Page 59 of Dare
Darejerks me into his arms. “God, Ayda. Jail is not a place for someone like you.”
“Someonelike me?” I mumble into his shirt.
“You’retoo tiny, too sweet to be surrounded by animals in a cell.”
“Therewere a few other women. They didn’t bother me. I felt sorry for them. I’mfine.”
Myphone buzzes in my pocket. “Shit. It’s Lisa. I have to talk to her. If shefires me I won’t be surprised.”
“Youaren’t going back to work until this is over, Ayda,” Dare says.
“Youcan’t tell me where I can go.”
“Thefuck I can’t. If I have to keep you tied to the bed, I’m keeping you safe.”
Turningmy back, I answer the call. Lisa is extremely supportive about everything anddoesn’t blame me, but when I mention not coming in until everything blows over,she agrees it’s probably best for everyone involved. “You always have a jobhere, Ayda. I want you to come back,” she assures me.
Darestares at me when I hang up, looking satisfied that he got his way. In a huff,I stalk away from him and head to the bedroom to grab some clothes. Between theblood on me and the hours spent a few feet from a toilet, I’ve never felt sodisgusting.
Heleans on the doorway, watching me silently, his arms crossed across his chest,making his biceps bulge. His gray sweat pants hang low, showing the V of musclemy tongue always finds its way to. For some reason, the sight of him—or maybeit’s more my reaction to the sight of him—pisses me off.
Ifhe thinks he can start telling me where to go or what to do he’s lost his mind.Sending Justus to carry me over here, telling me I’m not going to work, heobviously thinks he can make me do whatever he wants. “What are you doing?” heasks, when I push past him.
“Takinga bath, or do you think I need your permission for that, too?” I know I’mtaking out my shitty day on the wrong person, but I can’t stop myself. Itdoesn’t help that he seems to find my little tantrum amusing. “I’m running nextdoor to get some panties. I’ll be right back. There’s no need to send one ofyour goons after me again.”
Alexsteps out of his car when he sees me come out, but I wave him away, holding upa finger to show him I’ll just be a second. It’s not the same finger I’mtempted to show Dare. I grab a few pair of underwear and my comfy sweats beforemarching back to Dare’s apartment.
I’msmacked in the face by citrus scented steam when I enter the bathroom whereDare is just turning off the faucet. “You ran me a bath?” I ask, stunned.
ChapterFifteen
Dare
Aydawas so fucking adorable storming around the apartment, it was everything Icould do not to laugh. She’s a tiny pent up ball of anger and frustration rightnow, and I know how she feels. I’ve been there.
Herscowl dissolves when she returns and sees the tub full of warm water, thelights turned low. “You ran me a bath?”
“Yes.”She stares at me like I’m trying to trick her as I approach and kneel down,removing her ballet shoes. Judging by how raggedy they are, I don’t thinkthey’re meant to be worn out of the studio, much less to jail and acrossslushy, snowy streets. I peel off her clothes until she’s standing in front ofme, nude. “You had a bad day,” I murmur.
Hereyes well up and she nods. Holding my hand, she steps into the tub, then sinksback into the hot water with a grateful moan. A giggle escapes when she peeksup at me.
“What’sso funny?”
“Iwas going to suggest you get in with me, but…” she shrugs.
“Yeah,I can’t fit in this tub by myself. It’s probably a good thing, though. You needto relax, and if I was in there with your wet, slippery body against mine, youwouldn’t get much rest.”
“Sexfiend,” she teases.
“Onlysince you came along.” Makeup streaks her face and neck, so I grab her littlepuffy sponge thing—I don’t know what the hell it’s called—and lather it up withbody wash. She closes her eyes, leaning her head back as I stroke it across herthroat. As the makeup dissolves, pale green and yellow skin is visible beneath.
“Whatthe fuck?”
Hereyes fly open. “Oh! I forgot.”
“Youforgot you had massive bruises on your neck?” She sits up, wrapping her armsaround her knees, and I try to tamp down my anger. I don’t want to scare her,but if these are from Talbot’s visit to her, they must’ve been bad for it tostill be visible. No wonder she locks the door when she showers. I didn’tmention it because I thought she was still nervous and needed to feel safe.
“Talbot?”I ask, trying not to grit my teeth.
