CHAPTER SIX

RITCHIE

THE CLEANSING

M y eyes slowly opened. Taking in the room, I glanced at the warm fingers the color of cinnamon curled around my tan colored hand. Her long eyelash brushed her cheek. I swept a hand over her blonde hair sprawled across my shoulder.

“Tori, how do you feel?”

“The pain,” she yawned, releasing my hand to cover her mouth.

“It’s excruciating. Feels like someone shoved a hot blade in my chest that won’t stop throbbing.”

She turned her head, peering up at me through her one good eye. Her battered face was a constant reminder of what he did to her. I looked forward to torturing him.

“How are you doing?”

“Better. Now that you’re awake.” I smirked.

“How’s the new wound?” she asked.

“It doesn’t hurt as bad as the others.”

“Opal said it isn’t a gunshot wound. You were struck by something. Brock told her you were involved in an explosion.” Her brows lowered. “You were?”

“I was, Tori.”

“All for me again?” She shook her head.

I took her hand and squeezed it. “Of course. I’ll do it a thousand times over to bring you back to me.”

“You weren’t supposed to stay in my life, Ritchie.” A single tear slid down the side of her face.

“Did you really want me to walk away?” I found myself asking her this question often. It was ok. She didn’t believe she deserved to be loved. But I’d show Tori she did.

Fresh tears glistened in her eyes. “No, but-”

“But nothing. We deserve a love story, too.”

Pain and sadness slid over her facial features.

“Tori, I hadn’t put myself out there. My job is dangerous. Then a beautiful, pushy maid barged into my life. She made me see past my sorrow and take what I desired.”

Reaching over with my free hand, I cupped her chin. I ignored the pain slamming into the side of my torso and brushed my lips over hers.

“I won’t live without you, Tori.”

“What does that mean, Ritchie?”

“That I’ll be more careful going forward. I want to wake up to you when I’m home, that is.” My nose brushed her bruised cheek lightly. “I’ll sell my condo and buy a house in the suburbs. You’re coming home with me, baby.”

Her eye widened. “Ritchie, you know I-”

“I’m purchasing the house, Tori.”

Her brows lowered. “We’ll discuss this when I’m feeling better.”

My hand left her face and grazed her mound through her pants.

“Don’t touch me,” she yelled at the top of her lungs.

“Tori, what’s wrong?” Simone asked from the doorway.

I saw red. “Why don’t you want me to touch you?”

Her fingers grazed my cheek as more tears fell from her eyes. “I need to clean up. Wash the filth off me. He...he...”

Her eye slammed shut briefly. “I don’t think we should talk about it now.”

She peeked at her best friend. “I’ll be fine.”

“You have to tell him, Tori.”

“I know, Simone.”

“Did he rape you?” I asked.

“Please fasten your seatbelts. We’re landing,” the pilot stated overhead.

“No, he didn’t. But he violated me.” She placed a hand over her mound.

What the fuck did that sick fucker do to her?

“Promise you’ll wait to torture him until you’re healed.”

“Tori, you can’t ask me to wait.”

“Ritchie, please?” she begged.

“Fine. What happened?”

“He let Simone and I use the restroom under the watch of one of his men. We were still zip tied, so we had to help each other, or his soldier would help. Simone held my arms as I hovered over the toilet. Rosco burst into the bathroom and watched me pee. He unbuckled his jeans and peed on my mound. It was so sick. He said he was marking me as his. I just want to wash him off me, Ritchie.”

He urinated on my woman. Treated her like a fucking fire hydrant. “I’ll clean you up.”

“No, Ritchie,” she bit out. Embarrassment swept over her face. “I can do it.”

“I know you can. But you’re mine. And I will take care of you.”

She released a breath, cuddling into me. “Ok.”

Oh, the shit I had in store for that motherfucker.

Once we reached the warehouse, I didn’t waste time taking Tori into the bathroom. Her gaze gravitated to the oblong mirror trimmed in gray.

