Page 44 of Striker
She placed a firm hand in the center of his chest. “Oh, no you don’t. I’m going to shower and change. Anything beyond that will come later.”
He bowed his head to nip at her bottom lip. “We’re both coming later.”
She laughed, pushing him back another inch. A carefree light danced in her eyes and hell, it made him so damn happy. After all she’d been through, if he could make her laugh even one more time he’d die a happy man.
“Shower. Clothes. Food.” She patted his sternum as though he were a good dog, then backed away. “Stay,” she commanded.
A laugh rumbled in his throat.
She bent down to scoop up her bag, then shrieked and ran into the bathroom, shutting the door in a fit of giggles.
He just hoped to god she could shower without having PTSD.
Chapter
Eleven
Molly stared at the water spitting from the showerhead. Her heart pounded and tears stung her eyes. She stood next to the tub, her hands tucked under her armpits, shielding her breasts from the violating spray.
All she could envision was the man shoving her beneath the water, holding her down. Her throat and nose burned with the memory of the soapy liquid rushing into her body, strangling her from the inside out.
She blew out a breath.
Viper would be arriving soon, and she couldn’t even get in the shower. Maybe she’d just pretend she’d washed. But then her hair would be dry, and?—
A soft knock sounded at the door. “Molly, you okay?”
Atlas.
She rolled her lips together. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not in the shower.”
A grin wrestled itself over her mouth. She turned to the door. “Are you alone?”
“Yup.”
She popped the lock and eased open the door a crack. He had one hand high on the doorframe, his body close enough to touch.
“How’d you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
She pursed her lips.
He chuckled. “I could tell the water was just raining down on the basin. You gonna let me in or not?”
“Viper’s going to be here any minute.”
“So what? He can wait. Besides, he drove to get our food, so we’ve got a bit of time.” He spoke casually, and she was grateful he couldn’t hear the anxiety roaring in her head. To her, it seemed loud enough to shake the center of the earth.
He gently pushed open the door until she stepped back. Shame flooded her face. She kept her gaze down, willing the nerves to disappear.
The lock clicked, and she glanced up to see him removing his shirt.
“What are you doing?”
“I haven’t showered yet either. Mind if I join you?” He shoved his pants down his legs without waiting for her response.
