Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
KNOX
Heather sits on the bed chewing her bottom lip anxiously, and fuck, I’d like to take hold of it and sink my teeth into the flesh until I taste her blood on my tongue.
“What is it?”
She gazes toward the bathroom before her eyes come back to me.
“If you’re going to force me to stay here, I want a shower. I’m sure I smell,” she says while wrinkling her cute little nose.
“You do smell,” I say with a smirk.
I’m rewarded with a mock scowl, and a “hey”, before the sweetest giggle I’ve ever fucking heard.
“Like a field of fucking roses,” I add, and her cheeks heat with a beautiful blush.
It was already decided that I’d help her shower.
Carter asked me to, before she woke up, as much as I could see how badly he wanted to be the one to do it.
I told him to just force himself to let her touch him, and get over it, but that only pissed him off and led to the conversation I hate.
The one where he berates himself for being different from us. He’s his own worst fucking enemy.
“I’ll help you take a shower.”
Her blush turns from a soft pink to a crimson red, as she shakes her head.
“Oh my God, no. I’ll be naked.”
I arch an eyebrow at her before sighing audibly.
“Yes, I think that’s how most people shower. I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman, and refrain from groping you. I’ll even keep my eyes on your beautiful face.”
After grabbing a t-shirt from Carter's dresser, I place it in the bathroom for her to dress after her shower.
I move closer to Heather and slide my arms under her, lifting and carrying her into the ensuite bathroom.
Setting her on the bathroom counter, I turn the shower on and get it warm, but not scalding hot.
“Are you going to be naked too?” She asks nervously.
I turn to her and remove my shirt, before tossing it to the floor.
“Stop. No one is going to hurt you here, but I’ll keep my shorts on.”
I’m going to do my best to keep my eyes off her body, but this really is going to be a test for me.
I help her out of her sleeveless top and toss it on top of mine.
Reaching behind her, I remove her lacy black bra before sliding it down her arms. Do I notice the way her breaths become heavier as I remove her clothing?
Of course I fucking do. I lift her off the counter gently, set her on her feet, and kneel in front of her to help her get rid of her pants.
Everything has blood and dirt on it, they’ll have to be tossed.
“Thank you for helping me,” she says sweetly as I pull her pants down. Heather places her hands on my shoulders for stability, and lifts her foot as I remove the pants for her, one leg at a time.
Rising to my full height, I hold her hand in mine, take her to the shower, and step inside before helping her.
“Watch your step, Tesoro.” The nickname slipping off my tongue too easily.
I nod to the showerhead, and she tilts her head back with a moan as the water runs through her blood-stained tresses.
Grabbing Carter’s shampoo, I pour a generous amount into my palm and wash her hair gently.
I rinse her hair clean before repeating the process with a conditioner that I’m surprised my brother has.
She puts her head down and sighs with something that sounds like contentment.
“Thank you for being nice to me.”
Her words cause a lump in my throat, because somehow I know she’s not used to a man taking care of her.
Her life has not been what it should have been.
The urge to storm into that goddamn church and kill everyone I see is strong.
But then, I’d be taking what she deserves. Every single kill belongs to her.
I grab the body wash, pour some into my hand, and start with her shoulders.
“If I make you uncomfortable, tell me and I’ll stop.”
She glances away from me with a pained expression, before focusing her gaze on the floor.
“Nobody has ever said that to me.”
I take her hands in mine and gently scrub away the blood.
“I know, Tesoro. I know.”
Her face is blanketed in confusion when she asks, “Why do you call me that?”
Stroking my fingers down her cheek, I sigh.
“It means treasure, which is exactly what you are. A fucking treasure.”
She shakes her head as if my words are impossible to comprehend and closes her eyes tight.
“I’m not a treasure, Knox. More like the opposite. Garbage?”
Heather’s words piss me off, not at her, but at the fuckers that made her think like this.
“Yes, Tesoro, you are a treasure, and I don’t ever want to hear you call yourself garbage again. I know what I see.”
Her eyes pop open when I drop to my knees.
“Is this okay? Or do you want me to stop?”
“I’m okay,” she whispers in a soft, but shaky, voice.
I drag my lathered hands up and down her legs, before moving to the inside of her thighs with my eyes closed. If I look at her goddamn pussy, I’m done. I’ll have to taste her, and I cannot fucking do that right now. Tilting my head back, I open my eyes and focus on her face.
“So beautiful, Tesoro. Fucking exquisite.”
I rise to my feet and turn her around to wash her back. There are marks covering her from her back down to her thighs.
“Tesoro? What is this?”
Her voice reflects humiliation as she says, “From the paddle. I was disobedient.”
“I’m sorry,” is all I manage to say because I don’t want to make it worse, but it causes the knot in my throat to grow. No woman should have this done to her. It reminds me of my mother's stories about our father. Something I refuse to think about.
I help her rinse off before stepping out of the bathtub, and the water from my shorts drenches Carter’s floor with a splash.
Grabbing a towel, I help her out and dry her off carefully, avoiding touching the spot where Carter shot her with the dart.
It shouldn’t be overly painful, but it’s probably tender.
After towel drying her hair, I put my brother’s Mopar t-shirt over her head and pull it down, covering her.
She’s a short thing, so it falls just above her knee.
Lifting her into my arms again, I carry her back to the bedroom and place her back on the bed.
“Thank you, Knox,” she says, and I ignore the tightening in my chest.
“You’re welcome, Tesoro.”
I grab a pair of Carter's shorts and change in the bathroom. When I go back into the bedroom, her eyes travel my body, the way I want to with hers.
“Killian is right about you, Tesoro. You’re going to cause a lot of trouble. Aren’t you?”
She shrugs her shoulders before flashing me a devious grin.
“Maybe. Not all trouble is bad, sometimes, it’s just fun.”