Page 38 of The Path to Loving Him
“Jesus fuck, what are you doing?” he says as he pulls out his earbuds, and I rise back up and look him in the eyes.
“You threw a plate at my head.” I grip my heaving chest, trying to catch my breath from the onslaught of tableware.
“Because I thought you were an intruder. Just be happy it wasn’t the knife in my hand.” He sets down the cutlery and dries off his hands. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I was knocking, and you didn’t hear me.”
“I was listening to a podcast.” He lets out a deep breath. “Jesus, my heart is racing.”
“You’re not the one who almost got nailed in the head by a plate.” I pick it up and toss it on the counter before shutting the door.
“Why were you knocking?”
“Because I need help.”
He lifts a brow. “I thought you weren’t going to need anything from me.”
How did I know he was going to say that?
He would be the kind of man with so much pride that he would use my words against me.
“Trust me, it’s painful to even be here, but I don’t have an option.”
“I can see the pain in your face, like you’re melting on the spot by just being near me.”
“I don’t need the play-by-play. I’m feeling it, thank you.”
The slightest of smirks crosses his face before he says, “What do you need?”
“My shower, it’s not working. And I tried everything I could, but it seems like my plumbing skills are as terrible as I thought they would be.”
“Was your shower working before?”
“Yes,” I answer. “And if I wasn’t in such dire need to bathe, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
His nose crinkles. “You trying to tell me you stink?”
I clutch at my robe. “That’s a little personal, don’t you think?”
“For someone who has licked your pussy, I would say nothing is too personal at this point.”
And just like that, my cheeks heat.
He nods toward the door. “Let’s go check it out.”
“Want me to stay here . . . because of your niece?”
He shakes his head and holds up his phone. “I have a monitor app on my phone.”
“You have a monitor in her room?” I ask. I thought those were just for babies.
“Yeah, I like to make sure she’s okay at all times. Got a problem with that?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. Wow, the playfulness in his voice immediately escaped. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone change that quickly. Note to self: he takes his guardianship very seriously.
“Then let’s go to your apartment.” We head out of the house and then up the stairs to my apartment. He walks in first, and from behind, I catch him taking in the space I’ve made my own. All the furniture is in place, centered by a rug in the living area. Curtains are hung as well as pictures. Fake plants are scattered throughout, offering some greenery without the responsibility, and a bookcase full of my favorite books sits in the corner next to my reading chair and lamp.
But he moves past all of that and heads straight to the bathroom, where I see my discarded red thong in the middle of the floor.
