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"True," he agreed. "But she's drained. If you can calm her down enough, she will sleep, and you can slip out and handle this before she even wakes up in the morning."
"Sounds like a plan," I agreed, dropping my drink on the bar. "Appreciate you calming her down," I added as I moved over to where he was standing in the doorway to the hall.
"Don't fuck it up," he said, uncharacteristically serious. "'Cause, you know, I'm not above taking her from you and showing her how a woman like her should be treated," he added with a smirk.
It was an empty threat.
If there was one thing we all accepted, it was our women, when we had them, were ours. That was a line that never got crossed. Not even if we fucked shit up. That didn't make her open game.
I moved off down the hall toward my room, closing the door quietly, figuring maybe kid gloves were called for that night. I kicked out of my boots and moved toward the bathroom door which was mostly closed with just a crack open.
I knocked lightly with my knuckles and pushed the door open to find Kennedy buried up to her clavicles in water that was a swirl of pink, yellow, and purple. There were even a few flower petals floating around. What purpose they served was beyond me. Maybe just looking pretty. Women liked pretty shit.
"Hey," I said, keeping my voice low so she didn't shock.
But she had heard my knock and her head lifted slowly, making my stomach clench at the bruise which had only gotten darker already.
"Hey," she said back, turning her lips up, but it wasn't really a smile since it didn't reach her eyes, since she didn't mean it.
I reached for my shirt, pulling it up and off. She watched, brows drawn together, as my hands went to my waistband and yanked off my jeans too. "What are you doing?" she asked. I left my boxer briefs on, making a statement. This wasn't sexual. This was me doing something that I didn't even think was in my wheelhouse. This was me comforting her.
"Getting my soak on," I offered, moving to the side, and sinking a foot in.
"Wait, the water is going to..." she started to insist as I lowered myself in.
It was too late, the water rose up and sloshed over the sides, spilling across the tile floor. "Yeah, that's gonna be fun for Roderick to clean up later."
"Why would Roderick clean it up? Isn't this your bathroom?"
Her arms folded across her breasts even though the colored water was keeping me from seeing anything anyway and the fact that, while a large part of me wanted nothing more than to fuck the sadness out of her anyway she needed me to, I knew that wasn't what was needed right then.
"Yep. But he's a probate. It's his job to clean up anything I want him to."
Her lips turned up slightly at that, and this time she wasn't faking it. "Where can I get a probate?"
"You want one, I'll loan one to you anytime you want."
I was pretty sure that wasn't how it normally worked, but I also didn't give a fuck. If she wanted someone at the salon to sweep up the mother fucking hair, well then, I guess Virgin or Sugar would be adding that to their resume.
Her lips twitched again. "That's a mental image. One of those hulking biker guys with a nail polish wand in their giant hands."
I gave her a small smile, leaning back against the other end of the tub from her. "You want to come over here?" I offered, holding my arms out. Normally, I would just reach for her, but given the situation, I figured maybe she had enough of being manhandled.
Honestly, I was almost surprised when she ducked her head slightly, a blush creeping over her cheeks, slid across the water, and turned her back to settle against my chest. I gave her a second, letting her get comfortable, the edges of her wet hair sliding over my bare chest before she leaned fully back, angling her head so it was just to the side of my jaw.
"You alright?" I asked after one of my arms went around her stomach, leaving the other one free to slide over safe areas, her arm, her shoulders, making sure nothing was crossing any lines right then.
Her air exhaled in a sigh. "That's a loaded question."
"We got time," I offered. When she didn't go on, I felt a strange crushing feeling inside, making me open my mouth again. "Look, I get that I don't seem like the kind of guy you can unload on, but I'm here. I'm listening. Talk."
She turned slightly, her side pressing into my chest, letting her snuggle her face into my neck better, her arm going up to rest on my shoulder.
