tucked the terry cloth under her arms to hold it in place.
Pippa trembled slightly as I gently squeezed water from her long hair with the towel. Her eyes never left mine, wide and uncertain. I tried to focus on the task at hand and not on how soft her skin looked or how badly I wanted to touch her because no matter how much I wanted to, it simply wasn’t happening.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble.” Her lower lip trembled even as she smiled. “And for getting you wet.”