We moved toward the shower that had been running for some time during our tiny showdown. It was a good thing the hotel had plenty of hot water. Once we stepped in, I positioned her under the spray to wet her hair before turning her back to me.
Grabbing the bottle of shampoo Patience had brought with her—something floral and fresh, probably with daisies in it—I dumped a glob into the palm of my hand and weavedmy fingers into her stands, massaging her scalp as I saturated her locks.
“That feels heavenly,” she moaned, for what seemed an eternity. “Don’t stop,” came next in a breathless whisper.
Fuck.
My cock had a mind of its own, and the woman in front of me could stir up desire with the simplest touch or just one look. Hell, just being in close proximity had that effect on me. So I didn’t stand a chance of keeping it completely under control while she was naked, moaning, and talking to me in that tone.
However, I wouldn’t do a thing about it—it wasn’t the time. It also wasn’t the first time I had to ignore it. I’d done that for many years before marrying Patience just months ago. My wife had been the only woman to make me feel an ounce of desire, lust, or that I’d ever loved.
And she would be the last.
“It’s always been you.”
Patience spun in my arms—causing my hands to drop from her head—her eyes assessing me softly. “What?”
That was when I realized I’d spoken the last part. “I guess I was thinking out loud,” I told her. “I love you, Roo. I still can’t believe I wasted so much time not telling you before now.”
She placed her palms on my bare chest, and a tingle raced through my body. Her touch was electric. While we’d always been affectionate, this was different. It was filled with so many more feelings that we allowed ourselves to show one another now.
“It’s okay,” she told me, running her hands up and down my abdomen—clearly trying to kill me. “You told me now, and I could have spoken up too.”
Her nails scratched my bare, wet skin, and my dick jumped to attention. She didn’t even realize what she wasdoing to me. That was until my hardened length poked her belly. Patience’s gaze flicked down between our bodies and then back up to meet my eyes.
“Sorry,” she said, sheepishly pulling her hands free from my body.
I rubbed my hands up and down her arms. “Don’t be. I seem to always be in a state of arousal around you. Not something we need to worry about right now with the day we have ahead.”
That thought had my raging erection already deflating. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the next couple of days.
My wife wrapped her arms around my waist and looked up at me. “We’ll get through it together, honey. I promise not to leave your side unless you need space at any point. Then just ask.”
She’s the reason you are going to make it through this.
“I couldn’t do this without you,” I told her, my voice gravelly with emotion.
“You’re the strongest man I know, so I think you could.” She leaned in and kissed my chest, then pulled back. “But you don’t have to.Ever.”
Moving my hand from her arm, I swept it across her chest to cover her heart, not missing the slight grimace on her face before she masked it. What the heck was that? She couldn’t still be hurting from the attack; she’d been fine.
While my mind raced, I continued. “You have the biggest heart of anyone I know, and I am so damn lucky that you gave me a piece of it. I’m glad you’re with me.”
“This is the only place I’d be right now, because I love you too.”
“Thank God for that,” I said, smiling. “Let’s finish your hair.”
Returning my smile, she turned around. “I won’t say no to that.”
She sighed as my hands began rubbing her scalp again, and I was glad it felt good to her. As I worked through her hair, my mind raced, taking stock of what I had noticed this morning.
My wife was sick, puking. She looked tired, but there had been a lot going on. But was that it or something else? Then another thought entered my head. Her breasts were sore. It may not have hurt badly, but when my hand touched her there was discomfort.
Something niggled at my brain.
Suddenly it hit me.
She couldn’t be. Could she?
