Chapter 31
31
COLLINS
I still can’t believe I accompanied three wild women to a strip club and actually survived to talk about it.
I’ve concluded that there never will be a time in my life where I need to see that many men waving around their junk—for cash or not. Being deprived of that will be a sacrifice worth savoring.
And now I have to deal with putting back together Little Miss Humpty Drunkity.
At least I got her into the apartment complex, up to my floor, and inside the residence.
It wasn’t an easy feat at all. Apparently, when Penny drinks, she also gets oddly ambitious, thinking she can walk on her own.
Nope. She can’t.
Well, at least not until her body detoxes from all the fruity liquid she put in it.
“I, ah, feel like the floor is crawling…”
I see the color change on Penny’s face, and I know if I’m not quick, she’ll be puking on the both of us. I scoop her up in my arms and carry her into the bathroom, leaning her over the toilet as the first wave hits, crashing against the clean white bowl.
“Arghh…”
I gather Penny’s hair into one hand and rub at her back as another wave hits. And another. Her whimper pulls at my heart. Seeing her doubled over, looking small, takes me back in time to when I first saw her at Soulful Mind. She was a hollowed-out shell, coping with demons of the unknown then. While she got some answers when Mark Tanner was discovered, Penny is still trying to figure out how to move forward with her life while carrying around the burden of her old self.
Everyone has demons to fight. It’s just that some people do a better job at hiding it.
When Penny seems to have finished, I help her stand, flush the toilet, and then guide her to the sink.
“You feeling better?”
She nods as she looks at her pale reflection in the mirror. “I think I may have overindulged.”
I let out a hollow laugh. “You think?”
“Yup, I think… With my eyes and with my mouth.”
I shake my head at her. “You had way too much fun watching naked men dance around on stage.” Granted, some were definitely doing more, but I’m trying to block out those memories. “The beverages were just another bad decision.”
“I’m not used to drinking like that. Why didn’t you try to stop me?”
My jaw goes limp. “I did.”
“Well, you suck at getting me to comply.”
“Clearly.”
“I just got carried away. Plus, there was plenty of pussy for you to savor. There’s no need to be jealous.”
I give her a smile and then cup hers. “This pussy is the only one I have eyes for.”
“Good, because it feels sooo neglected.”
I give her another squeeze and then resist taking things further. “I’m going to draw you a bath. It might make you feel better. Rinse your mouth, and I’ll get you something to drink.”
It takes just a few seconds for the water to heat up and the steam to fill the room. I add in some bubble bath and lay out some fresh towels for Penny. She probably feels gross.
“Thank you, Collins.”
“You’re welcome, Pen.”
I exit the bathroom and walk into the closet to pick out a soft pair of pajamas to lay on the bed. Meandering into the kitchen, I grab a glass out of the cupboard and pour some cranberry juice into it.
Moving back into the bathroom, I sit along the side of the tub.
“Drink your juice, Princess. You need to stay hydrated.”
“Collins?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you help me wash my hair? My brain can’t get my hands to cooperate. I think they are extra drunk.”
I smile, although she doesn’t look. “Of course.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Princess.”
Kneeling beside the tub, I use the rinse cup to dampen her hair. Popping open the shampoo bottle, I revel in the smell of fresh strawberries.
She is covered in a sea of bubbles, and while my cock wishes they would dissolve, I’m glad that I can have this innocent moment with her when she needs tenderness.
“Ah, that feels good,” she moans, as I run my soapy hands through her scalp. “More. Don’t stop.” Relaxing her body back against the side, she tilts her head up to the ceiling. “I could fall asleep.”
“Soon,” I promise, knowing that my own body needs the rest as well.
I rinse Penny’s silky locks, getting all of the soap out of them.
She yawns. “I could get used to this.”
So could I .
And that’s what the underlying problem is to all of this. I’m stitching the threads between us with all these little moments, only making it harder for myself when it all ends.
When Penny’s skin is all wrinkly and the water loses most of its heat, I grab a fluffy towel and wrap it around her.
Picking her up, I carry her into the bedroom and help her into her pajamas.
Pulling back the covers, I get her underneath and comfortable.
