Page 130 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

But it was Kara that brought the ice packs, not Adam, and when she saw Kaeli, she pulled her into a hug. “Thank god you’re alright,” she said.

“I’m so sorry, Kara,” Kaeli said sadly.

“Don’t be silly. The party was more or less over anyway, and as long as none of my family is hurt, it’s all good.” Kara frowned as she gazed at her. “You’re not hurt are you? I mean, I know you need the ice packs, but you’re okay, right?”

Kaeli was quick to reassure her. “I’m fine. Just a couple of bruises, that’s all.”

Kara exhaled with relief. That was why she fit into our family so well. She cared about every one of us as though we were blood.

Kara left not long after that so she could go reassure everyone who was waiting anxiously outside, and then Walt came and took her statement. I had to hold myself back from wanting to put my fist through something yet again when I heard everything in detail. I think I secretly wished she’d made a kill shot, but I wouldn’t have wanted her to live with that either.

When Walt and the others finally left, and Aaron had been carted off to hospital under maximum security, Kaeli then had to face my family. I didn’t have the patience to share her for long though. Just enough to make sure she knew no one cared about the party being ruined - which it wasn’t. That all we cared about was that she was safe and well.

As soon as she knew that, I was taking her home.

Chapter 71

Kaeli

As soon as we walked in the door to Noah’s apartment, everything caught up with me, and I was suddenly exhausted. It’d taken forever to get out of Alli and Luke’s house. Everyone had been doing everything they could to make sure I was okay, fussing and doting all over me. Even Mom had shown up. By the time Noah had dragged me out of there, I could barely stand on my own two feet.

Dropping my shoes to the floor, I didn’t even care I was messing up his space, I just trudged towards the sofa, ready to drop and stay down. But right before I was about to fall, Noah grabbed me and started steering me towards the bathroom.

I groaned. Just the thought of standing under a shower tired me out, but then Noah lifted me up to sit on the counter and turned to start filling the bath tub. Blinking, I tried to get my head to focus on what he was doing. He was running me a bath?

I watched him pick up a bottle off the shelf and squeeze some purple liquid under the flow of water, making bubbles magically appear. Then he gently lifted me onto my feet and started undressing me.

He was so beautiful. And right now I wasn’t talking about the outside package. I could plainly see the love shining out of him as he worked to carefully slide the dress off me. There was no lust in his eyes at all. Just love. And it was wonderful.

Unclasping my bra, he slowly drew it over my skin, dropping it to the floor before doing the same with my panties.

Flashes of memory came to me. A time when I’d been in a similar situation. Me sitting in the bathroom, with Noah gently washing me down. It was staggering to realize how much he cared for me even then.

He gazed at me for a moment, and I finally knew what he knew.

Reaching up to touch his face with my fingers, I swallowed. “I love you.”

He seemed to hold his breath for a moment, then he exhaled, slow and sure, and his gaze silently returned my declaration. With a gentleness only love could give, he cupped my face in his hands and slowly leant in to press his lips to mine.

He didn’t linger though. He just bent low and gently swept me up into his arms then lowered me into the water. Shutting off the flow, he quickly worked to undress himself then climbed in behind me.

The instant I felt his hands touch my shoulders, gently urging me back to lean against his chest, I exhaled with contentment.

With languid eyes, I watched Noah reach for a wash cloth, then dipping it into the water, he proceeded to wash me.

I’d never been so thoroughly taken care of before. He washed every inch of my skin with tender care, moving the cloth in slow, deliberate strokes, soaping me up and washing me off with methodical movements. He shampooed my hair, careful to use soft, gentle fingers on the tender spot on the back of my head, then he conditioned the long strands, carefully raking his fingers through it, massaging out all the knots before rinsing it all out again.

When he was done, he pulled the plug and climbed out, wrapping a towel around his hips before lifting me out and drying me in the same methodical way.

I was enthralled by the intensity of his concentration. He was so focused and in control, which would’ve made my lips twitch if I wasn’t so damned tired.

When he was satisfied I was dry enough, he led me to the bedroom and pulled back the sheets, and I happily climbed in.

Flicking off the lights, he slid in beside me, and pulled me closer so I was cradled against his chest. “Goodnight beautiful,” he whispered, kissing the top of my head.

I remember feeling his fingers moving slowly down the center of my back, and then everything went dark.

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