Page 94 of Scarred Souls

“You’re lucky I’m high on postorgasmic endorphins; otherwise, I’d be mad at you.”

“Be mad all you want. As long as you’re on the pill, I’m going to keep taking this pussy bare.”

“You’re such an arrogant son of a bitch.” She shook her head, but the small smile playing on her lips told me she wasn’t all that upset. “Do you have something against condoms?”

“No. I’ve always used them. I just don’t want to with you.”

“Why not?”

I shrugged. “Doesn’t feel right, I guess.”

Because even the thinnest of barriers between us was too much. I was certain that said something about my current mental state, but I refused to think about it right now.

I inspected the red handprints on Hope’s ass. They’d disappear in an hour or two, and as sexy as they looked on her skin, seeing them filled me with the urge to take care of her.

I pulled out and tucked myself back into my jeans, then I snatched a hand towel from the rack, wet it under the faucet, and crouched at Hope’s feet.

“Can I turn around now?” she asked.

“No.” I ran the damp cloth up each of her legs.

Hope flinched when I reached her pussy. “It’s cold.”

“Any pain?”

“A little tender and I’m not mad about it.”

One side of my lips tilted up. “That’s my girl.” There were those words again. Christ. I really was in trouble. Finished cleaning, I tossed the cloth into the sink. “Right. Up straight. Arms at your sides.”

Hope gave me a curious look but obeyed. I wrapped her from shoulders to knees in a large bath towel, pinning her arms in, then scooped her up, bridal style.

A surprised laugh erupted from her. “Is this really necessary?”

I headed for Hope’s bedroom, unable to look away from her beautiful face still flushed from the orgasms I’d given her. “Which part? Turning you into a human burrito or carrying you to your room?”

“Both.”

I wasn’t ready to give her space, and I couldn’t risk her touching me. This was my solution.

“Yeah. They’re necessary.”

I laid Hope on the bed, unwrapped the towel, and tucked the bedsheet around her.

“I like that you’re making an effort to take care of me. But it’s okay. I know this isn’t the part where we cuddle and fall asleep together.” She threw the words I’d used a few nights ago back at me. She couldn’t be more wrong.

“Actually, it is.” Although probably not in the way she was expecting.

Lying beside her but on top of the covers, I spooned Hope while keeping her arms against her chest. Her hair tickled my nose as I nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.” The way her voice caught made me happier than it should. Her contented sigh made me happier still.

Holding Hope like this felt…fuck, it felt good. I released the tight breath that had been trapped in my lungs and allowed myself to enjoy this glimmer of a seminormal moment. We weren’t skin to skin—that would never happen. But if someone had told me a week ago that I’d be curled up in bed with a woman I cared about, I’d have erupted in fits of laughter like the Joker.

Finding Hope was an unexpected gift I didn’t deserve. Would she want anything to do with me once we’d taken down her father? I didn’t want to think about that right now.

She wriggled her ass against me.

“You wanna stop that, because I’m more than ready to give you another thorough fucking.”

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