“How can you look at me?” Tori lightly touched her swollen lips. “My face looks disfigured. And I can’t see out of one eye.”

“Let’s take a shower. Afterwards, I’ll run a bath for you. I’m sure you want to relax.”

She smirked. “Yes.”

“Then I’ll treat your bruises. A bag of peas will help that eye heal nicely,” I said as I reached into the glass shower and turned the knob until the temperature was comfortable. The shower reminded me of a large box that looked more like a window trimmed in gray accents.

There was a knock at the door. “It’s Asia. I have all the supplies Tori asked for.”

“Come in,” Tori called out.

Asia entered the medium-sized bathroom, peeking between me and her best friend. “I have our favorite shampoo and conditioner. Cocoa butter, your special body scrub, cream, and other needed toiletries.”

“Thank you, Asia.” Tori wrapped an arm around her neck. “I can’t wait until I’m feeling better so we can sit and talk.”

Asia smiled. “Me either. I can wash your hair for you if you want.”

“Asia, I’ll get my woman cleaned up,” I stated, ignoring the pain swirling in my side.

Her eyebrows raised as she nodded. “Tori, your big guy’s gone ga-ga over you. I love it,” she whispered.

Asia sauntered out of the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Tori lined her toothbrush with toothpaste, then brushed her teeth. I kicked off my boots, removed my socks, and unfastened my cargo pants. Steam filled the bathroom. I peeled the bloody black t-shirt over my head. Pain vibrated through every inch of my body. The pain wouldn’t stop me from taking care of Tori. She turned slowly, moving the toothbrush in her mouth. Her gaze slid up and down my body.

“This reminds me of the time I came to your hotel room. You were dressed in...” She waved her toothbrush at me. “...only a pair of boxers.”

“I’ll never forget that day,” I said as I stepped closer, sliding my thumb over her sealed eye. She closed the other.

“Tori, don’t hide from me.”

She wiggled out of my touch and returned to the sink, rinsing her mouth out. “I’m getting in the shower now.”

“No. Have a seat on the toilet.”

She did as she was told. I grabbed my toothbrush off the sink.

“Ritchie, can’t you let me just wash the lower half of my body?”

I pushed the toothbrush up and down my teeth and around my mouth. A burst of mint filled my mouth. It felt good. “No,” I muttered around the toothbrush.

She didn’t say another word, just waited until I finished brushing my teeth.

“Time to come out of those soiled clothes.”

“Ritchie, don’t.” Tori raised her hands, trying to keep me at arm’s length.

I grabbed her hand and led her toward the shower. Surprisingly, she reached for my boxers with one hand and tugged them down my hips. I pushed them the rest of the way down my legs. My cock sprung to attention. It shouldn’t have. How could I want to fuck her in our wounded state?

“Ritchie, I can’t believe you’re hard for me.” A smirk pulled at her swollen lips.

“The bruises don’t stop me from wanting to fuck you into next week.”

She laughed. “It’s sweet you’re still attracted to me.”

“I got you back. Tonight, we’ll fall asleep to a movie of your choice.”

Her eye widened. “Seriously?”

“Yes. We’ll sleep in one of the bedrooms upstairs until our bed arrives tomorrow for our bedroom. We need a wider bed so we can heal properly.”

“Sounds good. I’m so tired,” she admitted.

I pulled the sports bra gingerly down her stomach. Leaving it there, I yanked the cargo pants off her. The look of discomfort held firm on her face.

A strong, pungent urine smell hit my nostrils as her pants hit the floor.

“Please, let me shower alone.”

“Hell, no,” I yelled.

That sick fucks actions were getting under my skin more and more.

“Baby, I’ll wash him off of you.”

She nodded, unable to stop the tears from falling. I hated she was in his presence at all. The thought of crushing him like a bug calmed me. That thought was the only thing stopping me from tossing on my pants and pulverizing him.

I slipped the sports bra the rest of the way down her body, then threw it aside.

“Place your hand on my shoulder,” I ordered. Lowering to my knees before her, I lifted each foot and peeled off her socks.

