Page 12 of The Handyman

But Riley wasn’t slow, and water sloshed out of the bottle to trail down her neck and breasts. Her nipples hardened from the cold, but no goosebumps pocked her skin.

Cooing softly, I just let her drink.

She drained the bottle in record time before panting and coughing harshly.

“More?” I tossed the bottle carelessly, reaching up to grab the pull cord hanging from the ceiling.

Riley’s lips moved, but no sound came out.

The chain resisted when I yanked, and I grunted with the effort as cold water rained down from sprinklers. Her body jerked from the sudden, frigid drops pelting her skin and soaking her hair. My gaze slid from her jostling, shivering body to the clock on the wall, and I fought back a frown.

Thankfully, it didn’t take nearly as much time to untie Riley as it did to hang her up in the first place. Her chattering teeth and light whimpers filled the room, and I left one ripcord for the electrical box hanging nearby. Black Cat had all sorts of fun shit to play with, and I wasn’t gonna lie… I was a little disappointed that things had gone the way they did.

Mechanical whirring buzzed in my ears as Riley lowered, the drain in the floor gurgling loudly before she even reached the tiles. Flicking open a boxcutter, I started sawing away at the ropes that bound her. Even while I was tying her, I was hoping to get lucky, but this probably worked out better for me, anyway.

The very last thing I wanted was Riley thinking I only cared about sex with her. If I had to be by her side, comfort her through her bullshit, I would— because to her, it wasn’t bullshit. Her mother was a cunt, and she’d never once mentioned her dad. She had a brother, but he was a drug addict loser as of 3 years ago, the last time she’d seen him. In passing, she’d mentioned how he just disappeared from her life, and no one talked about her brother.

Which really fell in line with what I assumed about her mother.The bitch.

Riley’s limbs unraveled to flop against the floor.

My brows in surprise when she seemed to have the strength to hold herself on her arms. She panted wildly through flared nostrils, and I started untangling her hair to pull off her blindfold.

Her big, brown eyes were glossy under heavy lids, wandering until they found mine, and she blinked sluggishly. “Ugh…”

I had my own change of clothes, so I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arms around her and pick her up.

“That was— that was. . .”

“I know, Riley. Don’t rush.” Setting her on the bed pushed up against the corner, I grabbed the towel I’d set out and plopped it on her head.

Her shivering intensified, and she wrapped her arms around herself.

“We shouldjustmake it to dinner. I booked us a table at Le Travoletta. They’re pretty upscale, but the food is great, and they don’t get skimpy about the portion.”

“Oh.” She sniffled hard as the fog in her eyes started to clear. “Thank you.”

My lips quirked up at her dazed reply. “You’re very welcome.” Gently drying her cheeks and down her neck, warmth suffused my chest at the genuine gratitude in her tone. No woman deserved to get hit, let alone being told it was her fault. The fact that her mother probably doubled down had only made it worse. I’d gone into Riley’s phone to make sure she’d blocked her mother like she said she had, and I was proud of her for finally sticking to her immediate, gut instinct.

“I feel a lot better.” Riley cleared her throat of its roughness. “I know this— it didn’t go how you expected, but—”

My smile widened as I worked the fluffy, white towel around her shoulders. “Why do you do that?” Cutting her off, I reached to grab a second towel and start drying her legs.

Riley tensed as her gaze laid heavily on my crown.

“You don’t have to ever apologize for needing anything. Yeah, I booked this room because I wanted to fuck you, but you know what’s more important than draining my balls? You, Riley.”

When I glanced up, she was getting all watery eyed again.

My heart throbbed painfully as I covered her thighs with the towel. Reaching to cup her round face in both my hands, I knew my smile strained as her jaw ticked wildly under my palms. “You areimportant, Riley. What you want is important. What youneedis important. You shouldn’t feel guilty for putting yourself first, especially when the alternative is sex.” Today was just down the shitter all around, and I tapped her chin with my thumb as it wobbled dangerously. “Besides, I can always jerk off to your pictures. I’m no professional, but I think I worked it well.”

Blubbering a laugh, Riley inhaled a deep breath.

I smirked as I dried her legs and feet.

She flopped back onto the bed with a groan, but the atmosphere was lighter, now.

I couldn’t resist tickling her feet a little, the soft soles twitching and her toes spreading as her giggle caressed even the deepest crevices of my brain.