Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
SALVATORE
Ipace the floor of my office, my eyes on the field as the guys practice, my mind in New York while I chat with Austin, my private investigator.
“I don’t know how we get around this without doing anything illegal, Sal,” he tells me, sighing into the phone.
We’ve been trying to come up with ways of proving the Mikklesons are behind the attacks on D’Angelo Construction, but so far, we haven’t come up with anything concrete.
“You know my answer to that, Austin. If we break the law, that gives them more leverage.”
“Only if we get caught.” I imagine him shrugging and groan.
“I’ll keep thinking, but for now, I’ve got a tail on the two of them, and I’ve reached out to a contact of mine that knows a few of their friends.
I’ll see if he can get someone into their inner circle.
I can’t guarantee it though, because they’re keeping that circle tight now that the trial is set to begin. ”
“Thanks, Austin. I appreciate your help. Let’s talk soon.”
“Yep. I’ll be in touch.”
With my eyes closed, I lean back in my chair and count to ten.
I shouldn’t have to worry about the Mikklesons right now.
I’ve got Keeley to focus on. I should be there.
I hadn’t even planned on coming into the office at all today.
I only left Keeley alone to plan a surprise for her, until Camilla called.
She’s convinced that Marc’s being followed now too, and wants me to do something about it before their focus shifts to Paige.
“Marc and I can handle ourselves,” she’d told me. “But if they come after Paige, I’m going to break your balls.”
And I have no doubt she’d do just that.
It’s a fun time to be me at the moment. I’ve got my ex blowing up my phone and my new girlfriend threatening me with violence because she’s bored out of her mind.
I know how to fix the latter. As for Camilla, I’m struggling.
Though I’m not worried about Paige. She’s protected here.
After stopping past Wes’s office to make sure Vance is still locked in for our “meeting” tomorrow, I head back to Keeley’s around four p.m. prepared for another attack.
Only when I get there, the apartment is quiet, and Keeley’s nowhere to be seen.
My heart races as I push through the bedroom door, checking to see if she’s napping. She’s not.
“Keels. Where are you?”
“In here,” she calls out from the bathroom and I relax, laughing at myself. It’s not like she can go far.
“I’ll be in the living room if you need anything.”
“Actually, can you come in?”
“Of course.” I stride toward the door and hesitate before stepping inside, my heart jolting when I find her. Fuck.
She’s in the bath, her cast resting up on the edge, her head dropped back, her face pinched in what I assume to be frustration.
My gaze drops to her nipples floating on the top of the water, and I swallow a lump in my throat, ignoring my cock as it twitches. “Are you okay?” I rasp before coughing to clear my throat. “Do you need help?”
“I do. And I really hate that. I thought I had everything close by, but I grabbed two conditioners instead of the shampoo.” She huffs as she points toward the shower and the lone bottle sitting on the ledge.
“How did you even get in there?”
“It wasn’t easy. But I couldn’t go another day without a shower and since I can’t do that without getting my cast wet, this is the alternative.”
“You should have told me; I could have wrapped your cast in a bag or something.”
“Believe it or not, I wanted to do something on my own. I wanted my boyfriend to come home to a clean girl.”
“I don’t mind you being dirty.” I hide my smile until Keeley’s eyes flash to mine, and she stifles a laugh.
“You’re the one holding back, Sir. That’s not on me.”
“I’ve been doing that for you, Miss.”
“I know. I know. Anyway, can you pass me the shampoo so I can wash my hair? I’d love to feel somewhat normal today.”
“Of course.” The water sloshes as I turn toward the shower, and my mind conjures images of Keeley’s naked body lifting from the water, making me internally curse myself. Now is not the time for my dick to get hard.
I grab the shampoo, and when I look back at Keeley, she’s under the water, giving me a full view of her body since she’s now lying down.
And my God, is she glorious.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen her naked, though it is the first time I’ve felt like it’s not forbidden.
After a beat, she sits up and wipes her face, holding her hand out for the bottle, but I can’t seem to hand it over. I’m not sure why I’m hesitating until I realize I don’t want to leave.
“Let me,” I tell her.
“What?” Keeley’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Let me wash your hair.” I put the bottle down and take off my jacket, rolling up the sleeves of my shirt while Keeley watches my every move in the mirror. Her tongue peeks out of her mouth, brushing along her parted lips before she traps a lip between her teeth, forcing me to look away.
“Can you move down slightly?” I ask as I sit on the edge of the bath behind her head, pouring shampoo into my hand.
“You’re serious?” she probes as she shuffles forward, giving me some space.
“Deadly. Only, I’ve never washed someone else’s hair.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
“Not even…” She trails off, laughing to herself. “Never mind. My question would have made things weird.”
“Paige?” I wager a guess.
“Yep.” Her nose scrunches and I chuckle.
“Not even Paige. We had nannies to do that.”
“Right. Okay. Well, feel free to give it a go.”
