Page 78 of Never and Always
He tugged me closer and I burrowed into his warmth, his strength. God, he felt good.
He tipped my face up and kissed me.
He made me feel so many damn things. Things I wasn’t sure I was ready to face.
He also made me feel safe.
“I’m going to run you a bath,” he said. “There’s a big soaking tub in the bathroom. You’re going to take your glass of wine in there, keep your stitched arm out of the water, and relax.”
Chapter 25
Everett
The fireplace popped and crackled. I sipped my whiskey and leaned back against the couch.
Piper was soaking in the tub. I was definitelynotthinking of her naked under warm water and bubbles.
It was easy enough, because I kept seeing her covered in blood.
I took a larger sip this time. It had shaken the hell out of me. Seeing how close she’d come to being seriously hurt, or worse.
Fuck. I set the glass down on the coffee table.
I was falling for Piper Ellis.
“Shit.” I dropped my head back against the cushions. She was high maintenance, for sure, but not always. She could curl up on a couch and chill, she could have cocktails with the girls, she could worry about her family, she could lavish a dog with affection. I loved her smarts, her strength, and the way she cared for those she loved.
I dragged in a breath. But I knew she wouldn’t stay in Windward. She was made for bigger things, and she loved her job. I wanted her happy, and I hated that maybe being with me wouldn’t make her that way.
With a shake of my head, I refocused on the fire. Right now, I just had to keep her safe. What I wanted didn’t matter. I’d worry about the rest later.
The bathroom door opened and I turned my head.
My chest locked.
She was standing there, wearing the red flannel shirt I’d discarded earlier.
That was all she was wearing. I was hard in an instant. Where the shirt gaped, I saw golden skin and long, long legs. Her blonde hair was loose.
“Piper.” My voice was a low rasp.
“The bath was great, but I need something else now.”
I rose and damn, my legs were unsteady. As I watched, she walked toward the bed. That big, romantic bed. She pressed her hands and knees to it. Then she crawled across it, her gaze locked on me.
Crawling. To me. In my flannel shirt.
“What do you need?” I asked, my voice like rust.
“I need you, Everett. You’ve been taking care of me, but now, I want to give you something. Take care of you.”
I walked toward her on autopilot, my gaze not leaving her beautiful face.
“I don’t want anything else to exist,” she murmured. “No brother, no bad guys, no worry, no fear. Nothing. Just us.” She rose on her knees at the end of the bed.
I stopped an inch away. “That shirt looks better on you than it does on me.”
Her lips curled. “I beg to differ.” She reached for my T-shirt and pushed it up. Together, we pulled it over my head.
