Chapter 29
Seth
A fter getting Regan inside and comfortable at the island in the kitchen, we dug into our food. She ate, but with each bite, I could see the exhaustion washing over her. After the fifth yawn without a new bite of food, I pushed my containers away and stood from my seat.
Looking at my best friend, I explained, “There’s a shower and clothes in the guard’s house at the back of the property. You can use these facilities but grab me some sweats and a T-shirt before you get showered.”
“Please,” Regan muttered.
“What, baby?” I asked, seeing what she needed.
“Say ‘please’. He’s been awake as long as we have, so kindness goes a long way.”
“I’m liking her more and more,” Booker remarked and asked, “Should I leave your clothes out here or where?”
“My room is the last one down the east hallway. There’s a small table outside, and you can leave them there, please.”
She placed a strong emphasis on the word ‘please’, and I smiled down at her and kissed the top of her head, amazed by her. Regan had been put through the ringer over the last few days and she still had goodness in her heart.
“I’ll run them back so you can get some rest,” Booker offered and walked out the kitchen door and across the back yard.
The compound was large but not so much that it should take him more than a few minutes round-trip. I could see Regan was struggling, so I walked around and carefully scooped her into my arms. She rested her head on my chest as I carried her out of the kitchen.
“I can walk,” she said around a yawn, and I smiled as I continued moving past the living room and into her hallway.
“And I can still carry you. Let me take care of you, baby. I’m responsible for everything, so it’s the least I can do.”
She looked up at me and patted my chest. I stopped just outside the glass windows leading to the interior patio, and she spoke clearly as she said, “You and I are starting fresh. That means everything from the time I asked for a new start is in the past. My secrets, your plan, all of it. I don’t blame you for anything, and I need you to not blame me. Can . . . is that possible?”
I started walking without replying, moving faster down the hallway until I was in front of her door. She looked worried and tried to wiggle out of my arms as I said, “Please open the door.” She punched in her code and the door unlocked before I turned the knob and walked us inside.
Careful not to hurt her, I placed her at the foot of her bed and lifted her chin as she tried to lower her gaze. I could see apprehension in her beautiful green eyes, so I softly explained. “I need to kiss you, but I don’t want to do anything that may . . . trigger you.”
She seemed shocked, so I added, “I told you months ago, there’s nothing you can say to me that will make me see you any different than I do.
Today changes nothing. I meant what I said, Regan.
I love you, even if you’re not there yet.
I’ll patiently wait until you are, because you, my beautiful darlin’, are worth waiting for. ”
“So, what he said didn’t—”
I leaned forward and kissed her, needing her to get out of her head and back to the moment.
She faced her nightmare today and pushed it back into the darkness where it couldn’t hurt her ever again.
When her hands pressed against my chest, I fought the part of my brain that was screaming to pull her to me and I allowed her to move at whatever pace she was comfortable.
When her tongue licked the seam of my lips, I opened and swept my tongue against hers, mimicking what I wanted to do to her but making sure to keep the frenzy pushed down. A knock on the door broke our trance as Booker said through the door, “Clothes are here.”
His heavy footsteps grew softer as he walked away, and when I looked back at Regan, she was smiling as she touched her lips. I wiggled my eyebrows and offered her my hand. “Let’s get you showered so you can get some sleep. I know you’re exhausted.”
I offered her my hands to help her stand, and when I saw her grimace from pain, I wanted to sweep her back into my arms but knew it wasn’t the right moment.
Holding her hand in mine, we walked to the dresser, and I opened the drawers she indicated so she could grab what she needed.
After making sure she had everything, I assisted her into the bathroom.
It was a large bathroom with a double sink, standup shower, deep soaking tub, and a door that I assumed concealed the toilet.
“Would you mind leaving the door open, just in case?”
“Do you need help getting undressed?”
“I think I can get it, but thank you,” she replied.
“Call out and I’ll be right here,” I returned and pecked her on the cheek before walking out, leaving the door open as she requested.
I heard the shower turn on and took a seat at the foot of the bed. Spying wasn’t my game, especially with Regan, who had been dealt too many disloyalties in her life. While I couldn’t see her in the shower, I could see the front of the counter where she tossed the clothes she had on.
