Page 9 of Hot Pursuit
“Isn’t that what the tub is for?” She pointed at the polished bear claw tub in the corner of the bathroom.
I hadn’t taken a bath in it yet since buying and refurbishing it.
Now all I could think about, all I could see in my head, was Violet in there with me. Her naked, soapy back against my front and all the sinfully delicious things I’d do to her. I couldn’t go there.
“I’m not a big bath guy.” I cleared the raspiness out of my voice. I couldn’t go getting hard and making her uncomfortable. There was something about her that yelled innocence or at the very least inexperience. She didn’t need some cop pawing at her when she needed to feel safe after the horrible day she’d had.
“Let me get you a towel, and we will have you all set up.”
“Thank you.” She blushed. There was that innocent shyness again. It called to me like something addicting. Something I wanted to take, fuck the consequences. I shook away thecaveman thought and moved closer to her after setting a couple towels on top of the vanity.
“Here, let me help,” I offered. My hands skimmed the hem of the hoodie she was wearing.
My hoodie.Like a bastard, I didn’t want to take it off. Seeing her in my clothes since hers had been cut off her beautiful body when she was rushed to the hospital had made me want to pound on my chest. I’d never thought of myself as a possessive asshole. But Violet had woken something up inside of me. I knew I would be dressing her back in my things, making sure it was my clothes that covered her skin.
My thoughts moved to the day. Less than a day, and she had changed me. Just the reminder of everything that had happened, that could have happened, had me pulling her close. Closer than I had any right to.
“Oh!” she gasped but didn’t push me away. If anything, my beautiful princess wrapped her arms around me, and after a beat of my free hand stroking her hair, she melted into me. My arm dropped, and I held her with both arms surrounding her, loving the way her soft, curvy body felt against mine. I heard her sniffle against my chest.
“You okay?” I asked, pulling away slightly to look down at her. Those big pretty brown eyes locked with mine, and she nodded. They were glassy. She blinked and dropped her stare to my chest.
“Hey, don’t do that. Don’t hide. Not from me,” I encouraged gently, pulling her chin up carefully with the tips of my fingers. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
“Because of you,” she whispered.
I started to shake my head, ready to argue with her, to tell her she had it all wrong. I might not have been the one trapped in a car with electrical wires snapping around me, but she saved me when I didn’t know I needed it.
But I didn’t say shit.
How could I when her hand left my waist and moved between us, not stopping until it reached the side of my face? The inside of her hand was baby soft, and my eyes shut for a moment, soaking in her touch. I wanted to laugh at myself. I was a goner for this girl, and I didn’t even know her favorite color yet. But I knew she was it for me. In my bones and right through to my soul.
“You were my hero today. And you keep making everything okay. I don’t know how, but I will make it up to you one day, Officer Logan Monroe. I promise.” She was too fucking sweet for her own good.
“Vi—“
“Shh.” She winked playfully and stepped away. “I should shower.” Her delicate hands dropped from my face and moved to the hem of the hoodie, and she started to raise it when she made a whimpering sound.
“Shit, you okay?” I watched as she breathed through the pain. When she looked up at me, I knew I would do anything to keep her safe and happy.
“I don’t know if I can do this. I keep bugging you.” She frowned, and I shook my head.
“You could never bug me, princess. What can I do?”
“I think the pain pills are wearing off. My entire body hurts…” Her eyes got watery, but I could tell she was doing everything in her power not to cry. Jesus, her strength was incredible. Humbling. This protective need washed through me. All I wanted to do was keep her safe. Shield her from the world.
“What can I do?”
“Do you think you could maybe help me?” she asked shyly, and I nodded.
“Of course.” I rolled my head and ignored the way my hands shook slightly as I moved my hands to the hem of the hoodie, lifting it up and over her head while my eyes avoided her body.
This wasn’t sexual. I needed to take care of my woman and help her wash away the day.
Without a word spoken between us, I took her clothes off and then double checked the temp of the water before leading her into the shower.
“You don’t have to—“ she started to say when she noticed I was right behind her.
“Let me, ‘kay?” I was taking liberties I had no right to. She didn’t know me, but I could t help myself. And when she nodded, silently giving me permission, I felt ten feet tall. We might have just met, but a part of her trusted me. “I got you, princess,” I promised.
