Page 13 of Wicked Games of Desire

The sound of rustling paper tells me Maddox has done as he’s asked and dumped the bags they came in with near Ricky, but I don’t lift my head to look their way. This is too humiliating.

“Let me help you,” Ricky offers when he sees I’m still trembling from the cold. Making sure the water is warm and the temperature is adjusted, his eyes run over me, a flash of heat as he meets my gaze. And I know what he’s seeing—everything. There is no hiding my body in this soaked shirt. But that look felt like more than him just being a perv, because for some unknown reason, when his eyes eat me up, I want them to.

“Fuck off, Ricky,” I grumble. What the hell was that look? I’m a drowned rat, and he looks at me like he wants to jump in here with me and warm me up with his body.

“She’s one hostile little kitten. I thought the shower might have cooled her down.” Maddox chuckles at my expense.

Yep, as soon as I get the chance, he’s the one I’m going after first.

Ricky holds a bottle of shampoo in front of my face. “I’ll turn around, but you need to hand me your wet clothes and shower properly. There is shampoo, the kind you like,” he sing-songs, trying to sell the idea to me.

My skin prickles. “What the hell,” I mutter under my breath. This shit is getting creepier by the second. How do they know so much about me?

I take the bottles from him and place them on the tile shelf, waiting for him to turn around before I remove my soaked shirt and panties. I’m not comfortable stripping down to nothing with these thugs in the room with me, but thanks to Maddox, what other choice do I really have? And the truth is, I have been dying to take a shower since I spotted it. Now that the water is warming up, and I have a good leaning position on the wall, it’s bringing my half-dead body back to life.

As I wash my long, tangled mess of raven curls, the air in the bathroom fills with steam and the smell of coconut-scented shampoo.I inhale, letting a small piece of calm and normality slip over me. It’s creepy they know what I like, but it’s also comforting when I feel so fragile. I stay under the warm water longer than I probably should, but neither of them is making a move to stop me, so why not push it? I only decide to shut off the water when I can’t stand to have my leg upright any longer.

I’m handed a fluffy white robe, and I glance in the mirror, wondering if Ricky is copping a look, but he’s got his back to me, scrolling on his phone.

“Can you get her some clothes?” he asks when I come out in the robe, my wet hair dripping all over the place.

Maddox returns, handing me a scrap of fabric disguised as a dress. “Alex wants you to wear this.” He smirks smugly, and I wonder what the fucking joke is.

Form-fitting in a sage-green color, it looks luxurious. It’s been a long time since my skin has seen that kind of high-end fabric. I’ve been rocking pale pink polyester since all my clothes burnt up, along with my father’s house. I run the silky fabric through my fingers, enjoying the softness, but I already know it’s going to be way too tight over my tits and ass. I might be short, but I’m not small by any means, and my curves won’t be squashing into that thing. While I study the dress, I’m handed a pair of lace panties and a bralette. In my exact size. My eyes meet Ricky’s with a shiver down my spine. This is so disturbing.

“Get the fuck out of here, both of you. I’m doing what you wanted. I don’t need you watching me like fucking creepers.”

Ricky leaves, giving me one last lingering look, like he wants to help me get dressed. I’m sure he does, filthy fucker. But Maddox just turns in his place at the doorway, still standing guard like I’m going to try make a fucking run for it with a bullet wound to the thigh in nothing but my robe.

“For fuck’s sake,” I snap, irritation trembling through me.

“You’re behaving like a child, so I’m going to treat you like one,” he mutters, sounding way too happy.

Letting out a huff of irritation, I scan the dress again, wondering how the hell I’m going to get it on alone. I need Ricky’s help, even if I’m too stubborn to admit it. Leaning my hip against the counter as I slip on the bralette and hook it on, I let out a groan of frustration as I try to pull on the thong over my injury, but I do it. Clumsily and nearly smacking my head on the vanity in the process, but they’re on.

Maddox chuckles from his place in the doorway. “Need help there, Lana?”

“Fuck off,” I snap, staring at the back of his blond asymmetric mohawk, wishing I had dagger eyes that could shoot little, tiny knives right into the back of his skull.

Finding the zipper, I undo it and wonder if I should attempt to step in or go over my head. Since the underwear was already difficult enough, I go with the latter. Slipping it on, surprise fills me when the silky fabric falls over my hips without me forcing it. The zipper might not be so cooperative. I reach behind my back, trying to move the thing, but I only make it to my waist before it locks in place. I let out a frustrated sigh. As much as it kills me to admit it, I can’t do it alone, not when I can’t twist without my leg stinging like a bitch.

“Ricky. A little help, please.” I push the please through clenched teeth.

He’s back in the bathroom, quickly ready and eager to help me. He’s like a fucking Labrador, all bouncy, happy and shit. I half expect him to lick my face for the opportunity.

I close my eyes, inhaling a sharp breath. “The zipper,” I mutter.

When I open my eyes, I see the asshole smirk in the mirror. “I’m surprised you got this far alone. I would have been happy to help youinto every item of clothing.” He zips me in, my breasts heaving with the formfitting low-cut V. Jesus, this dinner is going to be all sorts of fun, with me dressed up like a fucking doll.

I meet his gaze in the mirror. His eyes hold a playful edge, and I get the impression he’s trying to lighten the tension Maddox created by messing around with me. “You just proved how much of a perve you are,” I snap back, but I’ve lost the bitchy edge. It’s hard to keep it with him when he’s so happy all the fucking time.

“And here I was, just trying to be a good doctor taking care of my patient. It’s not my fault if she looks like a goddess in a dress.”

My heart kicks up a beat. I know he’s just trying to be nice, but man, a compliment like that can really make a girl feel special. Especially when I know the truth. “I look like death’s daughter who’s been forced into an expensive dress to hide the fact that you guys nearly killed me,” I snip back. I hear Maddox chuckle again.

Despite his compliment, I can tell Ricky agrees with me by the way he shrugs. “You pull off knocking on death’s door like no other, baby doll.” His hand cups my chin, and something passes between us.

I smile back without even meaning to. His happiness is just so contagious.

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