Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
I’m now sitting up in my bathtub, the water slightly cooler than scalding, warm and comforting.
It’s working wonders at easing the tension I feel in my shoulders and back.
I’m surrounded by bubbles that smell of honey and eucalyptus.
The scent adds to the calming atmosphere.
Except I am not entirely relaxed. Just behind the shower curtain that I demanded be closed sits a massive, imposing–albeit gorgeous man–waiting for me to finish.
I’m woken up by the sound of keys jingling. My heavy eyes open as I watch Maverick, the man I just let finger me in the fucking woods, that I don’t know, effortlessly open the front door and step into my home.
The walk from where we were to my house is only a few minutes, but during that time, I managed to practically fall unconscious. Between the extreme lack of sleep, the running, and…other activities, my body is screaming at me for rest whenever I can get it.
Maverick kicks his boots off at the door and then walks with me still in his arms to my bedroom and into the bathroom. Still cradling me, he extends a hand to the faucet and starts the shower.
“How hot do you like your water?” He asks me, still fiddling with the knobs of the shower.
“Hot as the pits hell.” I murmur. I may have rejoined the land of the conscious, but I feel sluggish still.
The corner of his lips tip upward into a sideways half-smirk and it is heart stopping. Totally and irrevocably screwed, that’s what I am, and I feel crazy for even thinking that.
He gently sets me to my feet against the counter across from the shower but keeps his arms around my waist, “Do you need help?” He asks.
“No, you can go.” I manage to snap, although it’s weak. I might have lost myself back in the woods but I still don’t know this man.
He releases his hold on me and bends down to open the cabinet underneath the sink and pulls out a bottle of my favorite eucalyptus bubble bath.
“Rinse all of the mud off of you and then take a bubble bath to help ease your muscles. Otherwise, you’ll probably be hurting in the morning.” Maverick places the bubble bath on the side of the tub, then turns to my linen closet and pulls down two clean towels.
“How do you know where all of my stuff is?” I ask through clenched teeth. What the hell is going on?
He walks back over to me and cups my cheek in his hand, “I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.” And with that, he walks out the door and closes it behind him.
I remain frozen in place as I try to process everything that happened after arriving home, and now, how the hell he knows where my things are. And then to say he would be waiting for me? Who the hell is this guy?
I’m furious with him for having the audacity. Is it on sale this week?
I’m also furious with myself for not kicking his ass as soon as he put me down. Right at this moment, I just need to clean off. I can feel the mud caked in my hair and I’m pretty sure it’s in my mouth.
I slowly peel my wet, muddy clothes off and place them in the hamper, then place my gun on the bathroom counter. I huff when I see it too is covered in mud and I’ll have to clean it.
Stepping into the shower, I stand there and let the mud run down the drain. When it rinses clean, I switch off the shower and begin filling the tub. Once it’s full and the bubbles rise, I slowly sink down into the water.
That was thirty minutes ago and Maverick knocked on the door fifteen minutes ago demanding he stay in here to make sure I was okay. I told him I was fine, and to leave. Did he do that? Nope.
I glare at the shower curtain as if that’s what I have a problem with, but the problem sits on the floor on the other side, not speaking. I have so many questions but I’m too pissed off to even know where to begin.
Why were you waiting on my porch for me?
How did you know where I live? Why are you still here?
But the biggest question currently is with myself, why did I let that happen?
I don’t regret it, not even a little bit.
I had already been thinking about calling him.
For some reason, the first night I saw him at Doc’s, I felt this strange pull.
I had barely had the time to process that feeling before he sat across from me and stared at me like he wanted to consume me. Then, he was here.
The other reason I can’t bring myself to regret it is because it felt incredible.
The chase, his hands skating all over my body, him telling me it was me he wanted–for what reason I don’t know yet–and the way he looked at me.
He looked at me like he needed to have me, his touch was possessive and I loved every second of it, I can’t pretend I didn’t.
I’ve never done anything for myself to just let go and in that moment, I forgot about the fact that I no longer feel comfortable in my own home and my sanity is fracturing into tiny pieces. I let go and my world went black.
When the water turns to ice I stretch my leg and push the button to drain the water. Clearing my throat, I stand and face the shower curtain.
“I’m getting out now, please leave.” I demand.
“I’ll leave when you’re in bed. Towels are next to the tub and I brought in some clothes for you to change into. I’ll wait outside.” I hear Maverick stand and turn the door knob.
“You dug through my dresser?” I shriek and stomp my foot on the tub floor.
“I didn’t dig, you had clothes on the end of the bed.” He chuckles and exits the bathroom.
I get out and wrap my hair in one towel and begin to dry myself with the other. Once I’m completely dried off, I slip into the baggy t-shirt and sweatpants Maverick laid out then pull the towel off my hair and begin angrily brushing it.
