Chapter Thirty Two

Chapter Thirty Two
Zen’s POV
Thank fuck she collapsed when she did, otherwise I would’ve come inside her without any protection. I had never been so horny that I didn’t put on a condom, which meant that I had never fucked anyone without wearing a condom. It was an entirely new sensation, and I was lost in it. I could feel every ounce of her warm come on my dick, and it took everything I had to hold out as long as I did. I looked on in wonder at Elizabeth curled up on the mat, panting with the side of her hip covered in my semen. What had even happened? We were supposed to be training.
I got up, pulling up my shorts in the process. My legs were shaky, but I held it together long enough to retrieve the hand towel I had set out on the table. I padded my way back to my Princess, kneeling beside her. I did my best to clean her up while her breathing regulated. She was sensitive, flinching slightly at my touch anytime I strayed near her now swollen pussy. We would both need a hot bath to recover. Fuck the training; that was the most intense workout I had had in a while. Once I got her mostly clean, I removed her tennis shoes, followed by her socks and her pants.
I just wanted to kiss her again, but I hated the way she winced when I touched her face. I didn’t mean to hit her again, but I couldn’t stop it. My body was reacting to her defiance on its own. My chest ached at the added memory of me striking her face. As amazing as the sex was, that image would haunt me. I had to learn better control so it didn’t happen again. I wouldn’t let it happen again.
She released a contented sigh as I lifted her into my arms. My heart hammered against my chest when she snuggled into my neck, giving my clavicle a tender kiss. My sweet girl. I didn’t fucking deserve her. When I met her yesterday, I had no idea that she would completely change my world. She was a saint, and I loved her.
Fuck.
I love her? I just met her! Don’t go talking crazy, Zen.
“Zen, are you okay?” Her angelic voice pulled me from my confusing thoughts. The bathtub was filling, surrounding her naked body with cucumber melon scented bubbles. I stripped myself of my shirt, ready to climb into my third shower of the day.
“I’m okay, Princess. Just thinking.”
“Oh, well… Do you maybe want to join me in the bath? There’s plenty of room.” My eyes widened in surprise at her forwardness. She was hiding her smile beneath the bubbles, but I knew it was there by the way her blue eyes squinted at me. I chuckled, changing course and heading to the Jacuzzi bathtub. I picked her up, setting her in between my legs and pulling her against my chest. The near scorching water felt amazing against my sore muscles and her wet hair clung to my bare chest, tickling and warming my nipples. It made me want to laugh, but I kept it in, instead breathing in her heavenly scent. The bandage on my hand was absorbing too much water, so I removed it, discarding it in the trashcan beside the tub. “I’m so sorry about that.” She mumbled, collapsing further into my arms.
“Don’t be.” I murmured in response, my fingers gently tracing the red mark on her cheek. She hummed against my touch, closing her eyes. “Elizabeth…”
“Zen. I’m not upset with you. I basically asked for you to do that.” Her words jarred me. What the hell? The water sloshed around the tub as I quickly turned her to face me, both of my hands bracing her head so she would look at me.
“No, you didn’t. Don’t you fucking talk like that. It’s never okay for me to hit you there.” Her eyes widened for a moment in panic at my tone, but quickly softened into that same look of pity that she gave me earlier. “Elizabeth, nobody, not a single goddamn person should be allowed to hit you. I’m sorry.” I pressed my forehead to hers, lowering my eyes to her quivering lips. “I’m so sorry. There’s something wrong with me. I’m trying to be better for you. I just… I don’t want you to accept my bullshit. I want you to see that you deserve better than me…” My chest tightened at my confession, but her stable and melodic breathing soothed me. She brought her dripping hands up to my face, tracing one of her fingers over my furrowed brow and leaning in to give me a soft kiss on my lips. I didn’t know I could feel this way; this warm and comfortable.
“Zen,” she breathed against my freshly moistened lips. “Can you tell me about what happened? The, um, murder case that Tom mentioned?” I sucked in a harsh breath, flinching back from her instinctively. Why the hell was she asking me that? She didn’t need to know all of that twisted shit! I knew she could see the panic on my face because of the sad smile she awarded me. “It’s okay. It won’t change how I think of you.” She assured me, moving her hands to mine in my lap.
