Page 88 of My Destiny

“Okay.” Slipping out of my shirt, I drop it to the floor. I must remember to tell Jill to throw it out. Even if she managed to get the blood stains out, I want that shirt gone.

She reaches for her own top, sliding both her arms through the holes.

“Let me help you with that,” I say, grabbing the base and gently pulling it up and over her head.

“Thank you.”

“How about you join me in the shower until the bath is full. I can help you wash your hair.” Since she hyperventilated at the hospital, things have shifted between us. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells with her. It could be just my paranoia, but the last thing I want to do is overstep my mark or upset her.

“I’d like that,” she says, with a small smile.

I turn on the water to warm up before fully undressing. Brooke follows me into the stall. “Turn around.” I lift the shower head out of it cradle as I speak. “Can you tilt your head back slightly?” The dressing over her cut is sitting right on her hairline.

She places her hand over the area, protecting it further, but it also gives me a close-up view of the mark on her wrist where she was bound. There’s also a large bruise on her upper arm. I’m riddled with guilt for not being able to protect her. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to shake that feeling.

“The warm water feels nice,” she says, but my eyes are focused on how it turns red as it runs down her back and pools around her feet. A lump forms in my throat as I hang the shower head back on the cradle and reach for the shampoo. The suds turn pink as I gently massage it into her scalp. “Mmm, you have magic hands.” Usually any kind of pleased moan from her would spark a reaction from me, but I’m too traumatised in this moment to feel anything but immense sadness.

Once the shampoo and conditioner are rinsed from her hair, I place a soft kiss on her shoulder. “There you go.”

She turns to face me. “Let me wash you.”

My eyes dart to the now almost full bath. “Looks like your bath is ready.”

“Oh.” She pauses for a moment as she studies my face before turning and exiting the shower.

I feel bad as my eyes follow her across the bathroom. I don’t even know why I just rejected her, but that’s most certainly what I did. Having her hands on me is something I usually crave. I hope she didn’t notice, but my gut tells me she did. The slump in her shoulders as she walked away from me spoke volumes.

Closing my eyes, I let the hot water run over my weary muscles, as I yet again unsuccessfully try to clear my head. My gaze is drawn back to her the moment my eyes reopen. I find her watching me over her shoulder. The look of uncertainty on her face tugs at my heart.

Quickly washing myself, I turn off the water and step out. I’m not sure why I feel the need to put some space between us. Her eyes follow my every move, but when I reach for my towel her gaze drops down to her lap and I’m pretty sure I hear a sigh.

“Do you want some company?” I ask.

“Please,” is her only reply as she scoots her body forward to make room for me. I need to nip this shit in the bud before it gets out of hand, I don’t know what’s got into me. We’ve both been through a traumatic time, and the best way for us to get through this istogether.I came too close to losing her to fuck it up now.

My legs straddle her hips as I position myself behind her, but she immediately turns her body to face mine. “Are you okay?”

“I will be,” I admit, running my hand down the side of her face. The bruise on her cheek churns me up inside. “Are you okay?”

She shrugs. “I will be. I just have a lot going on inside of here.” She points to her head, and I can relate to that.

“Yeah, me too. Seeing you unconscious and bleeding on the floor, plus what happened with my uncle and Jake… It’s really fucked me up.”

She reaches up and runs her fingers through my wet hair. “I’m sorry you had to see all that.”

“I’d go through it all again in a heartbeat, if it meant I’d get you back.”

“Thank you for coming for me.” Her legs slide up until they’re straddling mine. “I don’t know where I’d be now if you hadn’t.”

“Finding you was my only option.” My arms encircle her waist as I pull her body against mine. “I only wish I’d gotten there sooner.” My eyes rake over the injuries as I speak, and that sickly feeling settles in my stomach once more.

“Don’t beat yourself up about that. You did the best you could. I shouldn’t have left the way I did.” She bows her head. “I didn’t even think about Jake when I fled. I just needed to…” Her words drift off, but I know what she was going to say. She needed to get away from John.

My hands cup her face as I bring her lips down to mine. I don’t want to talk about this shit now. There’s plenty of time for that tomorrow.

She moans into my mouth when I deepen the kiss, but when my cock stirs, I draw back. “Turn around and I’ll wash your back.” She looks puzzled as her eyes meet mine, but eventually does as I ask. I move her hair around to the side, draping it over her shoulder, before reaching for the body wash. Leaning forward, I place a soft kiss on the side of her neck as I lather the soap in my hands.

I just pushed her away for a second time.Fuck.