“I’m going to get some work done in my office, but I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay,” she says with another yawn. “I’ll wait up for you.”
My lips curve up. “We’ll see about that.”
Bending forward, I give her a kiss to her forehead before exiting her room to go make a few phone calls and check my email.
Seeing a voice message from Graham, I lock my door and return his call.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“How’s Penny?”
“She’s okay.” I deliberately try to be vague.
“I’m concerned she’s going to get sick through the night after all the drinking she did tonight. And I imagine her roommate is working late?”
“Yeah, I thought the same thing.” I swallow. I hate lying.
“Can you please check on her?”
“I actually have her with me in the guest room so I can keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t throw up again. She’s done it once already. I am overly cautious, so I thought this would be best.”
I feel like such an asshole.
“Thanks, man. You’ll make sure she replenishes and stays hydrated?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Okay, good. I appreciate it.”
When I get off the phone, I take a few long breaths. I have Penny here because I’m a possessive asshole who gets off on being in control. But it’s not like I can tell Graham that there would be no way in hell I’d allow Penny to be anywhere but with me after all the overindulging she did with the girls at the strip club.
She needs a keeper.
And I’m all too content providing her those services.
Cracking open my email, I sift through all the junk that somehow sneaks into my inbox, filtering out what I need to see right now and what can wait for a later time.
I stay absorbed in work, answering messages and setting up some future meetings.
When my eyes are glazing over from looking at the screen too long in the dimmed light of the room, I am startled by the sound of a high-pitched moan echoing down the hall.
Penny…
Rushing to get to her, I push open my master bedroom door, and in the shadowy darkness, I see a little ball in the center of the bed, wrapped haphazardly in the fluffy comforter. Her legs peek out from the bottom, and I imagine this is not very comfortable.
Moving closer, I see the goose bumps on her exposed flesh. Grabbing my phone, I open the thermostat app and change the settings to provide more heat. Then I grab a fleece blanket from the chair along the edge of the room and kneel on the bed to cascade it over Penny’s chilled body.
Looking at the pillow, I see the dampened ring of water from where her hair has soaked into the fabric.
It’s impossible not to find joy at the sight of her in my own space.
I’d be lying if I said she didn’t belong here. Because every part of this vision of her lying sprawled out on my bed is exactly where she belongs.
Safe.
Happy.
Clean.
And soon to be warm.
I want to be her long-term provider. I want to take care of her. And the thought of anyone else filling that role causes a murderous energy to run through me.
Mine.
Running a hand over the back of my neck, I watch as Penny stirs, her movements stiff.
And then she lets out a whimper in agony, as if she is reliving some nightmare in the depths of her soul.
“Penny?” I call out in worry. “You are having a bad dream.”
Fuck.
Leaning in closer, I smell the scent of the strawberry shampoo, luring me closer.
“Collins…” My name comes out muffled, sending a dagger straight to my heart.
“Sweet girl, I am here.”
Her eyes bolt open in horror and search for an anchor.
Let it be me.
“I’m here,” I soothe, rubbing a hand over her back. “Everything will be okay.”
Rolling over, Penny throws herself into my chest, her frail frame shaking against me. My arms encircle her petite body, as it molds itself to me. I fix the fleece blanket around her, providing her with the warmth her body needs.
Our entire journey into the one-hundred-day contract has been an exercise of blurring lines, and tonight is no different.
That’s what Penny and I do. We continue to grow separate but also grow together, learning more about each other with every passing day.
When Penny’s breathing slips back into that steady rhythm of gentle inhales and exhales, I realize that she is back asleep and likely won’t remember the terror she just experienced.
And for that I am thankful.
I get her back under the covers and remove my clothes to provide her with my own warmth, snuggling up against her.
A soft moan escapes her lips, as I turn her to face away from me. Her soft curves fit against my muscular torso like a puzzle. But there’s this nagging feeling of impending doom that I can’t shake, like I’m one breath away from losing this girl that has wrapped herself around my entire heart.
Dammit.
I allow one hand to splay along her flat stomach and the other to cross over her chest and rest at her collarbone. Pressing my lips against the back of her head, I breathe in her sweetness.
And if this all ends tomorrow, at least I got to hold her for a second longer today.