Page 21 of Fight For Her
The urchin theme overwhelmed the space, and purple. So much purple.“Wow, I thought my room was bad.” I hesitated, taking in the space. “Okay, let’s get you cleaned up.”
There were a few piles of clothes strewn across a lounge chair in the corner, and some clothes hanging up in the small bureau. I picked up the first thing I found and examined it. Was it a shirt or a skirt? Holding it at multiple angles, I still couldn’t figure it out, so I tossed it aside to grab the next thing. It was lacy and the size of my palm.
“Do you own any clothing that doesn’t take an engineering degree to figure out?” I kept searching by digging my hand to the bottom of her suitcase but instead of finding a T-shirt I felt something much more interesting—something silicone. I yanked it out to take a peek. Yes, it was a violation of her trust, but I wanted to know what my competition looked like.
It was one of those small rose-shaped vibrators, the kind with the little flicking tip. I’d bet anything she only brought this one because it was her smallest and most discreet. My girl probably had a whole drawer of toys at home.I shoved it back to the bottom of the bag and pushed her clothes over it. Anything else I found was either lacy or not drunken sleepwear appropriate. So I gave up and went into her very purple bathroom, coming back out with a damp washcloth. Kendahl was already laying down by that point, but I knew she’d hate waking up still covered in puke.
She opened her eyes as I dabbed her chin with a cool cloth. “Argh, cold.” Her hand shot out like bullet, pushing me away. “Tired. Going to sleep.”
“Wait.” I sighed. “Let’s just get you out of your clothes, they’re covered.”
In a moment of lucidity, she sat up and leaned forward, bringing her face inches from my crotch. I had to hold her by the shoulders to keep her from face planting right into it. She lifted her arms for me to help her out of her shirt.
You got this. Do not look. Do not linger.
I was holding my breath. It was like I’d never seen a topless woman before. Quickly, like my hands would catch fire if they stayed too long, I yanked her top off, most likely getting more sick in her hair, exposing her black lace bra.The pads of my fingers prickled with the need to feel her skin and to trace the round curves of her breasts spilling out of the top of her bra.
Wait, her skin—she was covered in goosebumps.
“Are you cold, baby?”
Like a robot with an off switch she slumped while murmuring more nonsense. A visceral need to get her warm and settled took hold of me. I undressed her the rest of the way, starting at her heels and ending with pulling her unnaturally tight jeans off, which was not easy. Why did women have to wear their damn pants so tight? My mind lingered on her ass in those jeans earlier, and I guess I found my answer.
Grasping the duvet from underneath her limp body, I wrapped her like a cocoon, making sure she was situated on her side because God forbid she got sick again in her sleep. I’d heard about some miner in my hometown dying that way as a kid. He got wasted and choked on his own vomit in his sleep. His poor wife found him like that when she woke up the next morning. It was one of those town news stories that stayed with me all these years.
After fussing over her for a few more minutes, I realized I needed to go. A pit formed in my stomach thinking about that damn miner. I didn’t want to leave her like this. Her chest rose and fell while shallow breaths escaped her lips. Was I really this anxious of a person that I was watching this woman sleep?Get a grip, man.
My phone buzzed, breaking me out of my spell. I answered, speaking low so Kendahl wouldn’t wake.“Shawn, hey. How’s it going?”
With the background sounds of music and talking, I knew he was still at the bar.
“Good, still at karaoke. Bro, everyone is still talking about you guys. I swear it’s like you’re both celebrities or something. Anyway, I’m jealous. I’m ready to go to bed, but Mia’s drunk and wants to sing.”
In all the chaos of Kendahl getting sick, I had honestly forgotten about the karaoke battle. I guess we left a mark. That stage fright feeling kicked back up in my gut, making me want to toss my damn cookies too. The adrenaline rush of being up there and trying to impress Kendahl drained away the moment I left the bar. I ran a hand through my hair and brought the conversation back to Shawn.
“Lucky you,” I laughed. “I’d come back to see that, but I want to keep an eye on Kendahl a little longer.”
“Yeah? Mia wanted me to see how she’s doing. I didn’t realize she had that much to drink, she can knock ’em back.”
Chuckling under my breath I added, “Yeah, I didn’t realize either, but I guess I pissed her off enough that she wanted to get shitfaced. Anyway, she’s good now. I got her cleaned up and she’s asleep.”
Shawn got quiet for a second. I knew what was coming—one of his lectures. The dude acted like I was a freaking predator sometimes even though he knew me as well as anyone else.
“Just keep your hands to yourself, buddy,” he said.
Knew it.
“Bro, you know I’m a decent guy, right? I’d never take advantage.” Even if everything in me wanted to cradle Kendahl in my arms and feel her skin against mine, but I only thought that part.
His voice lightened up and he laughed. “I know. I just gotta say my piece. When I tell Mia that you’re taking care of her she’s going to screech. She is really rooting for you guys.”
I could picture her screeching right into Shawn’s ear. The image made me chuckle loudly. Kendahl shifted in bed and blinked her eyes.
“Hey, man, I think I woke Kendahl up. Let me see if she needs anything. Have a good night, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I hit end, not waiting for him to reply.
Kendahl sat up a bit and leaned her head against the tufted headboard. Her eyes met mine, her pupils wide in the dim light of the room. The corners of her mouth lifted in a small smile, and my pulse sped up of its own accord.
