Page 12 of Grim

Never thought a man could do that. Make me feel safe. Women either, I mean, that was what got me into this whole mess. Women were just the brains of the operation, while the men followed like little puppies to do their bidding.

I slapped the bathroom floor with my hand in frustration and rubbed my itchy eyes with the other. I pulled my hand back, the fake eyelashes falling into my palm.

Right, shower and get this over with.

The door didn’t lock, so my shower had to be quick. The false sense of security was there, swirling around me. He could change at any moment and be just another man trying to get in my pants. That was just how the world worked.

After the quick shower, I pulled on an oversized sweatshirt; it covered me down to my hips while the black leggings held me tight.

This was the most clothes I’d worn in years. It felt so good to have clothes that warmed my body instead of a thin sheet on a cold floor in nothing but a bralette and lace panties.

I cracked the door open and steam rolled out of the bathroom and into the main room. Grim sat at the kitchen table, his eyes watching like a predator.

“Thank you.” I held onto the bag with my dirty kitten outfit. The chair scraped across the floor, making a loud screech, and I jumped in surprise as he stood in front of me.

Wow, he’s fast.

He held out his hand. It was tanned, dark, riddled with light-colored scars and scrapes except for the finger tattoos across his knuckles. He knew I was looking at him as much as he looked at me.

He took this time to examine me up close, too. I didn’t find his stare lustful or intimidating. For a mysterious reason, I felt drawn to him. Like a moth to a flame.

Maybe it was because he was my rescuer, the one looking out for me. I could paint him as my dark knight because that was what I really wanted.

He leaned in, his hands reaching for the bag, but he was so close I could smell the hint of leather and motor oil on his body. Not to mention the sweat and blood that was stuck to his skin.

He took a giant whiff of my scent, which I’m sure smelled of nothing but antibacterial soap after I scrubbed my body raw. When he backed away, he closed his eyes, purring in his chest. It was a strange sound to come from a man of his caliber.

He wasn’t built to be soft and comforting. He was a wild animal.

Grim took the bag and tossed it into his open trash can and walked to the lone bed near the window. My gut churned, looking at the window.

I hated windows. I rather enjoyed the room I’d stayed in last because there were no windows to worry about. No one could crawl into the room, and I could keep my attention fixed on the door.

Not this time. I had to watch the window, the door, and Grim, too.

Grim pulled down the sheets, which looked really clean. Cleaner and nicer than I’d ever had.

I didn’t remember the last time I slept in the bed. Sleeping on beds was a no at my last prison. We had to sleep on the floor next to it—we weren’t afforded such a luxury.

But this was one bed, and there were two people.

“I can sleep on the floor. I’m used to it,” I muttered. “You’ve done a lot for me already.”

Grim grunted, shaking his head, and nodded to the bed again. The soft mattress beckoned me with its suppleness.

Sleeping in a bed would be so lovely.

But what will he do once I’m in it?

Not arguing, because what was the point? He could lift me and put me there if he wanted. I crawled into it. The warmth of the hoodie and my covered legs made me sigh.

So warm.

Grim leaned over, and I sunk further into the mattress while my body tensed. I waited for him to do something, but he didn’t. Grim lifted the blankets at the end of the bed and tucked them around my body, making a perfect little nest of warmth.

He just tucked me into bed. Like I was a child.

I waited for him to climb into the bed. He only did his manly grunt of approval and backed away.

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