She wiggled out of my touch and returned to the sink, rinsing her mouth out. “I’m getting in the shower now.”

“No. Have a seat on the toilet.”

She did as she was told. I grabbed my toothbrush off the sink.

“Ritchie, can’t you let me just wash the lower half of my body?”

I pushed the toothbrush up and down my teeth and around my mouth. A burst of mint filled my mouth. It felt good. “No,” I muttered around the toothbrush.

She didn’t say another word, just waited until I finished brushing my teeth.

“Time to come out of those soiled clothes.”

“Ritchie, don’t.” Tori raised her hands, trying to keep me at arm’s length.

I grabbed her hand and led her toward the shower. Surprisingly, she reached for my boxers with one hand and tugged them down my hips. I pushed them the rest of the way down my legs. My cock sprung to attention. It shouldn’t have. How could I want to fuck her in our wounded state?

“Ritchie, I can’t believe you’re hard for me.” A smirk pulled at her swollen lips.

“The bruises don’t stop me from wanting to fuck you into next week.”

She laughed. “It’s sweet you’re still attracted to me.”

“I got you back. Tonight, we’ll fall asleep to a movie of your choice.”

Her eye widened. “Seriously?”

“Yes. We’ll sleep in one of the bedrooms upstairs until our bed arrives tomorrow for our bedroom. We need a wider bed so we can heal properly.”

“Sounds good. I’m so tired,” she admitted.

I pulled the sports bra gingerly down her stomach. Leaving it there, I yanked the cargo pants off her. The look of discomfort held firm on her face.

A strong, pungent urine smell hit my nostrils as her pants hit the floor.

“Please, let me shower alone.”

“Hell, no,” I yelled.

That sick fucks actions were getting under my skin more and more.

“Baby, I’ll wash him off of you.”

She nodded, unable to stop the tears from falling. I hated she was in his presence at all. The thought of crushing him like a bug calmed me. That thought was the only thing stopping me from tossing on my pants and pulverizing him.

I slipped the sports bra the rest of the way down her body, then threw it aside.

“Place your hand on my shoulder,” I ordered. Lowering to my knees before her, I lifted each foot and peeled off her socks.

“Ritchie,” she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut as she dug her fingernails into my tender shoulder. Pain radiated through it. I was so banged up. Getting on my knees wasn’t my wisest decision. Nor was going to rescue my woman after I’d been shot several times.

The last thing to remove from her sexy body was the soiled underwear. Holding her gaze, I slid the panties down her thighsand legs, allowing them to drop to the floor. I flung them aside and winced as I stood to my full height.

“I’m going to get you washed up, then I’ll let you sit in the bath for a little while.” I snatched the body washes off the sink.

“Ok.” Hand on the small of her back, I guided her steps into the shower.

I closed the glass door behind us and got to work. Lathering one of the washcloths I found in the shower cubby, I doused it with body wash. I washed her mound first.