Flinging open the door to the bedroom, I see Maverick sitting in the chair that’s tucked in the corner by the door texting on his phone.
Obviously he’s made himself right at home.
He looks up when he hears my entry and pockets his phone then stands.
He meets me at the edge of the bed just as I’m flipping back the covers.
His strides are wide and surprisingly silent for a man his size.
Holy fuck. He’s tall with a powerful and formidable build.
He comes to a stop in front of me and I have to crane my neck to look up at him.
I’m five foot two and he has well over a foot on me.
He’s covered in detailed tattoos from what I can see.
They start at his knuckles and slip under the sleeves of his jacket, and peek back out on his neck stopping before his jaw.
His beard is neat and to his face; a little more than stubble that is as dark as his onyx colored hair, making those god damn green eyes pop.
“You’re not staying. I don’t even know you. What just happened was a mistake.” I lie, maintaining eye contact. Even though everything about him is intimidating, I refuse to let him see it.
Maverick lets out an amused chuckle and places his hand on my shoulders. “Whatever you say Sweetheart. And yes I’m leaving. I just wanted to make sure you got in bed.”
“I will when you leave.” I say tipping up my chin. “I need to make sure the doors are locked. So, for the last time, get out.”
Maverick’s lips curve into a slight smile before he takes a step back, “You win, this time. Don’t get used to it.” He says as he turns his back and walks towards the front door.
I follow behind him and stand back at the kitchen table as he puts on his boots and opens the door.
“Goodnight Parker, I’ll see you soon.” The door begins to close, and suddenly my brain is scrambling to ask something, anything to try to gain a little clarity over what the hell has happened tonight.
“Wait!” I rush out and jog over to the door to catch it before he closes it fully.
He stops and looks at me, confusion in his eyes. I’ve been adamant he gets the hell out since I came to in the bathroom earlier, and now I’m asking him to wait?
Tell him to get fucked and never come back, you don’t want to see him ever again. Yes, that’ll do it.
But when I look back at him, my heart stops for a second and I lose my nerve. Those fucking eyes.
“Earlier, you called me Raven. Twice. Obviously you know my name is Parker, so who’s Raven?” Seriously? I facepalm myself internally. That’s the best you could come up with Parker?
He lets out a sigh, “Ravens symbolise many things. They’re also known as keepers of secrets. And I have a feeling you have many. Goodnight, Sweetheart.”
With that he turns and walks off my porch and down the driveway. And suddenly, I cannot breathe.
Does he know something? No, there’s no way he could. I just met him.
I close the front door, locking the knob and the deadbolt, then try it to make sure it’s locked. I begin my nightly routine of checking all the windows, then go back to make sure the door is locked. Stepping into the kitchen, I flip on the stove light then drag myself back to my bedroom.
Entering the bathroom to close the shower curtain and hang up my towels, something flashes in the low light of the room on the counter.
Stepping over to it, I see that my Ruger has been cleaned.
It’s spotless, and even looks cleaner than it did before.
I pick it up and look it over, eject the magazine to make sure it’s still loaded.
Nothing is wrong with it and all my rounds are still here.
Is that what he was doing while I was glowering at him behind the shower curtain?
Exiting the bathroom, I leave one of the lights on and leave the door open slightly, then walk over to the bed.
I can’t stop staring at the weapon. He could have taken it, used it on me, hid it, but instead he cleaned it for me.
It’s almost like he wanted me to have it on me, in clean, functional order.
Inspecting it for a few more seconds, I reload the magazine and drop it into the night stand drawer, then crawl into bed.
I turn the TV on and restart the Brother’s Keeper episode of the show I’ve been watching then turn on my side.
It’s for the background noise, I’m not going to watch it, I just desperately need sleep.
I haven’t slept in two days at this point and I’m afraid the slightest noise is going to send me into a panic.
I can feel myself going a little more insane with every moment I stay awake.
Pulling the covers to my chin, I stare at the doors that lead outside.
I can feel eyes on me, but for the first time in two days, I can’t seem to give a fuck.
I’m too tired. At this point, I’m sure that the lack of sleep is beginning to play tricks on my mind, given that I’ve tried and failed to catch whoever might be out there.
While it is an unsettling feeling, I refuse to let my mind get the better of me tonight.
Doors are locked, windows are locked, phone is charging, gun is loaded and ready. I’m safe.
“Fuck off.” I say out loud, rolling over to face the bathroom door, and my eyes close.
I texted Ashlynn earlier while I was still at work, cashing in on that favor she owes me, and she was more than happy to cover my shift tomorrow.
I decide to put off the call to the security company another day so that I can catch up on some rest, and my eyes quickly fall closed.