Page 13 of Gunnar

“But --”

Gunnar cut me off. “Butif someone comes after us, we’ve got backup. And I’ll protect you with my life. No one’s gonna hurt you again, Pippa.”

The sincere determination on his face settled something inside me. I was still kind of numb -- I was still a little woozy from the lingering effects of the drug I’d been given -- but it was easier to relax. The shower I was getting ready to take might actually make me feel human on the outside now that my insides were feeling better.

“OK.” It was an inane thing to say, but I believed everything Gunnar said. With my whole being.

He gave me the most heartbreakingly gentle smile I’d ever seen, and tears threatened to overwhelm me. “OK,” he whispered.

I took the clothing Mama had given me into the bathroom and shut the door, leaning back against it. I took in great gulps of air as I slid to the floor, my legs no longer able to support me. I wanted to cry. Wanted to scream and rage against the whole fucking world and people who could do such evil to other people for money. Maybe I had more of my dad in me than my mother wanted because, right now, I wished those bastards were still alive so I could kill them myself.

I forced myself to take several deep breaths, trying to calm the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. The urge to break down was strong, but I knew if I started crying now I might not stop. And I desperately wanted to feel clean again.

With my body trembling, I pushed myself up off the floor and started peeling off the clothing I’d been given after Mama’s exam. The need to feel human again overrode my exhaustion. If I sat on the floor of the shower and fell asleep, at least some more of the grime would be gone.

I avoided looking in the mirror, not wanting to see how awful I looked or how badly my hair was tangled. Instead, I focused on turning on the shower and adjusting the temperature. My hair hung below my waist in a long, thick mass of curls. There was no doubt in my mind I’d have to cut at least some of it, if not just fucking shave it all. Which, as I touched the tangled, knotted mess now, I admitted to myself wasn’t the worst idea. In fact, I’d put the likelihood of me buzzing it all off at some point in the coming minutes as more probable than possible.

As I stepped under the hot spray, I let out an involuntary sob. Yeah, I needed that breakdown to happen later rather than sooner because I had the feeling if it happened now, I’d have a man I didn’t know in the shower with me whether I wanted him to be or not. Though I’d admired him earlier, I wasn’t in any shape mentally or physically for what would happen if he decided to make good on the old lady stuff.

The water felt heavenly against my skin, washing away any lingering grime and fear. Needing to feel clean, I’d turned the water as hot as I could stand it. I stood there for several long minutes, just letting the water sluice over me before reaching for the shampoo. Three washings later, my hair started to feel clean again, though I probably would have to do it again later. My arms were too heavy to continue. I did manage to work some conditioner through what wasn’t matted together, but only because I knew there wouldn’t be a snowball’s chance in hell of working the knots out otherwise.

As I turned the water off, there was a knock at the door. “Pippa?”Knock. “You all right?” Another knock.

“Um, yeah.” My voice shook. More from exhaustion than fear. “Just a little wobbly.”

“Did you fall?” There was alarm in his voice. “I’m coming in!”

“No, wait!”

The door was shoved open. I’d locked it on reflex, but this guy broke the door facing with alarming ease. His gaze tracked the small room, looking for threats before focusing on the floor. He read the room so fast it had to have been instinct. “Did you slip? Are you hurt?” When he brought his gaze to me, he eyed me with a clinical gaze until he realized I wasn’t hurt.

I stood sideways with one arm over my breasts and one frantically reaching for a towel, which was when I finally did lose my footing. With a cry, I toppled sideways. Right into Gunnar’s waiting arms.

Chapter Five

Gunnar

I was gonna die. And I was going to hell. I had a naked woman in my arms. One who had been the sole focus of my existence for four weeks. The same woman I’d sworn to my only friend I’d give the protection of my property patch and make her my old lady. Everything in me was screaming to take care of her, not to objectify her or even look at her as anything other than a young woman who was hurting and vulnerable. Unfortunately, my dick didn’t get the Goddamned message.

“I’m so sorry!” Pippa clung to me, breathing hard. She kicked out, trying to get her feet under her, but I lifted her with my arm around her waist. She sucked in a breath, her eyes going wide. “Gunnar?” That breathless whimper was the only thing keeping me from seeing how far she let me take us. But there was no way she was able to consent to anything. And I wasn’t nearly ready my own damned self.

“Are you OK?” My voice was a husky groan as need punched through my body like a spear.

She nodded, looking up at me. I couldn’t tell if she was frightened or not, but instead of resting passively in my arms, she gripped my shoulders and pulled herself closer to me. Her breasts were mashed against my chest, and I couldn’t stop myself from shuddering.

“Words, honey.” I cleared my throat. “I need words.”

“Yes.”

I sat her on the vanity and snagged a towel from the shelf over the toilet. I wrapped the towel around her shoulders and snagged another one to wring her hair out. She tucked the terry cloth under her arms to hold it in place.

Pippa trembled slightly as I gently squeezed water from her long hair with the towel. Her eyes never left mine, wide and uncertain. I tried to focus on the task at hand and not on how soft her skin looked or how badly I wanted to touch her because no matter how much I wanted to, it simply wasn’t happening.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble.” Her lower lip trembled even as she smiled. “And for getting you wet.”

I grinned back at her. “You could never cause any trouble, honey. And I’m the one who barged in here.” I winced. “Probably overreacted.”

“You were worried about me?”

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