Chapter 37 – Lily
LILY
The motorcycle rumbles beneath us as we slow to a stop in Aster’s driveway.
“Are you okay?” he asks the second we dismount, and he tugs me to him. His fingers fumble with my helmet’s chin strap, making quick work of unbuckling it. After setting it on the seat, his hands fly over me, anger etching deeper into his expression with each passing second.
“I’ve been worse,” I reply, and it’s true, but I can’t deny my body aches, and my head throbs to the beat of a bass drum.
When I exited the bathroom, someone grabbed my arm, dragging me behind the building.
Not seeing their face, I stupidly thought it was Aster stealing me away for a private moment.
It was only when Nolan threw me against the wall, I realized the massive mistake and considered perhaps I should pay better attention to my surroundings.
And kidnappers. Nolan got in a few good hits before Aster arrived.
“Let’s get you inside,” Aster murmurs, gesturing me towards the door with a protective hand on my lower back.
Once I step through the threshold, a wave of relief expels from my body. An amount of comfort I shouldn’t feel walking into a home I’ve only visited a few times. One of those being breaking and entering.
“We should clean your wounds first.” He ushers me upstairs to his bathroom, then pulls out a first aid kit, setting it near the sink. “Come here.” He lifts me by my waist and drops me on the granite countertop, then blots a cotton ball with antiseptic.
I hold out my hand. “I can do it.”
Aster’s soft gaze meets mine. “Baby, just let me take care of you.” Baby. My chest squeezes, and I relent as he slides himself between my legs, electricity thrumming between us. He brushes his thumb against my face, and I wince. “You are thoroughly testing my willpower as of late.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You getting hurt.” His jaw ticks, eyes darkening. “It makes me murderous.”
“We’ve had this conversation.” I rest my hand on his face, and he leans into it. “You can’t just kill everyone who touches me.”
His brows furrow. “Why not?”
“Because that would be insane.”
“Lily.” A heavy exhale escapes him as he rubs his finger more lightly over the forming bruise on my cheek. “You are precious.” My stomach flutters at his words. “Ridding the world of anyone who’s caused you harm? That’s my duty. If something happened to you—” His voice catches.
“I’m fine.”
“He could have killed you.” Aster’s tortured eyes glisten with an undecipherable expression. Fear? Anguish?
“But he didn’t.” I flatten his free hand against my chest. “I’m right here.”
He shakes his head, fingers flexing against my skin. “If something happened to you, I wouldn’t survive it.”
His admission rattles me to my core. Gone is the teasing flirt, and in its place is a gentle, caring, and fiercely protective man. “You would.”
“You’re wrong.” His eyes are so earnest, I almost believe him. “And I told you from the beginning that guy should be six feet under.”
My gut churns. Because honestly, there’s a small part of me, or rather a large part, that knows he’s right.
Nolan had his chance to straighten out, and instead he beat the shit out of me.
Is that why he started drugging girls, so he didn’t have to hit them instead?
Anger thrums through my body, and tears prick my eyes.
“Hey,” Aster murmurs, slipping his hand into my hair. “I’m not mad at you.”
“No, I know.” I blink them away. “I just think you… you were right about Nolan. What I did wasn’t punishment enough. It didn’t work.”
His expression softens. “I wish you would realize when I recommend permanently deleting someone, it’s not out of bloodlust. It’s because I truly believe it’s what’s best. For you and the rest of the world.”
“I know.” This is all my fault. A heavy knot twists in my stomach. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he assures me.
“If I had listened to you, this wouldn’t have happened.” My eyes fill with moisture, but I blink it away.
“This is not your fault.” He holds my shoulders, eyes boring into mine.
“The only person at fault for hurting you is Nolan. This is his sin, and his alone.” I nod, willing myself to believe Aster’s words.
He lifts my hand, places a kiss on my knuckles, then uses the cotton ball to clean some scrapes off my arms. He tends to my wounds with delicate care, and by the time he’s done, I’ve been able to ease the ache and shame inside.
He removes my boots and socks, then places his hands on both sides of me, situating himself between my legs once more.
“Have you ever considered you put yourself in danger too often?” he asks, lifting me from the counter, maintaining his hold even after my bare feet hit the floor.
