Page 159 of Wicked Dreams

He doesn’t react.

I keep my attention on his face. He soaks a washcloth in warm, soapy water, and runs it over my arm. I let him care for me. God knows I can’t do it myself.

He takes his time cleaning my arm. And then he runs the washcloth over my shoulders, up my neck. Down my chest. He unclips my bra, tossing it over his shoulder. Re-soaks the washcloth.

Water runs down my body, and I shiver.

He washes away Ian’s harshness. His hand on my arm, around my throat. His Italian fucking leather loafer in my stomach.

And when Caleb’s done, he steps between my legs and kisses me softer than I could’ve imagined.

But… we’re not meant to be soft.

I lean into him, stifling my moan of pain. He holds me back, hands featherlight on my shoulders.

“Kiss me like you mean it,” I demand.

He hesitates. “You’re hurt. The responsible thing would be to take you to the hospital.”

“Tomorrow. Tonight, you can make me forget. Please.”

Caleb’s lips part. I press forward, catching his lower lip in my teeth.

And.

I.

Tug.

He lets out a groan.

But… he doesn’t give in like I hoped. Instead, he pulls back, shooting me a look.

“You’re trouble.” He shakes his head and motions for me to stand. His gaze goes to my chest.

I forgot I was shirtless.

Slowly, I bring my arm up and cover my breasts.

He frowns, but for once, he doesn’t argue. He goes to his dresser, fishing around in a drawer for half a second before he’s back with a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. His dresser because he lives here… in Eli Black’s home.

I’ve been down here before. Drunk, delirious, half-unconscious.

I take the clothes he offers and bring the shirt up to my nose. I don’t know why I do it with him watching me. Maybe I secretly like keeping him off guard.

Maybe it isn’t a secret.

His lips twitch when I inhale.

It smells like him. His cologne. I slip the shirt on, the fabric concealing my face as I raise my arms. It hides my wince. He leans against the doorframe. I drop my skirt and slide his shorts on. If I wasn’t hurt, I’d be enjoying this more.

As it is, Lenora and Robert are probably going to kill me.

“Did you tell Robert after you found me?”

We both sit on the couch. There’s light coming in through the narrow windows toward the top of the basement walls. The windows are ground level. The curtains are open. I forgot, momentarily, that it’s still daytime.

He grimaces. “I actually called Eli. He’s going to have Riley talk to Lenora. But I told Robert in school that something was wrong, and I was going to track you down.”

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