Adverse Possession (The Anna Albertini Files #3) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,95

hair.”

I balked. “We can’t shower together.”

He looked down at me and tilted his head. “Huh?”

I lowered my voice. “Your friends are here.”’

His eyes sparkled as amusement filtered through the various blues. “They know we’re dating,” he whispered back.

“Yeah, but…” I was being ridiculous, but it had been a tough couple of days, and I wasn’t at my best. “You’re right.” I pulled off my shirt and kicked off my flats.

He ditched his boots and clothing. “Tell you what. If they tease you, I’ll shoot them.” With that, he tugged me under the spray, careful to keep his back away from the warm water. Then he lathered up and washed me, paying careful attention to my hair. “You’re now soot-free,” he murmured, pinching my butt.

I slapped an unbruised part of his chest. “Let’s do you.”

“Yes, let’s,” he murmured, his voice dark.

I rolled my eyes and soaped him up, washing his thick hair. When I was finished, he was sporting an obvious erection. “No. There are people here,” I whispered.

“You sure?” He lifted me right up and pressed me against the side of the shower. His body felt incredible against mine, even with the bruises.

“Your back,” I protested. “The water is hot.”

He turned the knob and the water chilled. “There you go.” His fingers found me the same time his mouth descended on mine, and then there was only Aiden. No danger, no bomber, no burns. Just his mouth and his hands and the rest of him.

I was ready and alive, and when he pushed inside me, I felt safe for the first time all day. He went fast and hard. When I cried out his name, he kissed me, swallowing the sound. I hope.

My legs were rubbery as he let me slide and held me until I could stand. I shivered as my feet found purchase in the chilly water. “Cold.”

He turned the knob until warm water sprayed and then ducked me under it. My body was relaxed and mellow now, and all I wanted was to sleep. Maybe for a couple of weeks.

Warmth glided over me and I sighed as my muscles relaxed again. “I wasn’t loud, was I?” I whispered.

“Define loud.” His grin was so adorable I couldn’t take exception. The water had been on, and the new control room was on the other side of the laundry room, so hopefully nobody had heard me. Right now I was too satiated to worry about it.

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s put cold water on your back.”

“We already did,” he said, turning off the water and reaching for a towel. “Now you need some sleep and I have to get to work.”

I wrapped the towel around myself and stepped out of the shower. “You’re not going to sleep?”

“No.” He dried off, a new glitter in his eyes. An angry one. “We have to find Barensky. Nobody bombs our house.”

I couldn’t sleep. Thunder bellowed outside as the storm hit hard. Rain and wind blew wildly against the windows and tinged off the roof. It was after one in the morning, which meant it was after four in the morning in Detroit. I rolled over and grabbed my phone to press speed dial.

“Morning. Why are you up so late?” Lacey O’Shea answered, her voice chipper.

“Why are you up so early?” I countered like I always did. It was our thing. Lacey was my first cousin and my best friend. “I couldn’t sleep and figured you’d be up doing yoga or something silly like that.” Actually, I liked yoga. I just sucked at it.

Lacey laughed. “I already finished and was thinking of going for a run. What’s up? Nightmares?” She’d been there when I’d been kidnapped, and she’d gotten pushed down but had ignored her broken arm and had run to the campground for help. Without Lacey, I might not have been found.

“Do you have nightmares?” I asked.

She was quiet for a few ticks. “Not about that day, but I have other nightmares. Being a cop in Detroit isn’t the walk in the park that was advertised.”

I snuggled into Aiden’s pillow, surrounding myself with his scent. “Funny. Why don’t you come home? You have to be badass city trained by now.” While I understood why she wanted some experience away from Idaho, she’d gotten it already. It was time for her to return home and get a job here. “This on-again, off-again romance you have going with Ray is getting old, right?”

“Yeah.” Lacey had been dating Ray for a while, then they’d break up,