Hideaway (Devil's Night 2)

I shook my head.

“Look, you don’t have to take off your clothes,” he explained, his tone growing more urgent again, “but you have to get warm.”

I stared down at my white knuckles still clenched into fists. “My clothes will dry.”

He let out a sigh, sounding like a hushed growl, and before I realized what was happening, he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the ground, carrying me into the shower.

I pushed against his chest as he closed the shower door and put us both under the hot rainfall.

“No!” I argued.

But, his lips tight, he gave me an angry, “Shh….” and dropped me to my feet, his arms locking around my body and holding me to him.

Asshole!

I planted my hands on his chest, snarling up at him, but soon, the heat from the water started to seep into my clothes, and then the water was coursing down my skin.

Oh…

My skin erupted in a wave of delightful pinpricks, making my blood come alive as everything tingled with the heat.

I wanted to smile, it felt so good.

My eyelids started to feel heavy, the hot water blanketing my back, running down my legs, and spreading over my head and neck.

Warm. I was so warm. I just wanted to…

I groaned, starting to waver.

My body was so tired. Kai strengthened his hold, letting me relax into him, and I did. I didn’t fight it.

I laid my head on his chest, and after a moment, I felt him carefully brush my knit cap off my head, the water hitting my scalp and drowning out the rest of the world.

I closed my eyes and savored the feeling.

Just for a minute, I told myself.

Tucking my arms in, I huddled into his chest, letting myself give up for a minute. His arms circled all the way around me, one resting on my waist and the other one on my arm, while the heat of the water mixed with the heat of his skin through his wet shirt lulled me into a feeling of peace I couldn’t remember ever having before. Not even with Damon.

I couldn’t remember the last time I was this close to somebody.

The shower pounded around us, drowning out the sound of the storm outside, our breathing, even my thoughts…I didn’t want to think. For five fucking minutes, I didn’t want to talk or worry or fight or be scared or angry or hate everything. I didn’t even want to stand.

“This means nothing,” I mumbled, still snuggling into his body.

His chest shook under my head. “Absolutely nothing. I promise.”

Something brushed my forehead, and I felt his fingers wipe away the hair on my cheek. His hand smoothed the strands back over the top of my head, and another small wave of pleasure hit me right down to my toes. I was suddenly aware of my wet thighs molded to his and the rest of my body pressing into him.

This was heaven.

His hand smoothed my hair a few more times, slower and gentler, and then he wrapped his arms around me again, holding me tight.

“I like your braids.” His deep voice suddenly sounded raspy. “Your hair is a beautiful color. Like mahogany. Why do you hide it?”

I opened my mouth to hit him with a nasty remark but closed it. I didn’t want this to end quite yet, and I guess it was normal for him to wonder.

But it was still none of his business.