Page 77 of Newton

Beck helps me with my hair, shampooing and conditioning it the best he can with the low water pressure the motel room provides. He steps out and grabs my loofah from my bag and my body gel before soaping up my body in the most economical way possible. He makes no overtures despite it being clear that even upset with the threat of death hanging over our heads, he's still attracted to me.

I stand back while he washes himself, his hands a lot rougher on his own skin than they ever have been on mine, and when he's done, he urges me out of the shower and runs the thin towel provided over my skin.

"You deserve a better hotel," he mutters.

"This is fine," I answer, knowing why we're here rather than a place that would require a credit card on file.

He drove around for nearly an hour before finding this place, and I know there was purpose in that as well. He had to make sure that we weren't being followed.

He dries himself quickly before pulling clothes from my bag and helping me into them.

I feel precious and cared for as he tends to me, and I follow him into the bedroom part of the room. He tugs sweats and a t-shirt from his own bag, getting dressed quickly.

Pressing a palm to my back when he approaches, he urges me toward the bed.

I freeze when a thump hits the door from the outside.

"Easy," he says. "That's someone from my team."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, baby. I never would've left us both vulnerable in the shower if I didn't have someone out there."

I climb into the bed, reveling in his warmth when he slides between the sheets with me.

When he wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest, I cling to him, more tears leaking from my eyes.

I don't deserve any of this. I haven't earned the love he's offering, but I find myself being incredibly selfish at the moment.

I know I could easily get lost in him again the way I did back in New Mexico, but there is no bubble here in the middle of Ohio. Pretending that the evil world I've been a part of nearly my entire life doesn't exist would be foolish.

"Thank you for not giving up on me," I whisper against his chest.

"I need you to know that I never will," he vows. "No matter what happens. You're mine until my last breath."

I believe him, God, do I believe this man. Somehow it also feels like punishment because I've learned that wanting things and having things only leads to disappointment when they're gone. But I also know life is short, and finding someone who cares so deeply doesn't happen every day.

"I haven't decided if you're brave or stupid," I mutter, my fingers curling into his chest. "The way you just walked up and knocked on that door. You could've gotten yourself killed."

"It all worked out how it was supposed to," he whispers as his hand traces circles on my back.

"I wanted to go to you. It was so hard not to run into your arms," I confess.

He squeezes me tighter, and it tells me that he had doubts, that I played my part as Nathan's daughter and my loyalty to my family very well.

"I'll take the love you're offering for as long as you're willing to offer it," I say, knowing that there's a chance there will come a time that he decides I'm not worth the risk, and I'll have to be okay with it.

Silence swarms around us, and I know both of us need sleep but neither of us will get any tonight.

"This is far from over," I murmur, my body finally accepting that although I may not be safe in the long run, I'm safe at this moment in his arms. "Nathan isn't the type to just give up."

"I know, baby, but you have some pretty amazing men and women willing to fight to protect you."

I pull in a deep breath, wanting to argue my worth once again but knowing it will get me nowhere right now.

"Cerberus is my family, and since I love you that makes them your family too. We protect our family."

"I feel like I betrayed all of them," I confess. "With the way I snuck out of the courthouse."

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