Page 24 of Hayes
“You can put me down now.”
His eyes drop playfully to my body, something mischievous in his bright green eyes.
I follow his gaze and realize I’m naked. Blood streaks across my stomach and breasts, coating my hands.
“How about a bath?” he asks.
I nod, not sure what else to say.
With a sweet smile, he carries me into the bathroom. He flicks on the tub with his foot, never putting me down. His eyes meet mine, keeping his gaze from rolling over my naked body.
Hmm.
The water fills, and we both just stare at each other in silence. I wait for him to ask what happened or to explain why he took me or what we’re doing here, but he doesn’t.
Instead, he starts humming brightly. He’s so nonchalant; it’s like he’s waiting on his coffee, not waiting for a tub to fill so he can clean the blood off me. I would ask why he has any interest in me at all, except it’s clear that after we kissed, he thinks he owns some part of me like every man here does. Maybe he’s even looking for another freebie, just trying to avoid paying for me.
Yes, that must be it.
The tub fills, and he once again turns it off with his foot.
“I’m going to lower you into the tub. I want to stay, since I don’t think you should be alone right now, but I’ll leave if you’d prefer some privacy.”
I narrow my eyes in confusion as I stare up into his. “Privacy,” I say.
He nods, his jaw tensing and his smile vanishing.
I watch his face carefully as he lowers me gently into the tub. He doesn’t look at my naked body as he does it. The warmth of the tub caresses my aching body and soothes my soul. But even with the warm water, I start trembling at the sight of my bloody hands the second I leave Hayes’s arms.
Soon, my entire body is trembling so much that the water is splashing against the sides of the tub.
Hayes reaches in and takes my hand in his. He grabs a washcloth and begins scrubbing the blood from my right hand, washing it away so quickly I’m not sure it was ever there. Quickly, he does the same to my left.
I stare at my hands, shaking a little less but still shaking.
Hayes takes my right hand again and begins rubbing my palm in slow circles with the pad of his thumb. Then he just waits with me, waits for the stillness to return.
I close my eyes to avoid staring at the red-hued water and let my head fall back against the edge of the tub. Hayes doesn’t leave like I initially requested, but he does give me privacy with my thoughts. I don’t feel his bright stare on me; I just feel his hand on mine. It sends warm tingles through my body that, for once, I welcome.
And then I’m back in that room.
Harvey’s jet-black eyes staring at me with a hunger and cruelty I’ve never seen before in a man. His snicker as he stares at me tied to the bed. The shine of the knife he pulls from his pocket. The applause and cheers as he shows what he plans to use to undress me.
My stomach knotting, and my breathing shaky as he used that knife to slice through my dress like it was paper. Him letting the blade slip too close to my skin and laughing as he nicked my soft belly.
I wince like it’s happening again.
It won’t ever happen again.
My eyes fly open, and I’m back in the bathroom. Hayes is still holding my hand.
“Why did you take me?” I shout at Hayes.
He grins. He fucking grins at me.
“What?” I ask.
“You, Lilith. You’re incredible. I save you from possibly being murdered, and you act like I was the one who ripped your clothes off and threatened your life.”
