Chapter 348: First Accident

Nathan’s POV

The scream tore through the bathroom like a siren and I squeezed my eyes shut for a second.

The moment I noticed that she wasn’t planning on slowing down with the screaming, I moved on instinct.

I crossed the distance between us in two strides and clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Jesus Christ,” I whispered softly. “Stop screaming, Kay. It’s just my naked body. Why are you reacting like you found a corpse? You’ll wake the whole building.”

Her eyes blazed as she glared at me.

Not annoyed.

Not embarrassed.

Murderous.

She made an angry sound against my palm and immediately started struggling, twisting, pushing at my chest, trying to pry my hand away.

And because the universe enjoys making me happy all the time, her towel slipped too.

I felt it happen before I fully saw it.

The loose fabric brushed my wrist, then dropped between us.

My entire body locked as I felt her warm and soft against me.

For one stunned, breathless second, neither of us moved.

We were suddenly standing chest to chest.

Completely naked.

Too close.

Far too close.

I wanted to scream in excitement. To lift her up and spin her around. This is just day one and we’re already getting to see each other's naked body.

Yeah. I’m betting my entire fortune that accidents like this will happen often. Well, if it doesn’t, I could make it happen.

Her wet skin still carried the scent of soap and heat from the shower. Tiny droplets clung to her collarbone, slid between the curves of her breasts, tracked down smooth skin I had no business staring at and yet could not stop staring at.

My body reacted instantly.

My cock hardened so fast it was almost painful, nudging against her thigh.

Her eyes widened in shock and anger. Then narrowed.

Shock gave way to fury so quickly it was impressive.

I opened my mouth to say something…anything useful…like the fact that she has a gorgeous body.

But nothing came out.

With a sound somewhere between a growl and a war cry, Kayla shoved me with both hands.

Hard.

I flew backward like I had been launched.

My shoulder hit first.

Then my back.

Then the floor.

Pain burst through me sharp enough to steal the air from my lungs.

“Fuck—”

I wheezed there for a second, blinking at the ceiling, while somewhere above me Kayla scrambled for her towel.

By the time I managed to push up onto an elbow, she had herself covered again, though badly wrapped and shaking with outrage.

She pointed at the door.

“Get out. Now!”

I winced and sat up straighter.

“Kayla, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” I sucked in a breath. “I got called in. I came to grab clean clothes. I knocked but you didn’t answer and I needed to get changed and leave immediately. I thought…”

I stopped because she was standing there glaring at me, damp hair wild around her shoulders, towel clenched to her chest, looking so beautiful it was physically difficult to continue speaking.

How was this woman real?

How had all of that been hidden behind oversized bakery aprons and sweatpants, defensive walls, and a permanent scowl?

I dragged in another breath.

“I just needed a fresh set of clothes, Kayla.”

“Get. Out.”

“I still need the clothes though.”

She stared at me.

Then screamed, louder than before.

“GET THE FUCK OUT!”

That got me moving immediately. I got up so fast I nearly slipped and bolted toward the door.

Something smacked me square on the backside.

I yelped and turned.

My towel. She had thrown the towel at my ass.

Before I could recover, the bedroom door slammed shut so hard the frame shook.

A muffled scream came from the other side…half rage, half mortification.

I stood there for a moment, naked, holding a towel like a trophy.

Then I started laughing.

It came out breathless and helpless.

I staggered back to the couch and dropped onto it, rubbing a hand over my face.

God help me.

I was in love with a woman who could body-check me across a room and bean me with linen.

Still smiling like an idiot, I got dressed in the clothes I’d taken off earlier, clipped on my badge, grabbed my wallet and phone, then walked back to her bedroom door.

“I’m leaving,” I said through the wood. “What’s the passcode for the front door in case I get back late? I don’t want to wake you.”

Silence.

Then more silence.

I could practically hear her deciding whether murder was worth prison time.

“Kayla?” I called out. But still, I was met with silence.

Finally, through clenched teeth, she answered.

“Zero. Five. Two. Six.”

I filed it away automatically.

Could be her son’s birthday.

Could be something important.

Could be random numbers.

But with Kayla, nothing felt random.

“I wrote down my direct line and office line,” I said. “It’s on the kitchen counter. If anything happens, call me. If Caleb shows up, call me immediately.”

No answer.

I rested my forehead briefly against the door.

Then exhaled and walked away.

As the elevator descended, one thought settled in my chest with dangerous certainty.

Moving in here had been the smartest thing I’d done in my entire life.

Down in the driveway, headlights cut through the concrete shadows.

Felix had arrived with my car.

He stepped out holding the keys, brows pulled together.

“Captain… What are you doing here? I was shocked when I got the text to bring your car to this unit.”

I caught the keys one-handed and grinned.

Then I turned to my car.

Black Aston Martin.

Low, sleek, expensive enough to offend people on sight.

My beautiful machine. But not as beautiful as my wife though.

I slapped the hood once like greeting an old friend.

“I live here now.”

Felix blinked.

“What?”

I opened the driver’s side door.

“Moved in with my wife.”

He nodded automatically, still processing, and slid into the passenger seat.

Then suddenly froze.

Slowly, dramatically, he turned to look at me.

“Captain…” he said.

A beat passed.

Then he shouted so loudly it echoed through the garage.

“DID YOU SAY WIFE?!”

Oh yeah. I’m off the market champ.