Page 57 of Sheltered by the Lawman

He wondered how it was possible that she could seem so modest when in her line of work, modesty wasn’t a virtue. “I don’t mind. I guess this is turnabout fair play after I saw you naked.”

“Oh.” Through the mirror he could see her flushed profile. “I had forgotten.”

He ducked under the water again to get any remaining suds off. She still stood there with her back turned to him.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Finishing my shower.”

“Your phone rang three times so I brought it in here and put in on the sink. I thought it might be important.”

“Thank you.” He shut off the water. “Would you mind handing me a towel?”

She reached behind her, grabbed a folded towel from the rack and handed it to him, all the while keeping her eyes forward. “What are we doing here, Cull?”

“I’m drying off and you’re keeping your back to me,” he said flatly.

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I do. I’ve been tortured before and nothing stacks up to the torture of you and I dancing around the elephant in the room.” He knew it was best just to speak honestly.

“The elephant in the room?”

“The attraction between us.”

She was quiet for a long moment. “I’ll meet you in the living room.” She closed the door.

His body was hard…again.

He closed his fingers around his shaft and squeezed firmly, stroking the firm muscle up and down, until he swelled to bursting point. What would Monica feel like? What would she feel like wrapped around him?

A lot better than his hand.

He dropped his hand and stepped out of the tub. She had him in tangles. He dragged the towel around his hips and knotted it.

When he stepped into the living room, she was asleep on the couch. Her breathing was rhythmic, and her eyes rolled under her eyelids as if she were dreaming. Did she fall asleep early so she wouldn’t have to face him?

Grabbing the soft blanket off the back of the couch, he laid it over her carefully not to disturb her.

It was for the best they didn’t face each other anymore tonight. It was hard telling what they’d do.

Slipping into his boots, he stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air. The moon was shining brightly and there were a thousand stars which helped light his way as he started down the stairs to give the property one last check before he settled in.

He hadn’t made it to the last step when he saw something white stuck in the mud from the heavy downpour. Bending over the item, he looked closer. Taking out his phone, he used the flashlight to shine on what he realized was a cigarette butt. What the hell? Could Donny have been here smoking? Cull had never known the man to wander up to the houses.

Standing, he took a quick glance around the property, not that he expected to see anyone. Obviously, the butt had been there for a while. Anger splashed through his bloodstream as he put the pieces together. Someone was here, someone who didn’t belong. Had they been watching Monica? Was it the same person who tried to kill her? All indications pointed to yes.

How did they get on the property without being seen?

How did the bastard get in?

Retracing his steps back into the apartment, he sat on the chair and readied himself to sleep in the too narrow chair all night so he could watch over her. After an hour and he still couldn’t sleep, he stood and moved to her. Without waking her, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom, carefully placing her in the middle of the bed. She mumbled something that he couldn’t understand.

He climbed in beside her and brought the cover over them and tucked his arm over her waist possessively.

“I was sleeping on the couch so you could have your bed,” she said in a sleepy voice.

“There wasn’t enough room on the couch for the both of us.”

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