I chuckle softly at the uncertainty in her tone before rubbing the shampoo into her hair, gathering her thick strands into my hands to make sure it’s all covered.
I try to focus on the task at hand, until Keeley’s head falls back and I find myself watching her, my fingers massaging her head.
With her eyes closed, she lets out a soft moan, and my breath picks up speed.
When too much time has passed, I force my hands to gently let go, then fill up the cup she had on the counter, covering her eyes as I rinse out the foam.
“Look at you making sure I don’t get soap in my eyes.”
“What can I say? I’m a gentleman.”
Keeley’s lips pull into a sassy smile, and I smile right back even though she can’t see me.
I begin the conditioning process next, and she moans softly. “This feels so good. If you’re not careful, I’m going to force you to wash my hair for the rest of our lives.”
A breath catches in my throat, and it takes me a second to respond. “You make it sound like a punishment.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Absolutely not.” Especially if it means you’re planning a lifetime together.
We both fall silent as I rake my fingers through her hair, spreading the conditioner to the ends, and when I’m done, I straighten, shifting around to relieve some of the tension in my pants. Who would have thought this would make me hard?
“How long do you leave it in?” I ask, remembering Camilla used to take a ridiculously long time on her hair-washing days. The days before she started going to the salon twice a week so they could do it all for her.
Keeley giggles softly. “I’m impressed. A few minutes will be fine.”
“Okay.” I grab the loofah and squirt some body wash onto the burgundy sponge, before dipping it into the water and gliding it over Keeley’s back. She jolts before turning around with a smirk.
“Are you going to wash me now?”
“I am. If that’s okay?”
“It’s more than okay. Thank you.”
With a smile, I lather her back before sliding forward on the ledge, ignoring when water soaks through my pants.
I curve the sponge over her shoulder, then wrap an arm around her neck and lean forward to whisper in her ear, “Lie back. I’ve got you.”
She shivers but does as I ask, closing her eyes and trusting me to hold her.
I hold my breath as I glide the loofah across her collarbone, dipping between her breasts that are peeking out of the water.
My heart races as I lower my hand under the bubbles, reaching her belly button before stopping just above her center.
She parts her legs and I pull back quickly, stifling a groan. I want more. I want everything. And I want it now.
“Can you hold yourself up for a second? I’m going to finish your hair,” I rasp, filling the cup with water to rinse off the conditioner, standing the second I’m done. “Do you need to do anything else before I help you out?”
Keeley frowns but shakes her head. “No, I’m good. I actually washed myself before you arrived.” The hint of a smile tugs at her lips, and I can’t stop myself from returning it.
“Well, I appreciate you letting me do it again.”
“The pleasure was all mine.”
Ignoring her insinuating tone, I grab her towel before standing close to the ledge. “Out of curiosity, how were you planning on getting out if I wasn’t here?”
“I have no idea. I hadn’t planned that far in advance.”
“Give me your hands.” I chuckle before lifting her out of the water, waiting until she has her good leg over the side then helping her to stand, keeping my eyes on her face.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, raising a single manicured eyebrow as she grabs my shoulders for balance, her lips quirked into a grin. “Are you worried you’re going to lose your willpower if you see my dripping body?”
“Keeley, I lost my willpower the second I walked into the bathroom.” I dry her shoulders, smiling when her jaw drops.
“You did?’
“Yep.”
“Then why the hell are you taking so long?” She grabs the towel from my hand and wraps it around her hair, almost falling as she does. And when she’s finished, she reaches for a second towel, quickly wiping herself down. “All done.” She smiles brightly, making me laugh.
“What about your back?” I take the towel from her hand and turn her around to face the mirror, holding her waist as I pat her back dry. When I’m done, I drop the towel and hold her with both hands as I lean down, pressing my lips to her shoulder, finally giving in to my burning desire.
Curling my hands farther around her from behind, I splay them over her stomach, brushing a thumb against her breast as I press my body against hers, letting her feel how much I want this. How much I want her.
She gasps softly, and I meet her gaze in the mirror, kissing a path down her neck as she melts into me.
Her hands cover mine and she curls her fingers, running the tips back and forth over my skin, her touch soft and caressing. I let out a soft groan against her neck, and her pulse races against my lips, sending a spark right through me.
“I think it’s time I took you to bed,” I whisper when her head falls back onto my shoulder and her breath hitches.
“Please.”
Without another word, I lift her into my arms and carry her into the bedroom, only pausing when I get to the bed.
I gently ease her onto the mattress, positioning her on the pillow before grabbing the spare and arranging it under her foot.
She opens her mouth to speak until I press a kiss to the skin above the cast, pushing her other leg farther away, spreading her for me.
With my eyes locked on her core, I swallow a lump in my throat, clearing it before I speak. “I know we’ve both been waiting for this, but I’m going to take my time. I want us to always remember this moment.”
Keeley nods as she lifts to her elbows, her wild gaze meeting mine. “Good thing I have nowhere else to be.”