Page 97 of In The Dark
“Okay?” I ask into the curve of her neck. She nods and I detach the shower head, bringing it to her head. I take my time rinsing out the shampoo before I switch it for conditioner, careful as I run my fingers through the long strands. “How’s the water temperature?”
“Like I’m melting, so it’s perfect. Everything is as perfect as it can be.Youare perfect, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get over how wonderful I think you are.” Max sniffs, a new wave of tears filling her eyes. “I thought I was going to die in his room, and all I could think about was you.”
“And to think. A couple weeks ago you threw a book at my head,” I murmur, and her laugh is the shot of serotonin I didn’t know I needed. “Glad you’ve changed your tune so quickly.”
“You have charm, I guess.” Max runs her hands down my back, but I step away from her. “Is everything okay?”
“I want to clean you up.” I brush my fingers over the curve of her cheek. “I want to get the smell of him off you. The feel of him off you. Would that be okay with you, angel?”
“Yes.” Her bottom lip wobbles. “I just… I don’t want to…. I’m sorry, but I’m not ready to?—”
“I would never.” I grab her body wash and squirt a generous portion of it onto her loofah. It smells like flowers and vanilla and good things in the world. “Your body, your choice. Until you tell me you’re okay, I’m keeping my hands to myself.” I drop to my knees, the water running down my back. I carefully hook my fingers around her ankle and rest her foot on my shoulder. “I’d be okay with never having sex again if it meant having you around.”
Max is crying, but I let her have the moments that pass to herself. I don’t try and comfort her. I don’t tell her what she should be feeling. I don’t say a word, taking my time to clean her thighs, her stomach, her arms. I’m gentle when I wash her chest, keeping my touch light and unrestrictive when she tenses under me.
I stay on the shower floor for what could be hours, until the water turns cold and Max’s tears start to dry. I swallow down my own emotion, a war raging in my head while my own hands shake. When I stand and rinse off my palms, fingers pruny and wrinkled, I know I’d do it all again.
“Thank you,” she tells me again, and I kiss her cheek.
“Let’s get you into some warm clothes,” I say, turning off the water and wrapping her in a fluffy towel.
In my room, I grab a sweatshirt and sweatpants for her to put on. Pulling back the covers, I wait until she climbs on the bed before I bring the sheets up to her chin. Downstairs, the front door opens and closes, and Max freezes.
“Hunt?” Leo calls out, and she relaxes. “Where are you?”
“Bedroom,” I answer, turning back to her. “I’m going to have him stay with you while I handle Connor. I’ll come back and check on you soon.”
“I’d like that,” she says.
Leo knocks and waits for me to throw on some jeans and a shirt before he pokes his head in my room. His eyes bounce between Max and me, unaware of how severe the situation is. I didn’t have time to explain it to him in the breakroom, pleading with him to clock out early and meet me back at the house.
And he did, because he’s such a good fucking friend.
“Hey, you two. Is everything okay?”
“No.” I grab my favorite knife from my desk drawer and spin it in my hold. “I need to take care of something in the basement. Can you stay with Max? I don’t want her to be alone.”
“Sure. Yeah. Of course.” Leo nods and kicks off his shoes. “Is it okay if I?—”
“You can come up here,” Max says softly, patting the space next to her. Leo looks at me for confirmation, and I give him a nod.
He might’ve watched me fuck her, but I know he doesn’t have feelings for her. Not like that. I don’t feel jealous when she climbs on the mattress and lets Max rest her cheek on his chest. I don’t feel angry when he strokes his hand up and down her arm and gives me a concerned look.
“Later,” I tell him, moving to the side of the bed where Max is. I kiss her cheek and rest my forehead against hers. “I won’t be long.”
“Are you still going to?—”
“Yes. And I have to be honest with you, Max. This is only the second time in my life I’m going to enjoy doing it.”
“I know.” She tugs on my necklace and sighs. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… make it hurt, Hunter. Make him suffer.”
“I’ll make sure he begs for forgiveness from you before I end him.” I grin and tuck her hair behind her ear. “Welcome to my world, angel.”
THIRTY-FOUR
HUNTER
I paidgood fucking money to put a basement in my Florida home. The waterproof walls, the drainage systems and sump pumps were all worth it for this moment as I walk around Connor’s body hanging from the shackles attached to my ceiling. I grin, doing another lap just because I can.