“Bullshit. You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Elizabeth.” I said from between my clenched teeth. She recoiled at my words.
“I’m sorry, Zen. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Damn it. Now I’ve made myself look like even more of an asshole.
“I’m done talking about it.” I pushed her away, shifting partly out of the tub so I could reach my cellphone on the counter. As soon as I settled back down, she clung to me, nuzzling her face into my chest. I did my best to ignore it, pulling up Tom’s phone number. Fucking Tom. Why the hell did I have to ask him what he knew? It took two rings for him to answer.
“It’s Warren.” I said into the phone, smirking at my use of my last name. It seemed fitting, since that’s how he referred to me when he threatened me.
“Fuck, it’s about time.” He groaned.
“Hey, you ungrateful twat, I’m early. I promised to call by noon tomorrow. I’m fifteen whole hours ahead of schedule. Show some gratitude.” I heard him snort, making me laugh. I stopped when I felt Princess’ slender fingers tracing the small scars scattered around my abdomen.
“Yea, so thankful. You’re lucky I don’t sleep, or I would’ve been pissed at the time. I saw you guys went to the mall today.”
“Fucking stalker.”
“Damn right, Warren. I told you that I would be watching.”
“Yea, we got some clothes and shit.”
“And weapons? I saw you also stopped by Bass Pro.” Of course he did.
“A few knives, not that it’s any of your damn business. We needed training equipment for Princess.” I ran my fingers through her lightly tangled hair, spreading my fingers to see if I could see my hand through it.
“Training?” He laughed a little louder than I liked. “Yea, Liz doesn’t do the training thing. Believe me, I’ve tried.” I smirked at the way she tensed on my chest.
“Mm, I don’t know. We had our first session tonight, and I thought she did a great job. Maybe you just didn’t have the right motivation.” Elizabeth immediately started coughing, and I couldn’t keep in my loud laughter.
“I don’t think that’s the kind of training she needs you sick bastard.”
“Don’t be so coy, Tommy. Any updates on your end?” I asked, diverting him from the topic for Princess’ sake, whose face was now buried into my peck, both of her hands clutching onto my shoulders.
“Firstly, don’t call me that. Second, I just contacted Richard to let him know that I couldn’t find Liz. I imagine he will report her missing to the authorities at the last possible second. He doesn’t want attention from the cops.” Elizabeth’s head sprung up from my chest, her face contorted in anger.
“Wait, my dad thinks I was kidnapped by thugs and he isn’t even calling the cops?! What the fuck is wrong with him?!” She shouted into the phone. I had to cover my mouth to stifle my laugh, earning me a glare from Princess.
“Woah, Liz. Did you just say ‘fuck’?” Her eyes widened and her cheeks immediately reddened.
“I-I… Tom, what is my dad doing that’s so illegal? I thought he was just some microbiologist for Amera? What could he possibly be doing?” I remained silent. I was curious too.
“Look, Liz, I don’t know much. He stays pretty private. You have been my top priority all these years. From what I’ve gathered, I think that maybe he sells research? Either way, whether its medication or diseases, whatever he’s selling isn’t to good people. Whoever he pissed off must be badass enough to have paid that bastard to kill you.” I glowered at the phone, which I was now holding between my girl and me. I waited for her to say something about him calling me a bastard, but she seemed too lost in her thoughts to do so. Her adorable glare made me smile. I leaned forward and kissed the corners of her downturned mouth.
“Hey, Tommy, we’re going to head to bed. Later.” I hung up, tossing my phone out of the bathtub and pulling her closer to me. ”You okay, baby?” I asked her, even though I knew she wasn’t.
“I just hate all of the secrets in my life.” She groaned, leaning her head back to look at me. Her piercing eyes were suffocating me, but maybe that was my stained conscience that was allowing her to get through to me. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, drawing circles onto her forehead with my thumb.
“Let’s head to bed and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”