Saved by the Cross (Cross 3)

10 - Ana

Doyle watched Gray get up. The man was god-like and unselfish. Had the f-ing rocker thought about her needs? He wouldn't have cared about her bruises. Gray treated her like a partner, with mutual orgasms. She smiled since she had two and he only had one really long one.

As she got off the bed, she marveled at how much better she felt. Twenty-four hours before she was still fighting off something. She ignored her headache and fever even when she felt shitty at dinner. Maybe she should have stayed home and slept it off. Then she wouldn't have been beaten or met Gray. Perhaps it was best because the psycho could have beat her another time when Gray couldn't have saved her.

After locating her thong, she slipped it on and thought about joining Gray in the shower. She opened the bathroom door. "Need help with your back?"

He chuckled. "Already washed. I'm coming out. K, I might have to work today."

"That's cool. K?"

The water went off and he grabbed a towel. When he opened the shower door, she stared at him. Broad didn't describe him, but he tapered off at his hips. His abs and pecs were defined.

"Yeah, K. Katherine is too long. Do you go by a different nickname? Kathy? Katie?"

She looked at her feet. "Um. K's good. I like it."

"You can shower. I need coffee."

She stepped towards him and put her hand on his chest. "Thanks for earlier. It was, um..." Nice was too blah.

He smiled. "Fantastic." Unable to stop himself. His mouth found hers. Her body hummed again, but he had to work.

She pulled back. "Go while you still can."

He laughed as he stepped out of the bathroom. After showering and dressing in another pair of shorts, she entered the kitchen and stopped. Gray wore a nicely cut suit. Macintyre wore suits but not like the one Gray had on.

"Snazzy. That's no cheap suit."

He looked down at himself. "Why would I wear a cheap suit? Image is important."

"Your image is professional."

"Thanks." He looked at his watch. "I need to go. I shouldn't be long. The order came. It's right here."

Doyle busied herself by making tea. She heard the motor as the garage door went up and ran to the front windows. She could only see part of the car as it drove away. The basement view was limited as she watched a pair of legs walking a small terrier.

In the kitchen, she opened the back door Gray left through. Testing the door to make sure it wouldn't lock behind her, she stepped out into a small area. Stairs went up to the rest of the house. She looked in one door to find a workout room with a treadmill, two Peloton bikes, and weights. Behind the third door was the double garage with one car left in the space.

Opting not to go near the stairs, she returned to Gray's apartment. There could have been cameras watching her. Checking out a garage and an exercise room was not a big deal. During Amelia's last garden party, Percy caught some guests wandering around upstairs violating their privacy.

After putting away her new shampoo and other things, She walked in circles trying to decide what to do. Stopping in front of the bookshelf, she studied the rows of books. He had Patterson and Corbin. She picked up a Mazzarelli book and turned it over. He was cute, but an average build compared to Gray. As she sat down to read, she wondered if Gray had read it. She had never been a reader, but the noise of the TV gave her a headache.

She could have a concussion. What had the doctors told Tate when she hit her head doing Karate? No screens. Maybe that was why the TV bothered her. Never had she gone so long without checking social media. The band was gone, and she didn't care if Mick didn't miss her. Gray was ten times a better man than the guitarist.