Page 44 of The Shadows We Keep

His rough hand cups my cheek, forcing my chin up, but my gaze drops to his shoulder. The pad of his thumb wipes slowly across my face, removing any remnant of wetness. His gentleness seizes my attention, and I wish it hadn’t, because the eyes staring back at me are full of concern before it breaks into something that looks an awful lot like pride.

The warmth of his hand encasing mine soothes my damaged ego. Tugging me forward, he squeezes us quickly past rows of onlookers. My face heats under their attention, but I keep pace until we’re down the stairs and almost out the front doors.

I stop dead in my tracks. Harkin’s momentum wrenches me forward, but I refuse to budge. “I have to find Stacey.”

His head shakes, unwavering. Ripping my fingers from his grasp, I cross my arms. I would have stomped my foot too, if I thought it would have gotten me any further.

He stalks toward me, filling the space separating us. “She’s fine.” He nods up to the next floor, but I can’t seem to find the strength to turn around and face it. “Robert’s got an eye on her. He knows we’re leaving.”

He doesn’t wait for me to double check his promise. No, his arm snakes around my shoulder as he folds me in next to him before we make our way out of the club and into the night.

NINETEEN

HARKIN

Power Over Me – Dermont Kennedy

There’s no way I’d drop her off to be alone after that scene. I knew she wouldn’t be happy about it, but I figured she could at least handle it. Technically she did, she didn’t move; she didn’t scream, and she didn’t safeword out. When I released her hands and saw the tear sliding down her face—not one from blissed out pleasure—it took my breath away.

“Harkin, I just want to go home.” I don’t acknowledge her plea. Instead, I pull her along down the hall toward my apartment, and then into my bedroom. Her heels dig in at the threshold.

“Trust me. You did earlier.” Reaching up, I run my fingers through her thick locks and grab the nape of her neck, pulling her forehead to mine. Her eyes are glazed, like she’s running on autopilot, but she doesn’t resist the rest of the path into the bathroom.

Leaning her against the counter, I toe off my shoes and unbutton my shirt before flinging it into the hamper. I flick on the taps to the tub, drizzling in the lone bottle of scented oil that was here when I moved into the apartment. The vapor from the hot water mixes with the oil, filling the room with scents of vanilla and something fruity.

“Come here.” She doesn’t move. “Keira!” I say, a little more forcefully, trying to draw her out. Her eyes pop up from the floor, swinging in my direction. Crooking two fingers at her, I motion for her to come instead. She does.

“Arms up.” I grip the hem of her dress and slide it up over her body. The quiet hiss of air between her teeth doesn’t escape my ears. Grasping her shoulders, I turn her body around to face the opposite wall. The red welts crisscross her chalky skin. Something shifts in her demeanor as her body stiffens at my touch. Her hands tighten into fists.

“It’s fine Harkin, just go. I just need some time alone to… regroup.” She steps over the lip of the bathtub, sinking down until the water hits her chin.

I drop to the floor on my knees beside her, snagging a washcloth from the basket. The fabric soaks up the steaming water. Reaching for her hand, my fingers interlace with hers, stretching out her arm for me to rub down. Her chin rests against her knee, her eyes trailing my movements.

“Why didn’t you stop me?” My words break the silence between us.

“I didn’t…” She pauses, swishing her other hand through the water. “It was intense and overwhelming.”

“Then why didn’t you use your safeword?”

“I didn’t want to,” she bites out.

I wasn’t expecting that answer from her reaction.

“I’ve never done anything like that before.” Her confession stills my heart.

“And you just let me… in front of everyone?” Her shoulders shrug. I told her she’d regret running, but after all this I can’t help but feel like the regret is all mine.

Pushing up from the floor, I storm straight into the bedroom, finding the first free object, I chuck it against the opposite wall.

How could I be so fucking stupid?

I should have known. I’m still throwing anything I can get my hands on when wet arms wrap around my middle. Her heated flesh burns my sweat-soaked skin.

“Stop,” she sighs into my back. “I’m fine. I promise.” Her dewy nakedness slithers around to my front. It’s hard not to be distracted by the goddess in front of me. Her soft curves pressed indecently against me. Small hands capture my face and dip my chin, forcing my eyes to focus on her.

“Do I look upset?” I study her face for any semblance of a tell she’s lying. But her genuine concern is the only emotion shining through her topaz eyes.

“Never again,” I murmur against her palm as I drop a swift kiss, my hands reaching out to rest on her hips. “Do you want me to take you home?” My fingers twitch, wanting to pull her in closer, deny her the option to leave my place.

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