Free Home Is Where the Heart Is by Abigail Hart Page B

on her. “Take your time and get yourself cleaned up. I’ll check on you in a minute.”
    Kyra stood frozen, as if she hadn’t heard a word he had said. Dylan trembled as he looked at the broken woman before him. She had endured a lot in a short amount of time, more horror than anyone should have to deal with in a lifetime. Seeing her like this broke his heart. She looked so fragile. Shattered.
    He placed his arm around her petite shoulders and helped her to the bathroom. Once inside he eased the door closed. She just stood there, unmoving, her eyes dull with shock. He carefully gripped the hem of her snug fitting t-shirt and pulled it over her head, revealing a pink bra stained with blood. His fingers found the clasp and snapped it free, letting the bra fall from her slim shoulders, revealing her perky breasts. Her breath hitched at the feel of his touch on her skin.
    Dylan placed a large warm hand on her hip to steady her as he unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her slim gorgeous legs. He glanced up into those enchanting green eyes, wishing he could join her in the shower but knowing this was far from a good time. She needed his trust and friendship, not the lust that was thrumming like a hurricane inside him.
    Taking a deep breath and holding it for what seemed like forever, he kept his eyes at her feet counting slowly to ten before letting it out, hoping his head would clear, allowing him to find the restraint he desperately needed. He didn’t want to stare at her nakedness. It just wasn’t right and it made him feel dirty considering the situation. Enjoying this was wrong. He knew that. He reached for her tiny pink panties and carefully slid them down her body, easing one foot free of her clothing and then the other. Feeling guilty for having lustful thoughts at a moment like this, he pushed the urges aside and helped her into the shower.
    Kyra huddled under the warm spray, taking the washcloth Dylan handed her. He turned away, disappearing from the bathroom. Her movements were slow and robotic as she began washing away the blood that had already begun to dry on her skin. She collapsed onto the shower floor, crying. The choking sobs had taken over her body, barely allowing her to catch her breath. She couldn’t feel anything anymore. She had nothing else to lose. The darkness Dylan talked about earlier in the day had taken everything from her. In one week, she had managed to lose her entire family.
    Before she could collect her thoughts and get herself together, she heard a knock on the bathroom door. Not ready to face the world yet, she drew her knees to her chest and fell to pieces all over again. A few seconds later, the bathroom door eased open.
    “Kyra, are you alright?” Dylan asked.
    “I just need a few more minutes,” Kyra mumbled between sobs.
    “Sure. I just wanted to check on you.” Dylan responded with a soft tone as he closed the door.
    Kyra shook her head, stunned that she had let him undress her. In that moment, she had fought an internal battle… and let the darker side of herself win that battle. She had let him undress her, let him see her as no other man had. She had no regrets; not really. But she so wanted to feel his hands on her flesh once more. In all her fantasies, she had never once imagined anyone but him seeing her naked flesh. But not like this. Not when she was so very separated from her body, unable to register his touch, unable to enjoy the pleasure of being so close to him.
    Then, like a freight train, the memory of her mother lying dead in her arms slammed into her and guilt followed. Kyra felt disgusted for thinking of herself, felt dirty. Shame coated her so thickly even the warmth of the shower couldn’t wash it away. She deserved to feel shamed after letting her lustful thoughts take center-stage after the loss of her mom.
    Regaining control, Kyra eased herself out of the shower and dried off. Dylan had brought her bag into the bathroom for her, and – not caring