I get up and walk to the bathroom. Turning to him, I spot the scowl on his face.
“I love you, Carter.” I sing-song and he shakes his head at me.
“I love you too. Goddamn Heathen.”
After turning the water on and getting the temperature just right, I step under the spray. Washing my body, I try to ignorethe cross on my skin, but can’t. It has the effect on me Jedediah wanted. It was meant to hurt me and consume my every thought.
“Baby, stop. I can see you mentally berating yourself.”
Jumping at the sound of Killian’s voice, I turn and look out the glass shower doors and nearly gasp at how handsome Kill looks. He’s wearing black shorts and a black shirt. It’s nothing fancy, but he makes everything look good.
“Where’s Carter?”
“He is in the other shower.”
He stands in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes dark with an expression I can’t read.
“So, you’re going to stand there and watch me shower then?”
“No,” he says and then adds, “I’m going to stand here watching you shower and make sure you’re not obsessing over temporary things. Things that are not part of you but were done to you, against your will.”
I hang my head down in shame. If he knows, I can’t help but wonder if they all know that I think about these damn brandings constantly.
“Is the bathing suit a one piece?”
He narrows his gaze and answers my question.
“I bought both so you could decide. You have nothing to be ashamed of, Killer. No one will look at you and judge you for it. This was not a choice you made. Stop beating yourself up over this.”
I turn the water off and wrap my body in a towel.
“It’s not a choice, Killian. Do you think I want to feel this way?”
He pulls me into his arms and holds me tight against his chest.
“I’m sorry, I’m fucking this up. No, I don’t think you’re choosing to feel this way. What can I do to help?”
I wrap my arms around him, hugging him back as the anger I felt only moments ago dissipates.
“This. And maybe help me find someone to cover it up.”
Placing his hands on my face he tilts my head back.
“Done. Now get dressed before I lose my fucking mind.”
He kisses me just below my eye and groans as he leaves the room.
“Beautiful and naked. Dangerous combination.”
Grabbing the bag on the counter, I pull the clothing out. A bikini and a one piece, both purple of course, along with shorts and a t-shirt. I opt for the two piece when I spot the black cover-up that he got with it. Maybe he doesn’t understand why I’m losing my mind over the branding, but he is trying. My chest squeezes from the way he thought of everything.
After I get the shorts and t-shirt on over the bikini, I grab the cover-up and search for Killian.
I find all three of them sitting on the sofa together, nursing a beer. When I walk into the room, the conversation stops as they stare at me.
Walking over to Killian, I climb on him, straddling his lap.
He stares at me, his eyes dancing with amusement until I rub my thumb along his bottom lip and heat fills his gaze.