Chapter 14
Tony
“Hey.” Pepper walks out of my bedroom with a sheet wrapped under her armpits at three in the afternoon. I tried to keep her dressed last night; I sure as hell didn’t want her waking up this morning thinking I’d taken advantage of her. But she’d insisted on taking her clothes off before she crawled in my bed, said she was hot.
Which meant I slept on the couch.
Sleep rumpled and flushed, her full lips parted, she looks just like Venus on the Half-Shell, now. If Venus had a fluffy platinum and pink bob and pierced nose, that is.
“Hey.” I get up from the table where I was sitting and scan her with concern, noting the finger bruises on her neck. “How are you today?” I walk toward her but don’t touch. I’m not sure the reception I’ll get now that she’s not drugged.
“Okay.” H
