Physically, no. It would almost be easier if he had. Instead, he’d given her one amazing climax after another, tripping her over the edge of pleasure in ways she’d never even conceived of. Certainly in ways that Eric had never managed.
But she wanted to throw his words back in his face and point out that he had other ways to hurt people besides physically. The seeming ease with which he’d left her without a backward glance had been damn painful, especially after she’d realized how badly she needed Tyler. It hurt more now to realize that, since they’d parted, he’d been getting busy with his usual bevy of strippers and easy lays. Not that she was surprised, but . . . had he thought about her at all?
She shoved the question aside. It wasn’t his fault that she cared about him more, that not having even a small part of his heart crushed her. In truth, when Tyler had left, he’d only done what she’d asked.
“I won’t hurt you now,” he added into the silence.
Because I won’t let you. “I’ll come find you when Seth is ready for his story.”
Tyler hesitated, his green eyes probing. For what? A chink in her armor? Any hint that she wanted him? A sign that she hated him? Maybe she was reading too much into it. At the end of the day, she’d been another piece of ass to him—one careless enough to get pregnant. He was more concerned about Seth, as he should be. She needed to forget whatever emotions might have been between them and move on.
Finally, he nodded. “Towels are under the bathroom sink. Shampoo and soap are in the shower. Take your time.”
With that, he was gone, grabbing for the phone at his belt before he’d even left the room. Probably going to confer with Jack or Deke again.
Del sighed. It didn’t matter if he was mad. Seth mattered. No guilt, move on. She’d functioned like that since her divorce—or tried. It was a good motto now, too.
She picked Seth up. He fussed at being separated from his toys, so she also selected a little plastic football he could play with in the shower, which calmed him down.
Minutes later, she stood under the hot spray, letting Seth play at her feet while she washed herself and her hair. She’d even found a fresh razor in the top drawer and availed herself of it. After a final rinse, she almost felt human. Then she quickly scrubbed Seth, working around his little football until he was clean.
As soon as she pulled back the shower curtain and emerged, she noticed that her duffel was missing. The last of her toiletries and clothing. Tyler, that rat, had sneaked in here while she’d bathed and taken her stuff?
Wrapping a towel around herself and setting Seth on another, she stormed out the door. “Tyler, goddamn it!”
Moments later, she heard the hum of the washing machine, saw him prowling through the bag and setting aside a diaper and pajamas for Seth.
He spun and eyed her with a stare that heated so quickly, she clutched the towel even tighter to her chest and took a step back.
Why the hell was he looking at her like that?
Water dripped from the ends of her hair, over her shoulders, down her arms. The air-conditioning kicked on. Her ni**les beaded under the thin towel. And those green eyes of his zeroed in, staring unabashedly.
Delaney sucked in a breath. A quick glance down proved his erection packed the front of his jeans. She remembered every inch of the reason he’d stretched her almost painfully when he’d entered her and left her deliciously sore the next day.
“No. Do not go there.”
“Where?” He tried to look innocent.
Tyler innocent? She stifled a snort. When he’d been four. Maybe.
“Stop with the . . . sexy glances. Why did you take my bag?”
Tyler suppressed a smile and held out Seth’s things. “Just trying to help. I took the clothes in the baggie that I presumed were dirty and started washing them. You don’t have a gun in your luggage.”
“I wanted to get Seth out of the way before I brought out the firepower.”
“What if you were followed? What if someone had attacked you?”
She’d thought of it, but still didn’t feel as proficient with a pistol as she’d like, certainly not good enough to carry it around and make it actually threatening. “I rarely got out of the rental car, but I was afraid if I had a gun ‘handy,’ that it would be too easy for someone to turn it against me. You know that’s what happens statistically.”
Tyler ambled closer and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. I’m going to adjust your comfort level with firearms first chance we get, angel. You don’t get to say no.”
For a moment, Del wanted to balk. She didn’t like guns. In that moment, she didn’t like Tyler, either. But he was right. It was for her own good—and Seth’s. She nodded.
“Good.” He lifted some of the damp ends of her hair between his fingers and rubbed, his gaze delving deep into her.
For a second, Del couldn’t breathe, and she fell back in time, Memorial Day weekend two years ago. The hint of summer, the smell of beer, the laughter . . . then the feel of Tyler’s hands peeling off her clothing, his c**k burying deep inside her as Eric’s eyes darkened with arousal.