Sitting on her bed, I glanced around the room and noticed there were very little personal touches.
There was one photo on the dresser of a much younger Regan flanked by Rhys and James.
They were smiling, dressed in oversized sunglasses and crazy hats.
Seeing them like that gave me hope that she would smile like that again one day.
“Seth,” Regan said, and I jumped up and walked to the open door.
“Yes, baby?” I asked, wanting to rush in but trying to give her the privacy she was entitled to.
“I . . . I need help.” I stepped into the bathroom and saw her sitting on the floor of the glass shower.
Rushing over, I couldn’t see what the problem was because the glass was mostly fogged-over from steam.
“What can I do?” I asked, and she turned and looked up at me.
“Can you help get this blood off me?”
“Is it okay if I open the door?”
“Yes.”
I slipped my boots off and kicked them to the side before tossing my phone and sidearm onto the counter. Returning to the shower, I spoke to her before I made any moves. “I’m gonna get in and help you up. Do you need help washing or just staying upright?”
“Both,” she admitted.
Opening the glass door, I saw how exhausted she was and I wanted to kick my own ass for not suggesting she wait until Hannah was back. But we were here now, and I wasn’t going to back away when my woman needed me. She was soaking wet, naked, and vulnerable, and I wanted to tread lightly.
“I’m going to lift you under your arms and put you on the ledge behind you, then we’ll get you cleaned up.”
“You don’t have to keep your clothes on.” She lifted her eyes and said the one thing I hoped I had relayed to her. “I trust you.”
Making quick work, I removed my shirt, pants, and socks, leaving my boxer briefs in place. This wasn’t the time for that, and I didn’t want to give her the wrong idea. Stepping in, I squatted in front of her as the warm spray splashed down my back.
“You ready?” She nodded, so I slipped my hands under her arms, making sure to avoid any personal areas as I lifted her into the air. Placing her on the small ledge, I stepped closer and pulled a shower massager from the wall, using the spray to wet the rest of her hair.
Her wound was wrapped securely, and Doc said it was okay to get it wet as long as we changed the bandage afterward.
Regan closed her eyes as I ran my fingers over her head, making sure all the stands were wet, and when I rubbed her scalp, she moaned into the shower, and I willed my cock to stay down.
She didn’t need my needy dick poking her in the eye while I was trying to get her clean.
Twisting, I grabbed the bottle labeled ‘shampoo’, and she looked up at me before lifting her hand into the air.
I poured some into her palm and watched as she washed her hair.
Rinsing the suds from her head, I found the conditioner and lifted it.
She shook her head, so I returned it to the holder on the wall.
Next, I grabbed her poofy sponge and handed it to her before finding some sweet-smelling body wash and dumping some onto the poof.
I tried not to look at her naked form, but I couldn’t help it.
She was so fucking beautiful, and watching the water cascade down her pert breasts and across her stomach made wicked thoughts jump into my head.
“I need to stand up,” Regan remarked, and I returned the massager to the holder and helped her stand.
Regan wobbled on her feet, and I reached out, holding onto her shoulders until she was steady.
Her eyes lifted to mine, and I kept our gazes locked as she used the poof below her waist. When she was finished, she reached up and handed it to me.
I glanced and saw it was still full of suds, so I took it and quickly washed my body as she sat back down on the ledge, allowing the water to rinse her body.
Turning away from her, I pulled the front of my briefs out and washed my manhood, hoping the stimulation wouldn’t wake up the beast. When I was done, I turned back around, and what I saw made me drop the poof, no longer caring about anything but the beautiful sight in front of me.
Regan was leaned back with one leg propped on the small ledge and her fingers running through her wet pussy. Her eyes were hooded, and she stared at me as she leisurely pleasured herself.
“Regan, baby, I only have so much restraint. If you keep doing that, you’re gonna make me hungry . . . and I know what I want to eat.”
“No one’s stopping you,” she replied, and I wanted to fall to my knees.
Squatting in front of her but keeping my distance, I saw her puffy pussy lips begging to be licked, so I asked, “Are you sure? I don’t want you to think you have to or for you to have regrets after.”