He pulled my loose hair to the side and kissed my nape. “I left the details to the architect. I told him I wanted the biggest fucking tub he could find. I work hard, but I like my comfort.”
I did too, but that was a face mask when they were on sale. Sitting on his lap alone was a luxury. Getting carried up the freaking stairs like I was just a bulky scarf was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Having him steal my cookies and then feed them to me ranked as an erotic fantasy.
I could very easily get used to this.
Who was I kidding? All that and then the sex? I was a goner.
I laid my head back and the ends of my hair floated out to the sides. “I can’t believe you were hiding this in your room. I bet it’s the most popular part of your house.”
“Like I said, no one’s been in here but me.”
I peeked at him, but he was focused on the bubbles. Or my nipples. I couldn’t tell.
“You didn’t believe me?” He sounded almost hurt.
“It’s okay if you did, you know. We both have pasts. But...no one?” Maybe I hadn’t truly believed him. Guys said a lot to get laid, and it wasn’t like I had stopped to ask myself if he’d been sincere. I’d wanted to get laid too. “I’m sorry. I should’ve known you meant it.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’ll earn your trust one day.”
“No, I trust?—”
“Allof it.”
Fair enough.
“No one’s been in my room.” He trailed his fingers through the wet strands of my hair. “I’ve never had a woman here.”
I sat up, my butt grinding against his thighs, and half turned. “Why?”
“This is my safe space.” The corner of his mouth lifted and his gaze went distant again. “I wouldn’t change anything about my past because I wanted what my parents had. They loved each other. If someone doesn’t believe in soulmates, then they haven’t spent any time around Mae and Darin Bailey. Those two were in sync. Somehow even their arguments ended in laughter. I thought it was a one-in-a-million thing. Then Tate married his first wife and only confirmed it.”
I barely recalled that Tate had been married before. Mom had complained when he’d moved back to town and made some snide comments about his marriage failing and apparently those Baileys weren’t good when it counted. I’d only listened with one ear.
“But then he met Scarlett. And Wynter tracked down Myles.”
I turned my head again. “Tracked him down?”
His fond, big-brother grin was everything I had wanted growing up. “He had no clue who she was when she started working for him as an assistant. Then he shows up for Dad’s funeral, and bam, there she is, at the kitchen table.” He went quiet for a moment. “All my siblings fell like dominos. One by one, holding out until they found their perfect match. After the way I behaved once Wendi split, I didn’t want random anymore. I didn’t want to fill my house with memories that weren’t from me and my perfect partner.”
I swallowed hard. “Then someone threw a brick through my bar’s window.”
“You’re not random, Madison,” he said quietly.
“You’ve had a long dry spell.”
“You’re very much worth it.”
An exhale puffed out of me. “You’re a real sweet talker.”
“I’m honest.” He flattened his hands on my stomach. “This thing between us isn’t coincidence, and I hope I’m not the only one who wants to see where it goes.”
“You want to?” I hated how scared I sounded. Being cheated on had left a gaping wound over my heart that threatened to swallow me up in the name of self-preservation.
But I could trust Teller.
He slipped his hand farther down my belly until his finger tunneled through my seam. I squirmed and my breasts lifted above the bubble line. He cupped one while making lazy circles with his other hand. Under my ass, his dick grew, prodding at my flesh.
He nipped my earlobe. “I want to.”
