Page 85 of Rebellious

Her vanity and cabinets were empty now. Another task on her to-do list was scaling down her products and keeping only the necessities since their new bathroom was much smaller.

That was okay. Everything would be fine. Rebel was healing. Jo was coming home and…Meggie swallowed, reliving the moment the doctor said Jo needed heart surgery. The minute she found out CJ had overdosed and wasn’t breathing. The sight of Rebel floating in the water. The icepick in Rule’s hand, descending toward her chest.

The happiness and contentment she’d felt just two days ago before another near tragedy turned her world upside down.

Rebel telling her that she wanted to have sex with Diesel. When Rebel and Christopher first clashed over Diesel, he’d been living at the condo with Tabitha. Once he moved back, Meggie and Christopher decided it was easier to watch Diesel and keep him and Rebel apart if he was close.

Belatedly, she realized she hoped he’d show loyalty to Christopher, if not to her, and stay in line.

Tipping her head back, Meggie pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t cry. There’d been enough tears and hospital stays and near misses to last a lifetime. She wanted simplicity again. As simple as their lives could be, at least.

Just as some of her best moments had taken place in the suite, so too had some of her worst, including the pain of her and Christopher growing apart.

Maybe new construction would herald a new beginning. She’d hold onto that thought and ignore her poignancy, the comfort of familiarity.

She walked to the standalone shower and started the water, so it would warm up, then peeled off her clothes and pinned her hair up. She’d wash it once she finished cleaning. This shower would be quick, meant to refresh her.

The water felt good sluicing over her body and she regretted not cleaning first, so she could enjoy her shower more. It was washing away the yuckiness of the past two days, her tears and weariness.

Hands settled on her shoulders and she jumped, releasing a frightened cry.

“It’s just me, baby,” Christopher whispered, nuzzling her neck.

She turned and laid her head against his chest, allowing her heart to settle down. “I didn’t hear you come in,” she said, her arms going around him, his hard cock pressing against her belly.

He removed the pins from her hair. She didn’t stop him, even though she’d have to deal with it once she got out. Christopher liked it loose.

He lifted her in his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist, tipping her head back as his mouth descended to hers.

“You been cryin’, Megan.”

It wasn’t a question, but Meggie had one of her own. “I have?”

“I taste the salt of tears,” he told her.

“I didn’t realize it,” she said truthfully, leaning her head on his shoulder, comforted by him. His presence. His strength.

He set her on her feet, grabbed her body wash, and poured some into his big hands. He sniffed, a practice he’d adopted after Axel added hair remover as part of his plan to avenge Meggie.

She giggled.

Christopher gave her a sheepish smile and kneeled in front of her. “That lil’ motherfucker traumatized me, baby.”

“He traumatized Diesel, CJ, and Kaia, too.”

“That list much fuckin’ longer than that,” he grumbled, spreading his hands over her belly and upward to her breasts, paying special attention to her nipples.

Pleasure shot through her and Meggie groaned.

“Cry if you gotta,” he murmured, meeting her gaze, his hands moving to her back. “I’m here to dry them up. To listen to your pain and your fear. To find a way to take it from you and absorb it myself.”

“I was so scared, Christopher,” she told him, blinking, the water beating down on her back and plastering her hair to her skin. “I thought I’d lost my baby.” Again.

“Again,” Christopher said as if he read her mind.

“Yes,” she croaked. “Again.”

“Whatcha need from me? Here and now? Tell me.”