Despite his initial reluctance, Taylor was an absolute life saver. The bath? His idea. The flower petals in the bath? His idea. The candles everywhere? Also, his idea. The champagne glass of chilled juice? Well, that was me, but Taylor had begrudginglyadmitted it wasn’t a terrible idea and suggested the berries as an accompaniment.
The beef stroganoff warming in the oven was from Dex’s favorite restaurant the next town over. The sparkling juice chilling in the fridge was the non-alcoholic version of what he and his friends had toasted with on his twenty-first birthday.
The rest of the night? That was all on me.
When the oven timer chimed, I tapped it off and slipped through the half-open door to the steam-filled bathroom and found Dex watching me through slitted eyes.
“Relaxed?”
“Mmhm,” my Omega sighed, stretching his arm over to pick up the juice flute. His eyes fluttered closed as he drained the glass. “Is it time to get out?”
“Almost,” I agreed softly, unbuttoning and rolling up my sleeves. “After we get you all clean.”
Dex’s eyes flew open. “You’re not washing me?”
“I’m not?” I asked, cocking my head.
“I mean, are you?” Dex asked, his cheeks flushing.
“If you’ll let me.”
Dex bit down on his bottom lip nervously. “You really want to?”
I nodded. “I really, really do. I want to take care of you.”
Dex blew out his breath and nodded slowly. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”
Setting my phone on the vanity, I tapped to start the playlist Taylor and I had worked together on before sinking to my knees by the tub.
Squeezing the body wash into the sponge, I traced my way over my Omega’s body, carefully cataloging every reaction as I spread the suds, noting where he was the most responsive and which areas to avoid later. After all, the goal was to drive Dex out of his mind with desire, not to have him squirming and laughing because I hit a ticklish spot.
Once I had him all clean, I reached for the handheld shower head to wash his hair. When I was sure Dex was squeaky clean, I helped him to his feet and wrapped him in a thick, fluffy towel.
“Feel better?”
Dex sighed. “So relaxed, Alpha.”
I grinned. “We’re not done yet.”
“We’re not?” Dex arched a comically suspicious brow and I shook my head slowly.
“We’re definitely not. Why don’t you pull on something comfortable while I get dinner served up?” I suggested, wrapping him in my arms, damp towel and all.
Dex snuggled against me and leaned up to press a kiss to my chin before trying to step away. When I tightened my embrace, Dex laughed.
“Alpha, if you want me to get dressed, you’re gonna have to let me go.”
I shook my head slowly, dropping kisses on his soft, damp hair. “I don’t think I like that plan.”
Dex snorted. “You want me to come to the table in a towel? Or naked, instead?”
I leaned back, still keeping my arms around him and considered my options. Sighing, I hugged him tightly one moretime and then let him go. “Honestly, I’d be good with either of those options but it’s chilly in here and I won’t risk you getting sick, so shoo.”
Dex laughed and ducked under my arm, scampering into the bedroom while I made my way back to the kitchen and began to lay the food out on the carefully set table.
Phase two of planwoo Dexwas officially under way.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
