Page 12 of Whiskey Run Heroes

I knew it. I knew what she needed. This is always the first thing someone wants to do when they’ve been through something like this.

I take my time and wash her hair first, rubbing my fingers through her scalp. Her moan is my undoing, and my cock is hard between my legs. It’s fine, I tell myself. It’s an honest reaction, but I’m not going to act on it. I push my hips away from her and wash down her back, her butt, and her legs. I do my best to be professional and not let my hands linger along the way. I stand up and prepare myself for what comes next. “Turn around,” I tell her.

She does, slowly, and when she’s facing me, her eyes wide, I know she’s reacting to my touch. The pulse at her neck is thumping so hard. Her body is trembling even in the warmth of the heated water.

I grab another washcloth and wash her face first, gently swiping across her face where her bruises and cuts are. I then move to her neck when her hand goes over mine. “I can do it.”

I swallow thickly. I know I should let her. I’m only supposed to be in here to make sure she doesn’t fall. But I need this, and I think she does too. “Please let me, Brook.”

She doesn’t understand, but she doesn’t stop me. She nods, and then I continue washing her, across her chest, down her stomach, between her thighs, and down her legs. My stroke is soft but thorough. I inspect her ribs, and already there is bruising and swelling. Her thighs and legs are covered in bruises, and I swear there is a handprint on her hip. I shudder inside, wanting to know what happened, but unable to word it. Not yet.

I rinse her off and reach outside the shower for two towels. My cock is hard, painfully hard, but I ignore it. I know she sees it, but I continue on as if there’s nothing happening. I wrap the towel around my waist and then dry her off from head to toe. I pick up the T-shirt I grabbed for her earlier and slide it over her head and down her body and then help her step into her panties.

“I’m sorry, I only have a comb,” I tell her as I pull it through the strands of her hair.

“Isn’t Logan waiting for us?”

I shrug. “He can wait.”

I finish her hair and then help her to my bed, pulling back the covers for her to get in.

“No, I can sleep on the couch.”

“You can sleep here,” I tell her, leaving out the part that I’ll be joining her later. I need her in my arms tonight.

She sits on the bed and then lies back. I pull the covers over her body. “Rest. I’m going to get an update, and then I’ll bring Logan in.”

She can barely hold her eyes open, and I know she’s about to fall asleep. I should probably have Logan check her out, but I know she doesn’t have a concussion, so I’m going to let her rest for a bit. She’s been through a lot for the night, and I want her to breathe for a minute.

I lean down and kiss her forehead. “I’ll be back. Holler if you need me.”

She nods and is drifting to sleep before I get dressed and get to the door.

7

BROOK

I wince as I try to roll over in bed. The pain in my side is unbearable if I move a certain way. My head pops up, and suddenly it all comes back to me. The men at the restaurant, the beating, and Walker carrying me in here. A hand covers mine. “How are you feeling?”

My head jerks to the side, and Walker’s sitting in a chair next to the bed, watching me.Oh my God, I showered naked in front of him.Clearly, I wasn’t thinking right. I lower my eyes. “I’m fine.”

My gaze goes to his thighs, and I quickly look away. I’ll never, ever be able to see him again without thinking about being in the shower with him. He was hard. It was obvious, but I’m sure that’s just a normal reaction to the situation. At least that’s what I’m chalking it up to.

He squeezes my hand, and I wait for him to let go, but he doesn’t. “I need to ask you something before Logan comes in.”

I sit up in the bed, refusing to give in to the pain. “Oh my gosh, I fell asleep. He’s been waiting forever. I’m so sorry.”

Walker’s shaking his head and gets up to sit down next to me. His hip is positioned next to my leg, and he’s surrounding me as he puts one arm on the mattress next to me. “He can wait.”He takes a deep breath, and his voice softens. “Brook, I need to know... I saw bruising on your thighs and—well, did they... touch you?”

I gulp. I had wondered when they had me tied up if that was part of their plan. I tried not to show it, but I was scared to death at the time. “Are you asking if they raped me?”

His jaw tightens, and he nods.

“No, they didn’t. They only hit me and kicked me.”

His body tautens next to me, and I can feel the fury in him. Walker is a formidable, intimidating man to most people. I’ve never been scared of him before, but right now he even frightens me. I need to know. “Did they catch them?”

He shakes his head. “Not yet.”

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