Only it is when it’s the Prez’s daughter.
I yank the closet open and the door bangs against the wall so hard the knob leaves a dent. Snagging a towel, a few sheets fall to the ground, and I stomp my way to her room with heavy steps. I open her door and immediately I smell the scent of the lavender bodywash we keep in the guest bedroom. Steam has fogged the mirrors and the foggy tendrils drift outside the bathroom door.
There isn’t a curtain. It’s only a glass stall.
The heat hits me in the face, the steam causing me to sweat, and then I see through the glass. I hold my breath when I only see a fuzzy outline of her body because the glass is fogged. Dragging my eyes away is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
I hold out the towel, turn my head, and clear my throat. “Here.”
The glass door opens and the towel is taken from my hand. “Thank you, Alto.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I stomp out of the bathroom and close the door behind me, only then do I let out a breath.
Fuck.
I’m screwed.
7
BANE
“Thanks for bringing me home,” Harlow says as we climb out of the car.
We’re in front of her apartment now and she’s wearing my shirt and Colt’s sweatpants. Everything hanging off her small body. The sweatpants are rolled so the bottoms don’t drag on the ground and the shirt is tied to her hip. I can briefly see the skin of her stomach. It looks soft, flawless, without scars, without pain of the misery of life.
She’s beautiful.
I toss her the car keys and head to my bike where Colt and Alto are waiting for me. “Don’t go getting fucking drunk again.” I add a bite to my tone, hating myself for talking to her like that all while I’m focused on the red of her hair.
It’s wet, tossed in a messy bun, and all I want to do is take it down and run my fingers through it.
Hurt flashes across her eyes and she gives me a small nod. “Yeah.” Her voice breaks, then she covers it with a smile. “Yeah, I don’t plan on drinking ever again. That was a nightmare. I’m so sorry I was such a burden. I never wanted that to happen. I am so sorry. Thank you, again.” She waves to Colt and Alto, then walks away.
“Harlow.” Her name falls from my lips in a gruff, blunt way.
She looks over her shoulder as I mount my bike.
“You weren’t ever a burden. I don’t want you to ever say that again.” I clip my helmet under my chin and crank my bike.
And there it is.
Her smile.
It’s big and bright, dimples on either side of her cheeks, and my heart fucking skips a beat and I find it hard to breathe. My cock hardens and I have to readjust myself so I’m not uncomfortable.
She gives us another wave and blows us a kiss.
Colt catches it with his hand and even from here I can hear her giggle.
When she’s safely inside, Alto slaps Colt on the back of the head.
“Ow. What the fuck?”
“No flirting with the Prez’s daughter,” he bites out.
“Bane flirted first.”
“No, he was saying for her not to call herself a burden. Not catching her kiss and giving her hope.”