Page 45 of Reckless Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 8)

JODIE

I try to focus on the heat and the sensation of the water washing over me instead of the giant, messy ball of emotion clogging my throat and making it hard to breathe.

My entire body trembles. It has been since that guy grabbed me, but it only got worse when I looked down and saw him dead at my feet.

I knew Toby was there the second he stepped into the alley. I felt him. This weird sense of safety and relief washed over me despite the painful grip of the man who was trying to attack me. I knew everything was going to be okay. I knew the worst wasn’t going to happen. But that didn’t mean I was anywhere near prepared for what was going to come next. For what it might be like to be standing only feet away from a dead body.

My gasp rips through the air when the heat of Toby’s body burns my back a second before his hands land on my waist, making me flinch.

“It’s just me, baby. I’m going to look after you, okay?”

I nod, unable to find any words for him.

His hold on me vanishes and I have to fight not to turn around, not to beg for him to come back.

Reaching forward, he unhooks the bath puff a second before the vanilla scent of my shower gel fills the air around me.

“We’re gonna wash it all away,” he promises me, pressing the puff to my shoulder and slowly working his way down my arm in delicate circles.

My entire body relaxes in only seconds, and I find myself leaning back against him, soaking up his strength and support.

“You’re so beautiful, baby,” he whispers in my ear as he continues to work the puff over every inch of me.

As he moves to my chest, my heart rate begins to increase despite all my conflicting emotions that are warring beneath the surface. It’s so much easier to fall back into bad habits and allow myself to be swept away by him and the desire he elicits in my body with nothing more than his touch.

It’s dangerous. It’s how I managed to find myself in this mess in the first place.

If I were able to say no to him, maybe I wouldn’t have fallen so fast. Maybe I wouldn’t have ended up with my heart crushed.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he breathes, his lips brushing along the length of my shoulder as the puff dips to my heavy breasts.

A needy whimper falls from my lips as he grazes my nipple.

“You’re the only thing I’ve been able to think about, Demon. I dream that you’re beside me every night and wake disappointed. Desperate.”

“Toby,” I moan, barely even recognising my own voice. It’s deep and raspy from my attempts at screaming while that prick covered my mouth with his hand. It’s full of pent-up shock and fear, but underneath it all there’s pure, unfiltered desire.

I know just how easy it would be to focus on the latter. I could leave everything else behind and just focus on him, on everything he can offer me. The escape. The release. The pleasure.

But at what cost?

I can’t fall back into the trap again. I don’t trust him.

How could I after what he did?

For all I know, it’s not over.

He might be saying all the right words. Telling me that he’s sorry, that he misses me. But how can I believe him?

“I’ve got you, baby.”

I close my eyes and rest my head back against his and let go.

I figure nothing that can happen in here with Toby can be as destructive as what could have happened tonight.

He moves lower over my belly, and my skin erupts in goosebumps as he kisses up my neck, lingering on that sweet spot beneath my ear as he dips the puff between my legs.

“Oh God,” I gasp when it gently brushes my clit.