“The first time I’d ever been hurt doing Karma work was the night I fell out of the tree.”
“Don’t you try blaming this on me.” He holds my waist, and I find myself fully charged in his presence. His proximity alone steadies me. Gives me strength. Makes me brave.
“If the blade fits,” I say, forcing a teasing tone that fizzles away when he unhooks the buckle of my overalls and they drop to the floor. His soft eyes drag over my skin, awareness skating across it, and his gaze turns hungry when discovering I’m wearing the red lacy panties he mentioned loving.
“Fuck,” he chokes out, dipping his hands under the hem of my tee, fingers grazing my skin as he slides it upwards, discovering the matching red bra and knife garter.
“Baby.” His tone is anguished, and my heart races as heat dances its way up my body.
He releases a heavy sigh, then retreats, causing distance between us.
“You need to shower and wash off your wounds.” My stomach sinks. “I’ll grab you a towel.”
I unclasp my bra, letting it fall to the floor. “You’re not joining?”
His greedy eyes fall to my chest, and he scratches his stubbled jaw. “I want to…”
“But?”
With slow, deliberate steps, I move his way, tension tugging me to him like a magnet.
His gaze plummets to my feet, tracking each stride closing between us, and when my foot hits the floor directly in front of him, his smoldering eyes are on me.
“The willpower to remain a gentleman is exorcized from my body every moment I look at you.”
Adrenaline thrums through me. Tonight was insane, but the last thing I want is to be left alone.
With my thoughts. With these wounds. With the heat pooling between my thighs.
I meant what I said when I told Aster I just wanted a normal night with him.
As normal as possible for Karma incarnate and the self-proclaimed Grim Reaper.
A grin quirks at my lips. “Then don’t be a gentleman. ”
He grips my neck, and I gasp as he tugs me to him, our lips inches apart. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Karma baby.”
Gripping the handle of my dagger, I unsheathe it, then press it flat against his chest. “You asked if you could give me a mark of my own.” His eyes drop to the blade. “And you were such a good boy tonight.”
He bites his lower lip, and my stomach tightens as he rests his hand over mine on his chest, his gaze locked on my naked body. “You don’t know what you’re asking of me.”
Desperate want surges through me. I’ve had so much mundane sex in my life, and when Aster dragged the blade down my back, that was a thrill I’ve never experienced.
My level of horniness should be clinically studied, because a therapist would certainly have loads to say about it.
“Yes.” I slide my fingers in his hair, gripping tight to force his eyes to mine. “I do.”
“Is this really what you want?” His pupils dilate, eyes darkening as his long fingers wrap around mine.
“Undoubtably.” The tension in the room swirls, and I hold my breath, awaiting his response.
He takes the dagger, then prowls around me like a hunter stalking its prey.
His chest presses to my bare back, and he brings his mouth to my ear.
A shiver racks through me when his breath hits my neck.
“First, you’re going to clean my canvas.
” His tone is low and gravelly. He chuckles, the sound rumbling to my bones as heat tugs at my core.
“Then meet me in the bedroom.” He retreats to the door, and my body already aches for his return as he pauses in the frame. “Your safe word is ‘milkshake.’”
I bite my cheek, anticipation racing through me. “You think I’ll need a safe word?”
His eyes rake languidly over my body, a lazy, devilish grin curling on his lips. “Just a precaution.” And he’s gone without another word.
Within five minutes, I shower and disinfect the wounds, and now I stand in front of the mirror wrapped in a warm, plush white towel. I’ve undone my braids and run my fingers through my hair, trying to add volume while doing bogus breathing exercises to hype myself up.
I have no clue what to expect when I step out that door. But if there’s one thing I know, I am fucking crazy about this man.
I’ve tried not to be. Tried to fight my feelings of what I know to be true.
Every person he’s killed did deserve that fate.
And maybe accepting that makes me just as morally questionable as he is.
But I let Nolan off with a warning, and not only did he continue his bullshit, but he also got one lucky chance encounter, and instead of running for the hills, he beat the shit out of me.
I shake away the negative thoughts. Karma business is closed for the night.
Clutching the towel around me, I roll my shoulders back, forcing confidence, and head towards the bedroom. Soft music floats through the air as I nudge the door open to the dim candlelit room.