28. Austin
Austin
W ater sloshed along the sides of the tub as I settled McKenna’s back to my chest in my private bathroom.
Bubbles covered her breasts as she tipped her head back, closing her eyes with a soft hum.
My thumbs rubbed circles on her neck and shoulders, doing my best to ease as much of the tension as I could.
We’d rinsed the blood and dirt off in the shower before filling the tub with steaming water, and now, with her in my arms, I was content to stay here all night.
I’d run soap over every inch of her body, refraining from punching the wall at the sight of her bruises. Then she’d insisted on doing the same to me, and I’d let her. Anything she wanted, and it was hers. Including my body, but especially my soul.
The organ beating in my chest wasn’t enough at this point. Obsessed didn’t cover the feelings I had for her, and maybe that was unhealthy, but I’d never been much of a hypochondriac anyway.
On the way home, she’d refused to go to the hospital since the bleeding on her wound had stopped.
She insisted she was fine despite the head trauma, so I was treating her as if she had a concussion.
I’d had my fair share of those in my life and while I was stupid and hadn’t been seen for them, I trusted McKenna when she said she was feeling alright now.
Little did she know, though, I’d already booked her a doctor’s appointment for the morning, just to be safe.
“How’d you find me?” McKenna asked, words heavy with exhaustion.
“I tracked my phone using Booker’s. When I saw you were at an abandoned warehouse outside of town, I’d never ditched him so fast. I would’ve left earlier, but I had to make sure Brynne was safe.
” When I’d remembered I’d left my phone in the jacket McKenna wore, I nearly lost my mind with the urge to track it immediately.
“Thank you for taking care of her,” she murmured. Her fingers traced a lazy circle on my thigh under the water.
“It was hard, having to choose.”
With my admission, she tilted her head back further, opening her eyes. “You made sure we were both okay. That’s what matters.”
“Any longer, and you would’ve?—”
“I know.” She lifted her hand from the water, bubbles sticking to her glistening skin as she set her palm on my cheek. “But you made it. I’m okay.”
I turned my head to press a kiss to her palm, fighting back the foreign emotion swelling in my throat.
“It was all for revenge, you know,” she said.
Pain stabbed me in the chest at the knowledge that we—I—was the reason she was in that position.
“You guys killed her boyfriend, and she wanted to get back at you all for it. She wanted Brynne, too, but the guy hadn’t grabbed her. Monica killed him for it.”
Words escaped me because the reality of the situation was hard to bear. That woman had a gun in McKenna’s mouth, and while I pretended for the sake of getting close enough to save her, it still killed me to know I’d egged it on.
McKenna’s thumb brushed along my cheek. “Come back to me.”
I released my pent-up breath, blinking back the moisture building on my eyes. “Do you regret getting involved with us? Regret knowing me?”
She shook her head. “No.” She spun around to prop up on her knees between my legs, cupping my face in her hands.
“If I’d have never associated myself with you guys, I would’ve never known you the way I do now.
All of that—the stalking, the abduction—was worth it for this.
” Her fingers slid into my damp hair. “For you.”
I gave a small nod, but she must’ve sensed I was still holding back, because she added, “Don’t carry so much on your shoulders, Austin. We’re in this together now.”
I reached up to grab her hands, moving them to hold them between our chests. “It’s hard, McKenna, but I’m trying.”
“That’s all I ask,” she whispered before leaning forward to press her lips to mine.
As our tongues and teeth and mouths clashed, I drew her onto my lap to straddle me, worshipping the feel of her alive and breathing in my arms. And when that wasn’t enough, I eased myself into her, drawing her down until I was seated deep inside of her.
While she rode me, water sloshing over the sides of the tub with every thrust, I fell deeper in love with McKenna.
And I think she fell deeper in love with me, too.
Once we were out of the bath and clothed, we went downstairs to find Booker making food in the kitchen. He’d demanded we sit in the living room and wait for him to be done, so we did just that. Partly because we were starving, but also because Booker gave us no room for argument.
Brynne sat curled into McKenna’s side on the couch before the fire, while I was on McKenna’s other side, tracing circles over her thigh.
She’d changed into gray high-waisted sweats and a black t-shirt she’d taken from my drawer upstairs.
Brynne’s dog, Nightmare, lay in front of the fireplace, belly facing the ceiling while he kicked his paws in his sleep.
Booker came into the living room not too long after, holding two plates piled with pasta and garlic bread, and I popped my bottom lip out in a pout. “None for me?”
“You get drugged or kidnapped tonight?” Booker questioned in his deep, gruff voice.
“Emotionally wounded,” I offered.
“Go find a pillow to cry on then.” He set the plates on Brynne and McKenna’s laps and plopped down next to his girlfriend, staring at the crackling fire.
McKenna’s plate was practically overflowing, and I had a feeling Booker did that with the assumption I’d eat whatever she didn’t. And likely, I would. But I’d let her consume as much as she wanted before that .
“Aside from Austin craving attention, I’m glad you’re both alright,” Booker said, glancing at McKenna, then me.
I glared at him over their heads, and he only offered a blank stare back.
I knew he was thankful, though. That fucker who’d been on McKenna when I arrived at the warehouse had been the one to drug Brynne.
She’d confirmed he’d come into the diner earlier that day posing as a plumber when Henley sent a photo of the man to our group chat.
It wasn’t a smart move, but Booker had wanted proof that it was the man who had drugged his girl.
If it hadn’t been, he’d have had a hell of time hunting the man down.
But the fact we were wrong about her having food poisoning had me feeling guilty.
I should’ve known, and yet, I’d missed all the signs.
When we’d gotten here and I told Booker they were both dead, he’d pulled me in for a rare hug.
McKenna offered a small smile before leaning her head on my shoulder. “Thank you.”
The silent scrape of a key inside a lock pulled our attention to the front door right as Henley walked in, rebolting it behind him.
When he saw all four of us staring, he paused. “What?”
“All good?” I asked, running a hand up and down McKenna’s arm.
He looked at each of us before pocketing his key. “Yep.” He tilted his head in the direction of the stairs. “I’m gonna go shower. You all enjoy your sweet little reunion or whatever.”
I could practically feel the retort about to roll off Booker’s tongue, but Henley was taking the stairs two at a time before he could get a word out .
“What’s up his ass?” Booker grumbled.
“He’s probably tired of you two making him clean up your messes,” Brynne noted.
“Or he’s jealous you both have girlfriends now,” McKenna guessed.
Either of them could be right, but whatever it was, we’d deal with it when he was ready to come around. For now, I wanted to enjoy the night with my girl.
No stalkers, no death, no looking over our shoulders.
Just enjoying time with our loved ones.
How it always should’ve been.
But then again, who could have fun without a little trouble?