“Ritchie,” she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut as she dug her fingernails into my tender shoulder. Pain radiated through it. I was so banged up. Getting on my knees wasn’t my wisest decision. Nor was going to rescue my woman after I’d been shot several times.

The last thing to remove from her sexy body was the soiled underwear. Holding her gaze, I slid the panties down her thighs and legs, allowing them to drop to the floor. I flung them aside and winced as I stood to my full height.

“I’m going to get you washed up, then I’ll let you sit in the bath for a little while.” I snatched the body washes off the sink.

“Ok.” Hand on the small of her back, I guided her steps into the shower.

I closed the glass door behind us and got to work. Lathering one of the washcloths I found in the shower cubby, I doused it with body wash. I washed her mound first.

Her teeth bit into her swollen lip. “Don’t do that, Tori.”

“Do what?”

“Bite your lower lip,” I said as I washed her pussy.

“It all seems surreal. You taking care of me. Us being a couple. I never thought we’d be together. A fling sure.”

“The moment I tasted your lips,” I started.

“Which lips?” she quipped.

A chuckle rattled in my chest. “The lips on your beautiful face...that day at the gun range. We kissed like starved animals.”

She smirked. “I was starving for you, Ritchie.”

“You were, and I loved every minute of it.” I winked.

I washed her pussy about five times. That was the number of times I felt it took to get his DNA off my woman.

“That day at the hotel when I feasted on your pussy, I knew I was a goner. There was absolutely no way I could get enough of you. Even though we’re all banged up. I can’t wait to have you sit on my face.”

Her eyes widened. “Ritchie, I can’t.”

“You can, and you will. Forget that asshole. You belong to me.”

Her fingers grazed my bearded cheek. “I won’t argue.”

Slowly, I stood to my feet. The pain meds finally kicked in. Maybe that was why I felt invincible.

“Once we’re healed, I’ll guide your hips and watch you ride my dick like a pro.”

“I’m looking forward to that,” Tori moaned.

I circled soap over her body, careful not to get her bandage wet.

“Ritchie, I gave you a sponge bath the last night I was here. I even tried to slide down your dick.”

I arched a brow. “You did? I felt your hands on my body. I thought it was a dream or an out-of-body experience.”

She gasped. “Really?”

“Yup.” I smirked.

“Well, your dick was so big I couldn’t make it fit.”

“Don’t worry. The first time we have sex I’ll take it slow.”

She rested her head against my chest. “I’m so happy we're together again.”

“Me too,” I admitted.

After I got us all cleaned up, Arlis came into our temporary bedroom and examined us.

“Ritchie, you put a lot of strain on your injuries. You’ll need to rest for another week.”

“I can’t. I have an asshole to torture,” I bit out.

He nodded. “I know. Not to worry. Catch will keep him secure until you’re healed. Then you can torture him as you please.”

I sighed. “Fine. What about Tori?”

“Her wound looks good. Whoever removed the bullet did a good job stitching her up. We’ll work on mobility exercises with you both over the next week.”

“Arlis, I can’t thank you enough for taking care of me and Tori.”

“You’re welcome.”

Tori snuggled her left side into my arm. “Yes, thanks for everything, Arlis.”

“No problem.” He sauntered out the door.

I placed a bag of peas on her eye, then tapped the power button on the remote. “Not sure how much I’ll sleep, knowing you’re lying next to me. I don’t want to wake up and find out that you’re not here.”

Her fingers caressed my cheek. “I’m sorry I left.”

“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll pay for that shit, too. You will not make another move without me, Tori.”

She groaned.

“That means no running off to find fucking Daryl. Kagan is searching for that motherfucker as we speak. He’ll pay for all the shit he put you through.” My fingers caressed her belly, moving over her mound. This time, she didn’t stop my hand.

“Understood, Ritchie.”

I released an exaggerated breath. It felt so good to hold my woman in my arms. Once we were feeling better, we’d torture those assholes until there was nothing left. Tori would soon encounter the skilled, torturous monster I really was.