Page 43 of Corrupted Union

News of our wedding would be in all the papers and blasted on social media.Governor’s Daughter Wed in Shotgun Ceremony.

Stetson would be crushed.

I stood on shaky legs. “Um, where’s my phone? I need my phone.”

“In your purse next to your suitcase.”

I nodded numbly. “I’ll be back … I just need to…” I wandered back inside without finishing my thought. My phone thankfully hadn’t died and showed several missed texts from Stetson from yesterday asking about plans for the weekend. Nothing after that. He knew. I knew in my gut that he knew.

God, what a shit thing to do to someone. I felt absolutely wretched.

My heartache drew me back to the bathroom where I approached the vanity, this time prepared to confront the girl in the mirror. It was the first time since I was a little girl that I’d looked at that face. Really looked.

“I’m sorry, V,” I whispered to her. “I hope you understand everything I’ve done—that I couldn’t leave her there alone. I hope you understand.”

I could have sworn the reflection lift her hand toward me.

I would have done the same, Ro. You did good.

“Love you, sis,” I said with tears in my eyes.

Love you more.

“Hey, Keir?”I found him back in the kitchen cleaning up our dishes.

“Yeah?” He placed the last dish in the sink and wandered toward me.

“I’d like to clean up—I feel pretty gross—but I’m not sure what to do about the bandage.” I wasn’t sure why I was asking him except that he was the one who wrapped my hand. That, and the fact that my head still hurt, and decisions felt hard.

He continued forward and took my hand in his, rolling it slowly to the side as though examining the bandage. “I could help with that.” The coarse rasp of his voice sucked every last thought from my brain. I was lucky to remember how to breathe as I nodded my assent.

He walked over to a drawer at the edge of the kitchen and rummaged around until he found a couple of rubber bands, then returned. “Come with me.” He took my good hand and led me to another bathroom, not quite as grand as the master but still luxurious and much less hazardous to bare feet. “Let’s get the hoodie off first.”

I did as he instructed, then watched as he wrapped a hand towel over my bandage and secured the clubbed fist with rubber bands.

“You still can’t get it in the water, but that’ll keep the splatter off.”

My hand was now completely dysfunctional. I peered down at the T-shirt I was still wearing, deciding I could surely get it off on my own, but before I could try, Keir’s large body filled my view.

“Let me,” he breathed.

Again, I nodded.

His hands brought the fabric up achingly slowly, his fingertips grazing my sides on the way. My lungs began to ache until I realized I was holding my breath. I inhaled, making my head spin. Then again, that could have been a reaction to Keir squatting before me to pull down my joggers. His face was inches from my belly.

Goose bumps danced across my skin.

Keir slid his fingers into the waistband of my pants and panties, lowering them inch by inch over my hips and letting his hands continue the slow path downward even after the fabric had fallen to the floor.

“You didn’t get your fill when you changed me out of my dress last night?” A small piece of my typical snark resurfaced when I realized he must have changed me.

He met my eyes, his a liquid azure ringed by a forest of thick lashes, then rose without breaking our connection. “I changed you twice, and no, I’m not sure I’d ever get enough of your body.” His reply winded me almost as much as the sight of his naked body when he whisked off his shirt and pants before stepping into the shower.

“You’re getting in, too?” I blurted.

He stilled. “That a problem? It would be hard to wash you from out there.” Wash me?

Yeah, slick. What did you think was happening?

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