Page 69 of Assassin's Obsession

Despite her reserved nature, my boss's wife is going to want to hug Candi when they meet. Catalina's not a stranger, but I still don't like it.

And there's Candi's friends. Bianca. Piper. The other dancers. She's going to want to keep them in her life and spend time with them.

Forcing the spiraling thoughts away, I focus on the way Candi touches each item in the drawer like it's precious. Nothing, not even my need to protect her is going get in the way of enjoying our first night together in our home.

"Would you like to take a shower first?" I look at the bath. "Or maybe we could use the tub and you'll let me wash your hair."

I don't care if it makes me strange, but I have fantasies of washing my woman's beautiful, long hair. Of taking care of her and pampering her in the way she deserves.

She spends so much time taking care of other people. Her mom. Her sister. The other dancers, though I doubt they realize how she lobbies on their behalf with her bestie and their advocate inla famiglia, Bianca De Luca.

Candi stares at me, her eyes wide. "You want to wash my hair?

"Yes."

"No one has done that, not since mommy died." Her expression is blank, not telling me anything about how that makes her feel.

"Will you let me? "

She bites her lip and nods. "Yes, but can we do it in the shower? I don't want to soak in water cloudy with shampoo and conditioner from my hair."

"Good thinking." Since I don't take baths, I wouldn't have thought of that.

I start stripping my clothes off, piling my weapons in the specialty drawer in the vanity for that purpose. There's another drawer just like it in the nightstand on my side of the bed.

Candi's eyes are wide again as she watches the collection of knives and guns go into the drawer. "Wow. I would never have guessed you had that many weapons on you."

"That's the idea." Leaving one of my guns on top of the counter, I close the drawer and press the pad that sets the biometric lock.

The house and our bedroom are as safe as I can make them, but not having a weapon accessible would be as unthinkable as cutting off my own trigger finger.

I remove my boots and stack them side by side on the shoe rack that folds out from the wall. They can remain there until the morning, or I can put them in the closet with my others. Either way, no one will trip over them and knock them askew.

The fold-down shoe rack is part of my accommodation for living with another person.

After removing my shirt, I fold it and place it in the laundry hamper built into the vanity.

Unstrapping the ultralightweight body armor I require my entire crew to wear at all times, I let my eyes roam overmia amate. "You're not getting undressed."

She shakes her head, like she's trying to gather her thoughts and pulls the long sleeved t-shirt over her head, revealing the bodysuit underneath.

"You need warmer clothes." And better ones, but I don't say that out loud.

All of my clothes are made with silk or impact resistant materials, if not a blend of both. The strongest natural fiber on the planet, using silk is not an indulgence, but a necessity in my line of work.

The clothing hanging in Candi's side of the closet is made with the same high-end fabrics, but it's a hell of a lot prettier than my wardrobe of black t-shirts and cargo pants, augmented with a few bullet proof black suits for when Severu wants me to look the part.

She grimaces. "My clothes are fine. Stop sounding like my mom, or the shower isn't going to be nearly as sexy as I'm anticipating."

Her words run through me like an electric current. Shower and sexy being the ones that stand out.

It only takes me seconds to remove my body armor, adjust the straps for easy access without dangling messily, and lay it parallel to my gun on the counter. Grabbing the back of the neck of my undershirt, I quickly yank it over my head and fold it for the laundry hamper as well, not taking as much care as usual to make sure the rectangle of fabric is symmetrical on all sides.

Forcing myself not to grab it back out of the hamper, I notice that Candi has stopped moving again. Her eyes don't have that far away, zoned out look now. She's staring at me, but it's not how I dispose of my dirty clothes that has her mesmerized.

Her mouth parted slightly, her pretty brown gaze is stuck firmly on my chest.

I don't mind this reverse in our usual situation and flex my pectorals for her. Candi licks her lips, sending blood surging through my already hard cock.

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