Page 21 of Affliction
“Let’s go get you cleaned up.”
He begins walking back in the direction of my house and my heavy eyes begin to close.
Chapter twelve
I’m now sitting upin my bathtub, the water slightly cooler than scalding, warm and comforting. It’s working wonders at easing the tension I feel in my shoulders and back. I’m surrounded by bubbles that smell of honey and eucalyptus. The scent adds to the calming atmosphere. Except I am not entirely relaxed. Just behind the shower curtain that I demanded be closed sits a massive, imposing–albeit gorgeous man–waiting for me to finish.
I’m woken up by the sound of keys jingling. My heavy eyes open as I watch Maverick, the man I just let finger me in the fucking woods, that I don’t know, effortlessly open the front door and step into my home.
The walk from where we were to my house is only a few minutes, but during that time, I managed to practically fall unconscious. Between the extreme lack of sleep, the running, and…other activities, my body is screaming at me for rest whenever I can get it.
Maverick kicks his boots off at the door and then walks with me still in his arms to my bedroom and into the bathroom. Still cradling me, he extends a hand to the faucet and starts the shower.
“How hot do you like your water?” He asks me, still fiddling with the knobs of the shower.
“Hot as thepits hell.” I murmur. I may have rejoined the land of the conscious, but I feel sluggish still.
The corner of his lips tip upward into a sideways half-smirk and it is heart stopping. Totally and irrevocably screwed, that’s what I am, and I feel crazy for even thinking that.
He gently sets me to my feet against the counter across from the shower but keeps his arms around my waist, “Do you need help?” He asks.
“No, you can go.” I manage to snap, although it’s weak. I might have lost myself back in the woods but I still don’t know this man.
He releases his hold on me and bends down to open the cabinet underneath the sink and pulls out a bottle of my favorite eucalyptus bubble bath.
“Rinse all of the mud off of you and then take a bubble bath to help ease your muscles. Otherwise, you’ll probably be hurting in the morning.” Maverick places the bubble bath on the side of the tub, then turns to my linen closet and pulls down two clean towels.
“How do you know where all of my stuff is?” I ask through clenched teeth. What the hell is going on?
He walks back over to me and cups my cheek in his hand, “I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.” And with that, he walks out the door and closes it behind him.
I remain frozen in place as I try to process everything that happened after arriving home, and now, how the hell he knows where my things are. And then to say he would be waiting for me? Who the hell is this guy?
I’m furious with him for having the audacity. Is it on sale this week?
I’m also furious with myself for not kicking his ass as soon as he put me down. Right at this moment, I just need to clean off. I can feel the mud caked in my hair and I’m pretty sure it’s in my mouth.
I slowly peel my wet, muddy clothes off and place them in the hamper, then place my gun on the bathroom counter. I huff when I see it too is covered in mud and I’ll have to clean it.
Stepping into the shower, I stand there and let the mud run down the drain. When it rinses clean, I switch off the shower and begin filling the tub. Once it’s full and the bubbles rise, I slowly sink down into the water.
That was thirty minutes ago and Maverick knocked on the door fifteen minutes ago demanding he stay in here to make sure I was okay. I told him I was fine, and to leave. Did he do that? Nope.
I glare at the shower curtain as if that’s what I have a problem with, but theproblemsits on the floor on the other side, not speaking. I have so many questions but I’m too pissed off to even know where to begin.
Why were you waiting on my porch for me? How did you know where I live? Why are you still here?But the biggest question currently is with myself,why did I let that happen?I don’t regret it, not even a little bit. I had already been thinking about calling him. For some reason, the first night I saw him at Doc’s, I felt this strange pull. I had barely had the time to process that feeling before he sat across from me and stared at me like he wanted to consume me. Then, he was here.
The other reason I can’t bring myself to regret it is because it felt incredible. The chase, his hands skating all over my body, him telling me it was me he wanted–for what reason I don’t know yet–and the way he looked at me. He looked at me like he needed to have me, his touch was possessive and I loved every second of it, I can’t pretend I didn’t.
I’ve never done anything for myself to just let go and in that moment, I forgot about the fact that I no longer feel comfortable in my own home and my sanity is fracturing into tiny pieces. I let go and my world went black.
When the water turns to ice I stretch my leg and push the button to drain the water. Clearing my throat, I stand and face the shower curtain.
“I’m getting out now, please leave.” I demand.
“I’ll leave when you’re in bed. Towels are next to the tub and I brought in some clothes for you to change into. I’ll wait outside.” I hear Maverick stand and turn the door knob.
“You dug through my dresser?” I shriek and stomp my foot on the tub floor.
