than never having to speak to you again, but I’m learning we don’t always get what we want, do we? I always carry. I have a permit and, newsflash in case you missed it earlier, I have a fucking stalker. If I had been searched and asked to leave it at the gate, I would have, even if it was reluctantly. I didn’t have to sneak anything in, and that was the point I was trying to make,” I tell him, pulling away and sitting on the edge of the bed to pull off my boots.
“This has been enlightening, thank you so much for the warm welcome. I’m going to grab something to sleep in, take a shower, and then make my phone calls if that’s okay with you? The sooner that’s done, the sooner you can all leave me the fuck alone.” I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming on. Standing back up, I walk over to my backpack, pulling out a T-shirt, underwear, and a toothbrush before heading for the attached bathroom. I stop for a moment, turning to look over my shoulder. “Feel free to search through all my stuff. I think it’s pretty clear that any trust there might have been between us is gone. Just do what you want. I don’t even care anymore.”
“Reign,” Saint calls, but I close the door in his face and lean back against it, sucking in a deep, shaky breath as I let my bravado slip.
I place the stuff on the large black marble counter and grip the edge of it, feeling emotionally wrung out. Taking a deep fortifying breath, I quickly undress, turning on the shower and stepping under the hot water. I let it wash over me, trying not to give in to the riot of emotions swirling inside me.
I don’t take long, needing this night to be over already. I don’t even care that it’s still early. Climbing out and toweling off, I slip the T-shirt over my head and slide on the clean underwear, my mind spinning a hundred miles an hour.
Using the towel, I squeeze the excess water from my hair before folding it neatly over the towel rail. At any other time and in any other kind of mood, I might have had a mini orgasm at how amazing this bathroom is, but not right now.
The huge shower with gold fittings that’s big enough for a crowd of people may as well be made from Legos with the mood I’m in.
I stare at my reflection in the wide ornate mirror, looking a far cry from the leather-clad sex kitten that walked in here. Now the mirror just shows plain old Reign. I’m so far out of my depth here it’s not even funny, but I’ll take whatever they throw at me if it keeps the people I love safe.
If that means I have to suck it up and face them again, so be it. If I have to take their accusations and snide comments then fine, I’ll just grow thicker skin, because the second Priest offered my family protection, it changed everything. It’s so easy to take the moral high ground when I only have to consider myself, but with my family’s lives on the line, I’ll do just about anything to keep them safe.
Including selling myself, apparently. That’s what this is, sex for their safety. I’d be naive after that little display to ever think there could be more between us.
Leaving my stuff on the counter, I take a deep breath and steel my spine, ready to face them once more. Only when I walk out, Saint is the only one remaining. And he’s lying shirtless on the bed with his arms folded underneath his head.
“Where are Jekyll and Hyde?” I ask quietly, walking over to my backpack and grabbing my burner phone out of the side pocket, noticing that all my stuff looks undisturbed. I don’t know whether to be thankful that they might still have some faith in me or exasperated at them for not looking when I know my gun box is in one of the cases, which again proves my point.
I walk over to the edge of the bed, but before I have a chance to sit, there are hands under my armpits yanking me up the bed.
Letting out a startled gasp, I find myself looking up at an amused Saint, and for once, I don’t want to kiss him.
I want to throat punch the asshole instead.
Chapter Eighteen
Saint
I