“You can have a snack while I set up your room.” He looked her over with a frown. “Or do you want a shower first?”
She did feel kind of sweaty and gross. “That would be great.”
“All right.” He grabbed her hand again. A shiver worked its way up her skin at the feel of him touching her.
The man was potent.
He pointed to a room off the living area. “Through there is the kitchen and dining.” They walked down a short hallway. “My room.” He nodded at the door across from his room. “The bathroom and your room are down there.” He opened the bathroom door and walked to the shower, turning it on. Again, everything was neat and clean. Weren’t men living alone meant to be messy? “You got PJs in here? Toothbrush?”
“No, I didn’t have time to grab any.”
“I’ll get you one of my T-shirts.”
He opened the cupboard and rustled around, pulling out a toothbrush in its packaging as well as a razor. “Here you are. Help yourself to anything you want. Clean towels are in here.” He pointed to another cupboard. “I’ll grab that T-shirt. When you’re clean and dressed head back out to the living area.”
She nodded. He quickly returned with a red T-shirt. After showering, a wave of exhaustion washed over her and she had to sit on the toilet lid for a moment. She only had one pair of panties so she’d gone without. She’d have to wash them now so she could wear them tomorrow.
Tears filled her eyes.
She knew she was just tired. That she had to get up and keep moving. Nobody was going to do this stuff for her. She’d been taking care of herself for a long time. Sometimes, though, it would be nice to let go of all the worries. To let someone else shoulder some of the decisions. Take care of her.
Linc takes care of you.
Yes. But she couldn’t get used to it. She wasn’t sure if he was taking care of her because he still wanted her. Or because he felt like he had to because she had nowhere else to go.
And she didn’t want to ask.
A knock at the door startled her and she realized she’d actually fallen asleep on the toilet. Yikes. That was embarrassing.
“Um, yes?”
“You okay?” he asked.
“Oh, yeah, coming.” As soon as she found some energy.
“You dressed?”
“Yep.”
The door suddenly opened without warning and she let out a startled cry. Okay she hadn’t been expecting him to just walk in. Thank God she hadn’t been lying about being dressed.
Walking forward, he crouched in front of her, resting his hands on her thighs.
Oh shit. She was all too aware of her bare pussy. Her clit throbbed as she pressed her thighs together.
“You’re all done in, aren’t you?” he crooned.
She sniffled. “Sorry. I just need a minute.”
“I don’t think a minute will help. You’re spent. You need a good night’s sleep.”
She wasn’t sure if that would be happening tonight. She wasn’t a very good sleeper anyway. And with everything that had happened tonight, plus being in a strange place, she was pretty sure sleep would elude her.
He brushed a thumb over her cheek. “Right. Let’s do what we have to in order to get you tucked up in bed. Any talk can wait for tomorrow. Do you need to pee?”
Her bladder just made itself known. Crap. Why did she have to have such a small bladder?
“Urgh, yes.”
“I’m guessing you won’t be comfortable with me staying while you go?” he asked.
Was he serious?
“You would guess right.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Don’t know why. It’s just peeing.”
“I bet you wouldn’t want me watching you pee,” she countered.
He grinned. “Wouldn’t worry me. Just a bodily function. We all do it.”
Yeah, but that didn’t mean she wanted him around while she went. Sheesh. He stood and held out his hands, helping her stand. Thankfully, she was so short that his T-shirt reached mid-thigh.
“Right. You can pee on your own. But I’m going to leave the door cracked open. If you have any problems, call out.”
“I’ve been peeing on my own for a long time,” she told him dryly.
“I know. But you’re under my care now. You’re exhausted and trembling. I don’t want you falling and hurting yourself, okay? So just humor me.”
“Don’t stand out there listening to me,” she ordered.
He leaned in, brushing his lips across her cheek. “One day, you will be completely comfortable with me in the room when you pee then you’ll learn you’re worrying over nothing. I’ll take these and put them in the wash.” He picked up all her dirty clothes before she could say anything and left the bathroom.
Yeah. She didn’t see that day coming anytime soon.
Some things just didn’t need to be shared. Mumbling to herself, she peed and washed her hands then grabbed her backpack and made her way out into the hallway.
He was standing there, waiting. Which didn’t surprise her. Her dirty clothes were gone so he must have chucked them in the wash.
“I could have washed my clothes.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Of course you could have. I didn’t take them because you’re not capable. I put them in the wash because I want to help you.”
“Oh.” Way to sound ungrateful, Marisol. “Sorry, I’m not used to people, uh, helping me.”
He frowned slightly. “I figured that. Your aunt isn’t the motherly type.”
She let out a small bark of laughter. “No, definitely not.”
“Gonna need to put an extra blanket on your bed. Don’t want you getting cold.”
He seemed to have an obsession about keeping her warm. It was kind of cute.
“Come on, I have a snack ready in your bedroom.”
She made to follow him, but her legs seemed to have a mind of their own. She stumbled as she tried to walk, falling into the wall.
“Bad legs. Do as you’re told,” she muttered to herself.
Linc turned and grabbed her by the waist. “Whoa there. You’re not supposed to walk into the walls. And did you just tell your legs off?”
He drew her up into his arms, holding her against his chest.
“They’re not listening to me.”
“Hmm. I know what that feels like.” He gave her a pointed look.
“What does that mean? I listen to you.”
“Right. You just don’t always do what I say.”
“You’re not in charge of me.”
He set her down on a comfy, large bed. The covers had already been pulled back and a lamp was on beside the bed, giving the room a soft glow.
“Not yet. But tomorrow, you’re gonna learn that in this house, in this relationship, baby, I’m the boss.”
16
In this house, in this relationship, baby, I’m the boss.
Those words wouldn’t stop swimming through her head. She rolled over, barely suppressing a groan. This bed was super comfortable. The room was lovely. Not only had Linc made her a snack, but he’d produced an ice pack for her neck, fussing over her in a way no one had before. After she’d eaten and checked her blood sugar level, he’d tucked her in tight, then sat with her to tell her one of his stories. She’d closed her eyes and pretended to fall asleep, knowing he likely wouldn’t leave until she did.