As I moved, I felt a twinge of soreness between my legs. Nix must have seen it as he cocked his head and asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, maybe a bit achy.”
“Well, I would have been offended if you’d gotten off Scot-free. I almost put my back out,” he added with a humorous look as he flexed his hips.
As I elbowed myself up into a sitting position, the cover slipped down, and I quickly clutched at it, dragging it up against my neck to cover my nakedness.
Phoenix chuckled at my panicked expression and shook his head. As he pushed to his feet, his broad shoulders cut off the light. “I think we’re past that, baby girl. There isn’t an inch of your body that I haven’t seen or tasted,” he teased, holding out his hand.
I placed my fingers in his, keeping the sheet there anyway; my courage from last night having faded slightly.
As I came to my feet, I checked him out as he released my hand and turned to open the drawer of the dresser.
Phoenix was dressed in gray sweatpants. They sat low on his hips, and he was topless. I eyed the muscles on his broad back as they flexed. Nix plucked out a black tee and turned to face me, those sculptured abs looking mouthwatering as usual. I could see water droplets on his chest, and his hair was damp, suggesting he’d taken a shower. He was so fresh-faced. I was only too aware of how gorgeous he looked when I probably looked like shit. Bedhead hair, remnants of yesterday’s make-up smudged across my face, not to mention death breath.
As I glanced down to check that the sheet was in place, he handed me the garment. It was one of his favorite T-shirts, and I felt honored to wear it.
“Thanks. What time is it?”
“Almost ten,” he replied with a grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement as they dropped to my death grip on the bedsheet.
“You gonna put that on?” he questioned with a flick of his head towards the tee I held, his jaw twitching.
“In a minute,” I assured him, nervously clearing my throat as I shook my hair back from my face.
“Look, I’ll be a gentleman. But only this one time,” Nix chuckled with a pointed finger as he turned his back.
I dropped the sheet and quickly tugged his top over my head. It held his scent, and I breathed him in as the material passed my nose. As it fell over my thighs, I quickly tidied my hair and pinched my cheeks to give them some color.
“OK,” I announced, so he knew I was ready.
“You sure?” he called, turning his head to the side. I knew I was being silly, but I couldn’t help it.
“Yes, thank you,” I replied with a coy look as he faced me.
“So sweet all of a sudden?”
“I’m always sweet,” I explained with a playful glint in my eyes.
His eyebrows inched towards his hairline. “Yeah, right,” he scoffed.
Before I could think of a response, he moved. A squeak left my lips as Nix lunged forward, bent down, and scooped me up, bridal style. I had no option but to wrap my arms around his neck.
“OK,” I panted, momentarily knocked off guard. I shot him a flustered look.
Nix’s expression was possessive as he kissed my nose and then winked, whisking me out of his bedroom and down the hallway. I so hoped we didn’t bump into any of the others. I warily eyed Micha’s bedroom door as we sailed passed.
When we got to the bathroom, Nix nudged the door with his shoulder, carried me inside, and lowered me onto the bathmat. I could see that he’d drawn me a bath as I slid my hands from around his neck.
Jerking his head towards the steaming water, he said, “In you get, while it's still warm.” He’d even put my bubbles and lavender salts in there, and it made me feel all gooey inside. I wasn’t overly girly, but I occasionally indulged in a pamper. Phoenix hated it when I put ‘flowery scented shit’ as he called it in the tub. He’d taken my head off a few times forstinkingup the bathroom, so the fact that he’d used it now felt romantic as well as thoughtful.
Placing his fingers on my shoulders, he then slowly turned me to face the water and wrapped his arms around my ribcage, so my back was against his chest. It felt so amazing to be held by him. He nuzzled the side of my neck and inhaled. “You smell of me and I like it.”
“Why the bath then? Surely that will wash the ‘you’ element off me,” I pointed out, reveling in that moment.
“Because you need it. It will help ease any soreness.”
Now that he mentioned it, parts of my body had started to wake up, and my hips also felt bruised.
