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“I don’t, but this is bordering on stalking now. Hask is turning up everywhere I am with his questions and accusations.” Taking a deep breath, I tell her my fear. “I worry he will manipulate you into thinking I’m bad news again.”
“You are bad news,” she teases, her cold hand covering mine. “But there is nothing Nathan can say that will make me change my mind about you. Only you have the power to fuck things up.”
“I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be reassuring or a warning.”
“Maybe both,” she says as we speed along the highway.
We fall into companionable silence, the only sound the hum of the heater working overtime to warm the car.
Once we get home, I waste no time getting out, picking up Rue from the passenger seat, and carrying her inside. I take her straight to the bathroom and place her on the countertop as I run a bath, filling it with vanilla-scented bubble bath.
“Like a bubble bath, do you?” She grins, making me chuckle.
“I picked it up for you.”
She bites her lip, a blush spreading across her face as I reach up and undo the strings around her neck, holding her dress in place. Once I have it untied, I pull the material down her hourglass figure and let it go when I reach her mid-thighs, letting gravity do the rest. I’m treated by the sight of her bare pussy, which has my mouth watering and my brain misfiring.
“You were naked under this dress the whole time?”
“I was in a rush to get to you.”
“Jesus, woman,” I curse, standing up and moving to turn the water off.
I test it to make sure it’s not too hot before picking Rue up and easing her down into the bubbles. She hisses when her cold skin makes contact with the warm water, but once she’s submerged, she leans back and lets her eyes slip closed with a soft moan.
“Better?”
“Mmm,” she answers, making me laugh. “Come in with me?”
I eye the tub and shrug. I can’t say baths were ever my thing, but if that’s what she wants, then who am I to say no?
I strip out of my wet clothes and toss them on the floor with Rue’s dress. “Scooch forward a little.”
I wait for her to move before climbing in behind her. I slide my legs down either side of her body and relax when she settles against me. Okay, maybe baths are my thing. After today’s shitshow, this is exactly what I needed.
“Thank you for having my back today.” It was unexpected, but seeing her indignation on my behalf felt fucking good. “How did you find out anyway?”
“Fauna. She called to let me know what happened. She’s a hoot, by the way.”
I narrow my eyes, wondering how Fauna knew about Rue or got her phone number. But then I remember who I’m talking about. Fauna might keep to herself, but the woman seems to know everything.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rue
After lounging around for as long as I can stand, I slip on one of Valen’s shirts and do some exploring.
The house is decorated tastefully in neutral colors, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t stamped his mark on the place. I find a game room with old arcade games that seem familiar, yet not. I step up to one labeledPac-Man.After a couple of tries, I give up. Hand and eye coordination might not be my thing.
There is a pool table and an air hockey table that looks fun. A couple of comfy sofas and a bar in the corner make it a great spot for having the boys over. I stop at the thought. Valen hasn’t mentioned any friends. He must have some, but I haven’t seen any.
He doesn’t treat me like he’s ashamed of me, so I doubt it’s that. Maybe he just wants to ease me in. But then, if we’ve been dating for a while, wouldn’t I have already met at least a few? Then again, I wouldn’t remember them if I had.
I leave the room and wander down the hall, stopping at the theater room. A projection screen takes up one whole wall. Facing it is a huge sofa that could fit ten people. The thing looks like a cloud, and when I sit down to test it out, I know my guess was right. I get up before I get too comfortable, knowing this sofa would be dangerous to me. I’d probably never make it past the opening credits if I laid down. Still, even at the risk of napping, I know I’ll use this room quite a lot.
I move around the rest of the house, finding guest rooms, a den, a formal dining room, and a large music room with a piano sitting in the center facing the wall of windows.
The only room I don’t bother exploring is Valen’s office. That seems more like an invasion of privacy than the other rooms. Crazy, I know, but that’s how I feel.
