Page 25 of The Echo of Violence

“A little tender,” I admit.

He knows better than to nag me about taking it easy, but I can tell by the firm set of his jaw that he wants to.

“I know what you’re thinking, and I promise to take it easy tomorrow. I have no plans but to lay around watching crappy TV and eating artery-clogging food.”

“Promise?”

“Yes,” I grumble as I push up into a seating position, Rex standing in front of me so I don’t slip.

I unzip my jacket and slip my arms free before pulling the tiny scrap of fabric covering my boobs over my head. Sitting in nothing but a pair of blue panties, I raise my arms for Rex to pick me up.

All of his clothes, but his boxer shorts, are on my bathroom floor, so when he holds me to his chest, I feel his heat stealing away the last of the chill from my impromptu bike ride. I reach for the shower door and pull it open. Rex walks right in and lowers me down onto the bench I have set up in here.

I flinch at the cold plastic under my ass as Rex moves to the shower head and turns it away from us as he turns it on, waiting for the water to warm up. Using the bench for balance, I lift myself enough to wiggle my panties down one-handed before tossing them out the still-open shower door.

Rex looks over at me before sliding his boxers down and tossing them out. He closes the door and moves back to the water spray, turning it so it’s aimed at me. As soon as the warm water covers my body, I feel the aches start to ease a little.

Rex touches my shoulder with a bottle of shower gel, which I take from him, and I lather myself up while he does the same. Once he’s done and rinses himself off, he grabs my shampoo and starts massaging it into my hair.

A groan of appreciation slips from my lips, making him chuckle. “I’m so glad I’m gay right now, or this shower would have become much more awkward.”

I laugh, closing my eyes and dipping my head to wash away the suds before Rex conditions my hair. By the time he’s finished, my eyes are drooping.

“Come on, let’s get you out before you fall asleep in here.”

I nod but don’t open my eyes as the water shuts off. I feel the cold air from the door opening before a warm towel is wrapped around me.

“Ready?”

Opening my eyes, I reach for one of the wall handles and hold on as Rex lifts me. The handle is higher than the one I would typically use, but it’s here for occasions just like this. Rex would protect me with his life, but he is still only human, and humans tend to slip and fall when water is involved. After how hard I worked to get myself moving again, the last thing I want to risk is breaking my neck. These handles mean if Rex slips and drops me, I can use my upper body strength to stop myself from hitting the floor.

Once I know he’s good, I let go and wrap my arms around his neck, breathing in the man who will always be home to me. He lowers me into my wheelchair in the bedroom so I can dry myself as he rummages through my drawers for a T-shirt.

He picks one and tosses it to me, and I slip it on with a grin. As soon as his eyes fall on my chest, they narrow. “I’ve been looking for that.”

“Clearly not hard enough,” I tease as I’m hit in the face with a pair of panties.

I laugh as I wriggle into them before wheeling the chair over to the bed. “I need my—”

“Guns. I know. This is not my first sleepover, Jinx.” He slips on a pair of boxers from his drawer and leaves the room as I lock the wheels on my chair and use my arms to maneuver myself out and up onto the bed. I wiggle until I’m in the right spot before burrowing under my blankets and resting against the cool pillow.

“Guns,” Rex states as he places one on my bedside table and hands the other over to me.

I check the chamber and ensure the safety is on before sliding it under my pillow, able to relax now that they’re within reach. I close my eyes and hear the thump of Rex placing his own gun beside him before he climbs in next to me.

He tugs me into his arms and buries his head in my hair before his low voice rumbles, “Sleep.”

And that’s what I do. I vaguely feel Nico crawl in on my other side sometime later, but I’m too comfy to open my eyes.

He’s back and safe. That’s all that matters.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Knight

I wake to the feel of a tiny pickax trying to bury itself into my brain. Cracking open my eyes, I wince as the light fries my eyeballs and close them quickly. For half a second, I think I’m dying before I recognize the acrid taste in my mouth of cheap tequila and bad decisions. I roll over and collide with a warm body.

Forcing my eyes open again, I see an expanse of pale skin. My mind blanks for a minute until I recognize the elephant tramp stamp tattoo belonging to Tiny, one of the newer club girls. She’s one I’ve tried to avoid until now, apparently, thanks to the stage five clinger alarm she sets off whenever I’m within two feet of her. How the fuck did I end up here?

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