Page 104 of Red Retaliation

“Yes, I did, but Liam can think what he wants,” I growl.That’s the first reference she’s made to running off from me.I will not ask her reasoning why she ran, although I suspect I can guess... “Everyone can think what they like, Arianna. I don’t give a fuck. My only concern right now is you.”

“Red, I...”

“Have your bath,” I interrupt. “Wash that bastard off you!”

Arianna blanches, and I immediately regret my words. Making her feel worse is the opposite of what I want.

What happened to her is the opposite of what I wanted too, as was her running off and leaving me. I never want either of those things again.

Moving to a neatly folded pile of fluffy towels on a wooden stand, I pick up a large bath sheet and hook it over a peg. “You carry on and have your bath. I’ll take a shower afterwards when you’ve finished.”

“You don’t have to leave.” Arianna slips the tattered remains of her dress off to pool at her feet. “I have little that you haven’t already seen.” Her voice is hollow, and with her back to me, she steps naked into the bath.

The bruises down her back are enough to make me smash this place up, but they’re not enough to stop my cock from reacting to her perfect form. I quickly turn away, not wanting it to appear I’m using this as an excuse to look at her body.

For fuck’s sake! This woman has just been attacked, yet I’m getting a hard-on as big as the Eiffel Tower?

Rapidly moving to the shower cubicle, I step inside fully clothed, only stripping off once I’m safely within its confines. I throw my sweaty, bloodstained trousers over the top of the door.

More shit for the burning pile.

I’ll have no decent clothes left at this rate. Luckily, replacing them is not a problem.

Replacing Ariannais.

Turning on the shower full pelt, I let it cascade over me and watch the pink-tinged water eddy down the plughole as the filth of the evening washes away.

I avoid thinking of the woman presently lying naked in the bathtub behind me and instead concentrate on not succumbing to relieving the frustration of my erection.

CHAPTER

74

Arianna

“WOULD YOU PREFER me to sleep in my office tonight?” Red stands to the side of the bed, a white towel wrapped around his hips.

I thought the prospect of any man making me wet after tonight was nil, but apparently not. But this is more than that - alotmore. I manage a small smile. “I don’t want to be on my own.”

And there’s only one person I want here with me...

“Then I’ll remain, if that’s what you want.” Red reaches for one of his pillows. “I’ll sleep on the floor. That way I’ll be in here if you need me.”

Before I can question myself, I reach out and grab his wrist. “I need you now, not later.”

Red stops, his fingers still clutching the plump pillow. His eyes move to my hand encircling his wrist. A wave of anticipation floods me as his blue-gray gaze then moves to lock with mine. It holds a quizzical look, like he’s unsure of what I’m saying. Questioning whether he’s reading something into my words that isn’t there.

But he’s not...

I know what I’m saying. I know what I mean, and I know what I want.

I also know that if we go ahead, it means crossing the line we promised not to cross, but I don’t care.

I want this. I wanthim.

Still staring at me, he stands at the side of the bed, and dread rushes over me with the thought that I’ve gone wrong again. Red has said several times this past week that he’s not interested in me inthatway, so why doI push it? Have I an innate quest to humiliate myself?

Dropping my grip on his wrist, I look away. “The floor will be fine,” I blurt. “As long as you don’t mind.”Jesus Christ. Why did I all but throw myself at him again? With what happened tonight, he’ll think me a whore.