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“Don’t,” he growls. “My cock is already bursting out of my pants from the sight of you taking down Crystal.”
At the reminder of the killing, I shudder but push it aside. One day all of this is going to come back to haunt my ass, but it won’t be until I eat, sleep, fuck and get back to class so I can graduate Summa Cum Laude as planned.
22
CHARLES
As we emerge from the underground tunnels into KnightsGate Manor, I can’t shake off the feeling that we’ve just crawled out of hell itself. Dirt is caked under my nails and streaked across our faces like war paint; the taste of sweat and something fiercer clings to my lips. Ever’s beside me, her green eyes dull with exhaustion, hair matted against her forehead.
“Showers,” I grunt, tilting my head upwards. “Now.”
“No arguments here,” Ever murmurs.
We trudge up the marble staircase, the luxury around us mocking our bedraggled state. Alistair leads with that rigid back of his, jaw set hard while Ben follows close behind, his expression unreadable. Damien’s the last in line, silent as a shadow, but there’s a tightness around his eyes that tells me he’s just as done in as the rest of us.
The shower is a godsend. I twist the taps until steam rises in thick clouds, and hot water pelts down on me like a barrage of cleansing fire. My muscles groan in relief, and for a second, I let my head fall back, closing my eyes to just feel. The grime washes away, spiralling down the drain, leaving trails of darker waterwhere it mixes with blood—I don’t know whose. Nor do I give a shit.
I catch a glimpse of Ever entering my bathroom through the mist. “Join me,” I say roughly.
Naked, she steps under the spray, arms raised, rinsing off the remnants of the fight. There’s something achingly vulnerable about her at this moment, but even now, she holds herself with an innate strength that commands respect. It’s what always gets me about her—how she can carry her burdens and still look like she’s ready to take on the world.
“Why did you come?” I ask, pulling her closer to me.
“Need you.”
“Just me?” The question hangs there between us.
“Yes.”
The heat wraps around us, steam curling into the air. She doesn’t say anything else, she just watches me with those intense green eyes that see too damn much.
My arms tighten around her waist, and she fits against my chest like she’s moulded from my own ribs. The water cascades over us as we stand there, enjoying the company.
We’re quiet, but it isn’t awkward. It’s like we’re talking without words, saying everything that needs to be said with the press of skin on skin. Her body trembles against mine from something raw and unspoken. Maybe relief, maybe need. Probably both.
Ever leans further into me, her head resting below my chin. I tighten my hold, because if I let go, I might shatter into a million pieces right here. Our breaths mix in the humid air, and I can feel the rise and fall of her chest against mine. There’s nothing gentle about this world, but here, now, with her, there’s a softness that I never want to lose.
My fingers linger on Ever’s wet skin, tracing the water droplets that slide down her back. But reality is a cruel master;we can’t stay locked in this humid cocoon forever. I let my hands drop to my sides, and she steps away, our connection severed by more than just physical distance. The shower’s hiss fills the silence as we finish cleaning up.
“Better?” I ask, watching as she runs her fingers through her hair, the blonde strands darkened by the water.
“Much,” she replies, her voice steady but her green eyes betraying the whirlwind inside her. She’s strong, my Ever. So strong.
We turn off the water, the abrupt stop echoing off the tiles. Stepping out, we grab towels, briskly drying off. I steal glances at her, the way the fabric slides over her skin. She catches me looking and rolls her eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile on her lips, a brief flash of the wit and intelligence that has everyone at KnightsGate caught between admiration and envy.
“Come on,” I say, offering her my hand. “Let’s crash.”
My bedroom is a sanctuary, the one place where I can shut out the world. As we enter, Ever doesn’t hesitate; she trusts me, and that trust means more than any old money or title I’ve inherited. We both fall onto the bed, the soft mattress a welcome relief for our weary bodies.
“Jesus, I’m beat,” I mutter, feeling every fight, every harsh word, and every moment of tension bearing down on me like chains.
“Me too.” Ever’s breath is a whisper against the pillow. She’s always pushing herself because nothing was ever handed to her. Not really. Even with her name, she’s had to claw for every inch in a place that should’ve been hers by birthright.
I lie next to her, feeling the warmth of her body even though we’re not touching. It’s enough for now, this silent closeness. Enough to let the fatigue seep into my bones and pull me toward sleep that rarely comes. But before I surrender to it, I make a silent promise to do whatever it takes to get her back into herrightful place quickly and without hassle. Ever deserves that much. She deserves everything.
I shuffle closer to her, my muscles aching with the sweet soreness of survival. I slip one arm under her neck, the other wrapping around her waist, pulling her against me. Her body is warm and solid in my embrace. She doesn’t pull away or hesitate; instead, she nestles in closer, her breath mixing with mine.
“Charlie,” she murmurs, her voice thick with exhaustion.
