Page 120 of Roses and Skulls

“Elijah, I can shower alone. Please.” I stand up and press my hand against his chest, his heartbeat betraying him. I know why he’s worried. I do. So, I make it easier on him, without giving up my dignity entirely.

He runs his hand through the top of his hair, his thumb running over the bare skin on the side of his head.

“I’ll leave the door open,” I promise. “I just need some privacy.”

His warm brown eyes run over my face; his brows pull together. “Okay,” he says, rubbing his hands down both of my arms. “You sure you feel okay?”

Nodding, I pull away from him to gather my clothes. He watches me with hawk like eyes.

When I step into the bathroom, I do as I told him and leave the door open. Quickly, I step into the shower and rip the clothes away from my body. I turn the faucet on, welcoming the ice-cold water. My shaky hands roam over my body as I strain my mind, trying to remember where he touched me, how he touched.

There are faint bruises over my breasts, along my ribs and over my thighs. The only thing the dead man left behind are his fingerprints on my skin.

My teeth clatter together as I wash myself in the freezing cold water. I need to numb the itch of my skin, cool the blood thumping against my veins.

I quickly wash myself and when I step out, Elijah is standing there with a towel. He immediately wraps it around my shoulders and pulls me into the warmth of his embrace. Shivering in his arms, he gently rubs his hands over my back.

“I know I don’t have to tell you this but exchanging one form of pain for another is not the answer.”

Shoving away from him, I grab my shirt and slide it over my arms, tossing it over my head. “You don’t have to tell me,” I snip. My panties slide up my legs next. He blatantly watches me, a clear message that he doesn’t think anything has changed between us.

After I’m dressed, I feel somewhat better. I run the brush through my hair, my eyes connecting with his in the mirror.

“We need to talk,” he says into my ear as he leans forward, his arms caging me against the counter.

I bang the brush down hard. “And we will.”

Our gazes hold each other hostage, neither of us willing to back down. He breaks first. Normally, I would smile, except I don’t feel like I’ve won. “Listen, I… I don’t remember what happened, okay?”

His knuckles turn white as he grips the counter.

“Can we just go to Dan’s?”

He drops his arms and steps back, letting me slide past him. He grabs a strand of my hair as I walk by, letting it slide through his fingers. “I’m not going to lose you over this.”

My feet pause. “Elijah, you’re not obligated to be my shadow anymore. The threat is gone. You should go back to your life in San Diego. I will survive.” I find my footing again and take a step forward but a hand wraps around my throat and pulls me back roughly.

Elijah has never been gentle. He didn’t treat me like glass before this and it looks like that hasn’t changed. It makes me smile, my cheeks betraying my need to cling on to the hurt of the last twenty-four hours.

“I will always be your shadow, Rosie. And not because some club elders tell me I have to be. I will always stand behind you, trapped in your shade. I welcome it. It’s where the parts of you that no one else can see reside. I love all of you. Every single piece.” His hot breath whisps over my cheek and I feel a slight stirring in the pit of my stomach.

It’s still there.

I inhale a deep breath and steadily release it. Elijah’s fingers dig into my skin in response. His beard brushes against my sensitive skin. “Who do you belong to?”

“You,” I say on another slow exhale.

When we get downstairs, my parent’s gaze bounces between us. “You sure you don’t want to stay home and rest today?” my mother asks, concern pulling at her eyes.

“I just need to be around the boys, okay?” the lie easily rolls off my tongue. It’s all it takes, and they are seeing us out the door.

The ride over to Dan’s is quiet.

The boys come barreling out as soon as we arrive. “Let’s go shoot some shit!” Carson yells, lifting his fist in the air. He wraps his big arm around me, pulling me close, kissing me on the head. The twins may be younger than me, but they tower at least a foot over my head.

Jackson pulls up on his Harley as Dan steps outside, joining us. “Why don’t you boys all go get started. Billie Rose and I are going to go into town and pick up some lunch.”

Elijah’s eyes narrow on me to gauge my reaction to Dan’s statement and when I don’t give him one, he becomes suspicious. I place my hand on his arm. “Go on. I need to talk to him. I sent him a text before we got here. This was my idea. I didn’t want to hurt mom or dad’s feelings, but I need him right now.”

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