Page 29 of Filthy and Dirty with my Captors

She rolls her eyes. “You’re a dick.”

“Oh yeah?” I swallow down a grin. “Is this our first fight?”

“Second. I was pretty pissed when you kidnapped me. You can still make things right, though. You can drive me into town and prove you respect women and they’re right to choose what’s right for them.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit,” I say, laughing under my breath.

“It’s not bullshit!” Her arms cross over one another as water drips onto the concrete floor. “I’m serious. You have no right to tell me any—”

“Do you remember that night we had together before I took over my grandpa’s repair shop?”

She nods shallowly, tracing her thumb against the inside of my palm. “I told you how much I admired that you were the only guy I’d ever known that was rooted so firmly. You had a place where you knew you belonged. You always did.”

“And I told you I didn’t want that. I wanted something wild. A crazy adventure I could look back on when I was old and gray.” I glance toward her. “I did the responsible thing. I’ve been running my grandpa’s shop. I took a small mom and pop and turned it into a place folks drive miles for. But at the end of the day, I still need that adventure, and you’re it, Birdie. You always have been, always will be.”

She rests her head on my shoulder. “I love you, Owen.”

“I love you more, Birdie. That’s why I’m selling my grandpa’s shop to pay the penalty toFantasy Driver.”

“What?” She’s standing again, her brows narrowed. “You can’t do that.”

“I can. I’ve got a mechanic who’s interested in the place right now. I’ll have enough left over to send you to nursing school, and maybe even get you some new sketchpads to get drawing again. Paints too. Moose needs help around here, anyway. Let the guys and I take care of you while you pursue the things you love.”

“No.” She reaches for my hands, and I stand, pressing our soaking bodies together. “You’re the sweetest guy in the world to offer that, but I’d hate myself if you sold your shop for me.”

“And I’d hate myself if you went through with this whole thing because you didn’t want to pay the penalty charge.”

“It’s one night. In one night, all this will be over with, and we can go on with our lives and never talk about any of this ever again.” She tips up onto her toes and kisses my lips gently. “Your grandpa worked his ass off to keep that shop up and running. It needs to stay in the family.” A crash of thunder forces her to jump, pulling her body tighter against my chest.

This is what I want. I want to protect her, hold her, and care for her. I want us all to work together to grow a family. I want to give her everything life has to offer and more.

I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly. I’ve done this all wrong. I kidnapped the wrong person.I should’ve taken the asshole who won the bid.

Chapter Twelve

Rosie

I lean back in the tub and rest my head against a rolled towel. The water is still steaming hot, and though the shampoo I poured in to make bubbles isn’t creating the fizziest bath, my skin feels extra moisturized, and the room smells clean and fresh.

After the freezing cold rain, the warm cocoon I’ve built feels really good, but I’m still a little shook up by Owen’s offer to sell his grandpa’s shop. Never in a million years would I ever let him go through with it, but the offer alone has me overthinking how big a deal all this virginity stuff is to him.

Maybe I should think about how I could get out of the contract with Fantasy Driver.I mean, maybe my virginity does mean something more than I’m giving it credit for.

I space out, trying to think of ways to ditch the contract, but outside of taking a loan, which no one would ever give me, there are not a lot of options.

A heavy knock hits the door, followed by a deep voice that’s immediately comforting. “You decent?”

I glance down at my naked body barely covered by the suds of three small bubbles. “Not really, but…”

“I can come back,” Moose says, his tone thick with something I can’t describe any other way than emotional, which isn’t the normal for him.

“No, you’re good. Nothing you haven’t seen at this point.” I laugh nervously, pushing the suds down over my stomach that suddenly feels bloated.

The door creaks as he pushes it open and glances toward me. “Shit, you’re really naked.”

“Yeah, I’m… in the tub. Do you bathe with your clothes on?”

“No, I shower.”

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