Page 46 of Rough Rider (Bad Boy High)
"Then let me up." I sniffle.
"Babe." He changes his tone to a gentler one, which always makes me melt for him. "This isn't on you."
"You never would have been there if not for me." It’s the truth. I know without a doubt that he’s going to try to spin this somehow so that I don’t feel bad about it. The facts are the facts.
"Okay, then the next girl who has an issue with Rico. What about her?" Shit, I hadn't thought about that. "Either way, it needs to be handled. Think of how he treated your mom too."
I nod in agreement, knowing he's right. "The previous owner was nice. Then Rico bought the place out."
"Then it was only a matter of time before he popped up on our radar if he's doing this shit."
"I get it. I won't try to stop you." This is his life and a part of who he is. I need to accept and understand that. That’s all he’s even been for me. I bring my hand to his cheek to softly cup it. He leans into my touch. "But for tonight, can I take care of you, and you take a second to see straight?"
I mean that figuratively and literally. If he goes in pissed off, there’s a higher probability that he’ll fuck things up. He needs to have a level head and be thinking smart. Even I know that much.
“I can do that,” Niki agrees, placing a soft kiss on the palm of my hand. His agreement makes a little of the anxiety I’ve been feeling slip away. I know it will be short-lived, but I don’t want to sit in it for tonight. “I should shower.”
“That always makes me feel better, too.” I wiggle to get off his lap. He releases his hold on me, but I don't move far away. Niki is right on his feet with me.
“Glad we agree we both need one.”
“What?” I laugh as he ushers me toward the bathroom.
“If we both get naked in the bathroom, then you can’t run in it and hide.”
“Oh my God.” I’m not going to live that one down, but I’m letting it slide because Niki appears to be in a better mood.
“It was cute.”
“Cute?” I scoff, entering the bathroom with him. For the two boys living here, they keep it clean. “A girl wants to be sexy.”
“Trust me, when you’re naked, you’re sexy as fuck.” He tugs on my shirt, letting him take it off.
“Your head though.” I brush my hand over the back of his skull feeling for the goose egg that was there when we first found him.
“It’s fine. I’m fine or I will be once we get in there.” He tilts his head toward the shower.
If you had told me a month ago I'd be down with getting naked with a man in the bathroom, I would have never believed you. But this feels right. Everything about Niki has made sense since he came into my life. I couldn’t imagine not having that now.
"Let me help you too." I undo the buttons of his jeans. He's quick to help me get him undressed. The rest of my clothes fall away too before we step into the shower together.
Niki grips my waist, tugging me into him so that our bodies are against each other. I can feel how hard he is for me. His mouth comes down onto mine. The kiss is gentle at first but quickly becomes more intense. I get lost in him, the same way I always do when his mouth is on mine. Before I realize it, water is cascading down our bodies, Niki having turned it on.
“Hey, I’m supposed to be taking care of you.” I pull my mouth from his, the spray of the water having brought me back to reality. I reach over, grabbing the body wash from the ledge. I quickly pour some into my hands before Niki can protest.
I begin rubbing it gently into his chest. It’s the first look I’m getting at how badly his body is bruised. I take my time and even massage a few spots. Niki’s eyes fall closed momentarily, and he lets out a deep groan. It’s nice being able to do this for him.
“My turn, before we lose the warm water.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I take a step back, and Niki’s expression falls, like a kid whose cookie you swiped. I suppose I am the cookie. “Fine.” I break instantly.
Niki does the same, taking his time. He might have taken extra on my boobs. “I think they’re clean.” I laugh.
“Just making sure. I’m very thorough.”
I turn the water off. “Out before this gets out of hand.”
“What’s wrong with that?” He wraps a towel around me. I grab the other towel so he can dry off too.
