Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“I’ll be right outside this door,” he says with a nod as Beckett gets us inside.
“My dog.” I turn back to the security guard. “Riley’s with Sally at the end of the hall. Can you get him for me?”
“Give us about thirty,” Beckett adds.
Security nods and closes the door, and Beckett pulls me against him, wrapping his arms so tightly around me, but I wiggle away, making him scowl.
“Not yet. I need a shower.” I’m shaking my head as I stomp for the bathroom, trying to will my body to stop the bloody shaking. “My skin is crawling. He touched me. He touched me.”
I feel Beck right behind me, and I’m trying to reach behind me to unfasten the buttons of my dress, but it’s a lost cause.
There’s no way.
“Get this off me.”
“Do you want me to be gentle, or can I tear it off?”
“Get this off me.”
He grips the fabric on either side of my spine, and with one yank, buttons go flying, and I’m able to wiggle out of it. I need help with my shoe straps because my hands won’t stop shaking, then Beck’s turning on the water in the shower.
He sheds his jacket and shoes but doesn’t bother taking anything else off before he gets us both under the hot spray. I’m seriously losing my shite now that the adrenaline is wearing off.
It’s so good to see you, my beautiful, tiny dancer.
“Tell me what to do,” Beck says, pain in his words, and I cover my mouth with my hands, panicked because I’m going to throw up.
He springs into action, leaving the shower to grab the garbage can, and I throw up into it, my stomach heaving as I remember how it felt to have his hand on me, his lips on my ear.
Beck’s rubbing my back, murmuring soothing words until I’m done heaving, and he sets the can aside.
“Okay, baby. You’re safe. I’m right here. Nothing’s going to happen to you, I promise.” He kisses my head, but I don’t feel clean yet.
“I have to wash my ear.”
“Your ear?” He frowns down at me.
“He k-kissed my ear.” The tears want to come, but I swallow them down.
Beckett’s jaw twitches as he grinds his molars together, but he’s so gentle with me as he leads me under the water and helps me wash my hair, and I rub my soapy hands over my ear, trying to get The Arsehole off me.
When the soap’s gone, Beckett moves closer and presses his own lips there.
“I’m right here, Irish,” he says, immediately soothing me. “Just me. You’re safe. It’s my lips here now, and they’re the only lips that will be here ever again. You think about that and only that.”
“Thank you.” I lean into his touch, pressing my hands against the sopping material of his white shirt, letting his words seep into me. The only lips that will ever be here again. Does he mean that, or is he simply trying to soothe me? Either way, it makes me feel better. “You’re still dressed, Beck.”
“Doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is you, baby.”
God, he’s amazing. “It’s wonderful, that’s what you are.” I swallow as he pulls me to him, and I cling, hugging him close, burying my face in his wet chest. “You’re bloody everything. And it’s sorry I am that I’ve ruined our night—”
“No, baby. Shh. You didn’t ruin anything. I just need to make sure you’re okay and that you know that you’re safe. However we need to make that happen.”
I nod against him but don’t let go. “This is a lot, and our relationship is so new, and if you decide that you don’t want to deal with this, I understand.”
“Not getting rid of me. You’re not a fucking burden simply for existing, Irish.”
He doesn’t sound angry or frustrated. He sounds almost … bored with that comment, which makes me feel warm.
“How did he get in?” I ask at last.
“We’re going to find out,” he replies and buries his lips in my wet hair. “Do you want to dry off, or do you want to stay in here for a while longer?”
“You’re soaked, and this can’t feel good.”
“Hey.” He makes me look him in the eyes, and all I see there is … love. And it steals my breath away. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just fine. I get to hold you, so don’t think for a second that I’m anything but fine.”
“Maybe we can get dry.”
He nods, and turns off the shower before grabbing me a towel. He stands before me, this tall, strong man, soaked to the bones and still wearing his suit, which has to weigh a ton, but instead of taking it off, he’s drying me, soothing me with every brush of the towel and every press of his lips on my damp skin.