Page 83 of Delicate Escape

Listening carefully, I didn’t hear anything—no signs of another soul stirring, not even the kittens. It was too early, even for them.

I opened the door to the dark hallway. The only glow was from the slight warming outside the kitchen window. The sun wasn’t up yet, but a sliver would likely appear in the next thirty minutes or so. At least I’d have light to tackle my chores.

Padding down the hall barefoot, I stilled next to Shep’s door. Closed. I gripped the top of my towel harder because my fingers so badly wanted to reach for that doorknob. Wanted to twist and dare to step inside.

Instead, I moved toward the bathroom. Sighing, I opened the door. And came face-to-face with a wall of Shep.

I let out a strangled squeak as I took him in. I’d gotten a snapshot before. A peek at the wall of muscle, but I’d never had a view like this. This close, I could see every dip and ridge. The dusting of hair across his chest. The way those defined pecs dipped into rippled abs. I swore there were way more than six.

And then that V. I nearly swallowed my tongue at the sight of the muscle that disappeared into a low-slung towel.

Holy hell.

“Morning, Thorn,” Shep said, his voice husky.

My gaze shot to his face. “I-I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were up. I mean, I didn’t know you were in here. I’ll just go?—”

“You’re fine.” His amber eyes danced with amusement.

“It’s not funny,” I hissed. “I could’ve walked in on you in the shower.”

“You would’ve gotten an epic concert then.”

Annoyance flamed brighter. At his casualness and the fact that he wasn’t nearly as affected as I was. “Haven’t you heard of locking the door?”

Shep moved into my space. The heat still clinging to his skin from the shower wafted off him in waves. It was a heady, thick heat. A drugging one. He was without the usual sawdust scent that clungto him, but the cedar was still there, even stronger now. It had to be his bodywash or shampoo.

I had the sudden urge to sniff every bottle that resided in my shower. Use every single one so I could carry Shep with me all day. I was officially losing it.

Shep leaned even closer, reaching behind me and twisting the knob. “Lock’s broken. I could fix that for you, but I’d be sad to miss out on future surprise visits.”

I sucked in a breath. He was close. So close it felt like the tiniest breeze would send us colliding into each other.

Shep’s gaze dropped to my mouth, then lower, taking all of me in. I watched in fascination as those amber eyes heated. But then they froze—not on the swell of my breasts or my exposed legs, but on my arm.

The heat in Shep’s eyes vanished in a blink. Suddenly, they were ice-cold. “He. Hurt. You.”

I jolted in surprise, glancing down at myself and following his line of sight. There, on my arm, was a distinctive handprint bruise. You could see the outline of four fingers as clear as day.

Shit.

I’d always bruised easily, but this was something else. I knew Russ had grabbed me hard. I just hadn’t thought it would be this bad.

My focus shifted back to Shep. His chest rose and fell in ragged pants, his hands clenching and flexing around nothing but air as he struggled for control. I moved into him then, not caring that we wore nothing but towels or that this level of anger should’ve sent me running for the hills.

All I cared about in that moment was easing the fury running through Shep, the pain. I lifted a hand and pressed it to his face. “It’s nothing. I’m totally fine.”

“You’re notfine,” he ground out. “You’ve got fuckingmarkson your body.”

“Marks that will fade in a matter of days. I’ve always been an easy bruiser.”

Shep’s eyes finally came to me. The coldness was gone, but hot anger had taken its place. “I should’ve done more than break his nose.”

I slid my hand down to the back of his neck, squeezing. “No, you shouldn’t have. And I’m pretty sure he’ll be staying far away from me for the foreseeable future.”

Shep lifted his hand, his gaze moving to my arm. With featherlight fingers, he traced the bruises. “This never should’ve happened.”

“No, it shouldn’t have. But bad things happen. That’s life. I’m lucky that I had five people at my back last night. Five people who took care of the problem and made sure I was okay. But most of all, I’m lucky I hadyou.”

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