Chapter 26
Pipe
“Okay, I think we have everything we need. We’ll be in touch if we find anything or if we have any other questions.”
Pipe nodded to the police officer who looked to be no older than twenty. “We’d appreciate that.”
By the time the police had arrived, Pipe was walking through the door and stashed the gun he had grabbed before above the fridge.
“I’d advise keeping your curtains closed until we find whoever is doing this.” The officer tipped his hat at me and walked out the door.
Pipe shut the door behind him and leaned against it. “Now this creep is really starting to piss me off.”
This creep was starting to scare me, and well, creep me out. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice him standing there.” I ran my fingers through my hair and plopped down on the couch. I had managed to put on a pair of leggings and a shirt before Pipe had gotten back to the house and the cop showed up. My skin was crawling, and I just felt dirty. I rubbed my arms and hung my head. “I just can’t,” I whispered.
I listened as I heard Pipe close the curtains and lock the front door. “Get up, sugar. You and I are going to shower and then we’re going to bed.”
I looked up and shook my head. “Please, I really don—”
“Stop. I’m not talking sex. I’m talking we shower, and then we try to sleep.”
“I don’t think I can sleep right now.” My head was a complete mess. I was ten times more terrified than the last time this had happened. Whoever this guy was had watched me at my most intimate moment with Pipe. Being with Pipe was meant for only me and him.
“Whatever you want. We can watch a movie, play a game, read a book. Whatever you want.”
I nodded and stood. “Okay.” I wasn’t sure how good of company I was going to be, but Pipe didn’t seem to really care. “Are you sure the curtains are closed enough?”
Pipe grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hallway as I wearily looked over my shoulder at the window. “They’re closed, sugar. Try not to worry about it.”
I sighed and leaned against the sink. Pipe turned on the water and pulled the shower curtain shut. “Clothes off.” He was still wearing only his pants and tugged them down his legs.
“I just feel off,” I muttered. I looked around and rubbed my hands together. I knew no one was watching us now, but I couldn’t shake the feeling someone was.
“Hey,” Pipe called. He grabbed my hand and wrapped me up in his arms.
I shivered and buried my head in his chest. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
“There isn’t anything to be sorry for, sugar. I’m here. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
“I don’t know why this is happening. What did I do?”
“Hey, hey.” His hand caressed my cheek and gently tilted my head back to look up at him. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t know why this guy is doing this, but we’ll get it figured out. Between me and the police, this guy is more than caught.”
“I don’t want you to go looking for him. What if when you chased after him tonight, he hurt you? I couldn’t have lived with myself knowing you got hurt because of me.”
He shook his head and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’m telling you right now, sugar, this guy is not going to hurt you or me. He’s a coward who stands in the shadows. He doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Okay,” I whispered. I trusted Pipe would keep me safe, but I was still worried he was going to get hurt doing it. “We should probably hop in the shower.” The steam was billowing over the top of the curtain and fogging up the mirror.
Pipe helped me strip down, taking extra care of me. His hands ran over my body, and he pressed a kiss to my collarbone. “You’re mine, Nikki, and I always take care of what's mine.”
I face-planted into his chest and sighed. “Thank you.”
I loved this man.
He was my rock when I was scared.
My shield when I needed protecting.
My soft place to land when I’d had a hard day.
He was mine, and I was the luckiest damn woman in the world.
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