Rushed (Adventures in Love #1)(31)

“Okay,” she agrees, still not looking convinced, then winces when she moves her hand.

“Pain pill, shower, then bed.” I push off the couch and take our plates to the small kitchen, dropping them in the sink. Then I take her one of her pain pills before I grab a rubber glove, along with a roll of medical tape.

“I think I’ll be able to manage showering on my own.” She looks around at anything but me as I take a seat next to her and start placing the glove on her hand.

“How about you do what you can, then shout for me if you need help?”

“Yeah, okay, thank you.”

“No problem, sunshine.” I tape the glove tight enough around her wrist that water won’t be able to get into it. “All set,” I say, and she stands, going to her suitcase to dig out a makeup bag and a fresh set of clothes before heading for the bathroom.

“Be right back,” she says with her cheeks turning pink.

“I’ll be here if you need me.”

With a nod, she closes the bathroom door; then a moment later, I hear the shower turn on. Not long after that, I hear her start to grumble.

“Tanner,” she calls, and I walk toward the door as she opens it just enough to peek out. “I can’t get my sports bra off.” The tears I see in her eyes make my gut clench.

“Step back and let me in,” I say gently, and she moves, letting me into the room. Then, without a word, I turn her so that her back is to me. “Lift your arms.”

“This is so humiliating.”

“It’s not,” I assure her, and she groans before lifting her hands over her head. I grab the tight material at her sides and carefully maneuver it over her breasts, then head. “Do you want me to help you with your pants?”

“No.” She crosses her arms over her chest and turns to face me. “I think I can get them off on my own.” She glares at her hand. “Hopefully.”

“All right, I’ll be outside.”

Not surprisingly, she doesn’t ask for my help again, but she does stay in the shower for close to an hour. When the door opens and she steps out wearing a baggy shirt and shorts, the scent of vanilla filling the small space, my mouth waters at the sight.

“Feel better?” I take her hand and unwrap the tape before removing the glove.

“Yes, but now I’m exhausted.” She yawns. “I’m sorry for taking so long. I had to wash my hair about ten times before it felt clean.”

Smiling, I run my eyes over her long, wet blonde hair and pretty face and see that she looks more relaxed than she did. “The pill kicked in.”

“Yeah.” She yawns again. “Between that and today, I feel like I could sleep for a year.”

“I bet.” I motion to the bed for her to climb in, then go to the TV and swivel it around before I hand her the remote and steal a kiss. “I’m gonna shower.”

“I’ll be here.” She lies down, and I give her one last look before I step into the bathroom and close the door.

Fifteen minutes later, clean and wearing a pair of basketball shorts, I step out of the bathroom to find Cybil already asleep. Exhausted myself, I turn off the lights and crawl into bed next to her. I turn off the TV, then maneuver her until she’s lying half on me, careful to place her hand on my chest.

As her warm breath brushes against my skin, I close my eyes, relishing how fucking perfect she fits against me and how easily I’ve come to care for her. Unlike her, I’ve never had a serious relationship. When I was young, girls tended to stay away. I grew up poor. My parents would spend what little money the government sent them each month on booze instead of on the kid they didn’t want. That meant I didn’t have more than one change of clothes, showering was a rarity at times, and food was scarce.

I joined the military when I turned eighteen, and ever since then, I’ve been focused on making it so that any kids I might have one day will never have to struggle like I did. Women for me have been a fun distraction from time to time, but never more than that. With Cybil, things are different. There’s no denying the chemistry between us, but it’s more than that for me. I crave her presence, and how at peace she makes me feel when I’m around her, and there’s no denying the urge I have to protect and take care of her. Something she seems to need from me, and something easy for me to give her because I’ve never had someone who needed that from me before.

I let out a deep breath and hold her a little tighter. Fuck, but I’m really looking forward to having her all to myself for the next week.





Chapter 14


CYBIL

“Told you he was into you,” Parker whispers in my ear as his arms tighten around me, and I laugh. “I’m happy for you two.”

“Thanks.” I smile as he passes me to Jacob, who hugs me just as tightly. Then I step back into Tanner, who wraps his arm around my waist. “I’ll call you guys and let you know when I’m driving home, so we can meet up for lunch or something.”

“We’d like that,” Jacob says softly, watching stupid tears fill my eyes. “Do not cry.”

“I’m not going to cry,” I deny, even though I’ve been a weepy mess all morning. “I think I might be allergic to the pain meds.”

“Sure.” He smiles as Parker and Tanner both laugh. The truth is I had no idea it would be so hard to say goodbye to everyone. Oliver and Lauren were the first to leave this morning. I wasn’t too broken up about them going, but I still got emotional. Then Avery and Grant took off, anxious to see their son, and I cried like a baby. Now I feel the tears coming on again, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold them back.