“Okay,” she croaks. “Christian?”
“Yes, baby.”
“I hate her,” she repeats.
I sigh and wash my hands in the sink. “I do too.”
“Are you…” She sniffles. “Do you need to call…”
I shake my head and stand between her legs again, my arms around her. “I’m okay. I’m with you.”
“If you need to, call him,” Lana tells me firmly through her tears. “Promise me you will.”
“I promise, baby.” I kiss her. “But I’m fine right here with you.”
Lana kisses me back. “Okay. Me too.”
“I’ve got you,” I breathe. I lower Lana from the counter and her tender hands begin to undo my tie. I take the liberty of undoing the buttons on my shirt and her hands move to my belt and pants.
“Shower with me,” she whispers and undoes her robe, letting it fall from her arms and pool at her feet.
With her eyes locked on mine, I remove the rest of my clothes, letting them fall to the floor. Her gentle caramel eyes soften as they rake over my naked body, sending a shiver up my spine.
My eyes roam over her body, her face of smeared with melted makeup she’ll wash off in the shower, and I am so fucking in love with her.
“I’m so in love with you,” I breathe out.
“Christian…” she breathes. “I love you so much.”
I close the space between us and hold her to me as I step into the shower. I turn on the shower, the water raining over us from the ceiling. Under the hot spray, Lana scrubs gently at her face and I rake my fingers through my hair to wash away the gel.
Lana opens her breathtaking eyes again as she pushes her soaked hair back. “Did you… Did you have fun before…”
I chuckle and reach for my shampoo just as she reaches for hers. “You turning into a territorial cavewoman was quite fun.”
That makes Lana laugh, and its mission accomplished. She squirts the shampoo in her palm with her dimples all for me. “You called me your wife,” she says, her cheeks turning rosy. “I liked it.”
I massage my scalp. “You are going to be my wife, Lana.”
“I know.” She massages her scalp too, sniffling. “I just like the way it sounds.”
I drop my hands from my head, letting the water rinse my hair, and say, “Turn.”
When she drops her hands, mine go immediately into her hair to wash it for her. “I think I just want to stay in tomorrow.”
“That’s okay,” I say. “I’ll handle my mother and come back to you.”
“Okay,” Lana mutters.
We shower and dry off, donning our robes before we get into bed—hers a silk pale yellow I bought just for her. I turn on the TV, find one of our favorite sitcoms, and pull her into me. This is where I find peace.
Lana yawns, and the sound brings me relief that she iscalm enough to sleep—soundly, I hope. “I love you,” she breathes.
I pull back her damp hair and kiss her neck. “I love you,” I whisper. “Go to sleep, baby.”
Sleepily moaning, she turns in my arms and kisses my lips softly before she settles against my chest. “Goodnight, baby.”
I kiss her head. “Goodnight, baby.”
