Not to choke him, though.
But because I want his reaction. Iwantthe animalistic energy he’ll give me in response to my threat, no matter how that looks or where I end up. I want to take out my irritation and myanger over the fucked-up murder out on Larkin in all the best ways, though none of those ways end with him dead.
Well, that’s not true.
I’d be lying to myself if I sometimes didn’t fantasize about the light leaving his eyes while I straddle him, my hands around his neck so I can feel the moment that his life?—
“Tova.” His voice breaks through my fantasies, drawing me back to the present with a small, guilty jump. I look at the tub, which is now about a third full, then to his face, and Larkin gestures to it, though he doesn’t move from the side of the tub.
“With you right there?”
“I’ve seen it all before.” Larkin lifts a brow at me, unmoving. “Are you asking me to leave?”
Part of me wants to. Just to see if he would. But the bigger part of me wants to see what he does if Idon’tmake him leave.
My gaze rarely leaves his as I tug off my t-shirt, though I don’t miss the way his eyes travel down my body before coming back up to mine. A small, almost nervous smile twitches at my lips, and I’m a bit quicker to remove my bra and underwear, leaving them in a pile on the edge of the bathroom vanity.
The only sound in the softly lit bathroom is that of the water filling the tub. Well, that and my heartbeat pounding away in my ears. It’s hard not to cross my arms over my chest to keep myself from the cold vulnerability creeping in, but I manage by not looking away from him.
Larkin moves first this time. It’s only to reach out his hand again, offering it to me like an anchor or a lifeline. Again, I take it, my fingers lacing with his so he can pull me forward. I use his hand for balance as I step into the tub, and it only takes me a moment to sink down with a grateful sigh into the hot water, leaning back against the sloping wall of the tub to close my eyes.
God, I hadn’t considered how good this would feel. Though the altercation with Dale barely lasted ten minutes, I onlyrecognize the tension in my body now that my muscles start relaxing with relief. My shoulders ache almost as much as my throat, and I jolt when I feel something touch my shoulder.
“Just me, silly girl,” Larkin murmurs when I open my eyes to watch him. He’s moved closer to where I’m sitting, and he shows me the navy washcloth in his hand. “I’m just cleaning you up.” That’s all he says before he wipes my neck and face clean, and when he’s done, he tosses the cloth into the sink so it doesn’t muddy the bath.
“I’m not a silly girl.”
“No, you aren’t,” Larkin agrees, his words surprising me enough that I open my eyes again after I’ve closed them. “You’remysilly girl.”
It’s impossible to miss the possessive undertone in the words, or the way his voice drops when he says them. Something twists in my stomach, though it isn’t fear. Searching myself for a few moments makes me realize with a surge of embarrassment that I’m turned on by this; just by Larkin washing my face and telling me I’mhissilly girl, instead of silly to the world or in general.
Clearly, I have a problem when it comes to him.
But I have a lot of problems, if I’m being honest with myself.
When he leans in again, I reach up with one hand to brush my fingers along the dried blood on his face. Without a word, I clean it with the pad of my thumb, eyes trained on the stain until it’s gone, only to look up to his gaze when I’m done.
“What?” I murmur, confused by the intensity of his expression. “Were you keeping that for later, or—” But Larkin doesn’t let me finish. He leans in suddenly to kiss me hard, his hand cupping my face so I can’t go anywhere.
Not that I want to be anywhere but here.
What starts as a sweet, almost soft kiss, quickly becomes something more aggressive. But then, nothing between us canever stay soft for long, it seems. Larkin growls and snarls against my lips, murmuring threats or promises or both while he bites at my lower lip, sucking it into his mouth.
For my part, I can’t stop the multitude of yips, growls, and increasingly needy sounds that leave me. It’s embarrassing how quickly I move to lean against the side of the tub, wanting to be closer to him even though there’s a porcelain barrier between our bodies.
Fuck,I want more than this.
Larkin must feel the same, because suddenly he’s on his feet, his eyes locked with mine as he unbuckles his belt. While I watch, he strips out of his jeans and underwear, leaving him naked and clearly getting excited by all this, judging by his half-hard cock.
“Tova…” I can’t decide if his growl is a threat or a promise. I’m too busy looking at the expanse of tattoos on his body that go all the way down his thighs. One leg’s completely covered while the other is semi-bare, though the empty spots look almost intentional, like there will be more to go there soon. As I watch, he steps into the tub and nudges me forward so he’s sitting behind me, with my back pressed to his chest.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” he murmurs, nudging each of my knees over his and pulling me more tightly against him. One hand comes up to splay across my throat, though it doesn’t rest there for long. Within seconds, his palm is exploring my upper body, and Larkin takes his time to cup each of my breasts in his hand, his thumb toying with my nipples and causing me to wiggle in his lap. My hand comes up as well, and I turn to nuzzle into his throat, breathing open-mouthed against his neck with my eyes half-closed.
“You’re scary,” I reply in a dry voice, causing him to chuckle.
“Good.” His hand sinks further down, and when I try to move, his other arm wraps around my shoulders to jerk me backagainst him. I can feel his arousal against my lower back, but there’s not much I can do to tease him or anything else when I’m pinned with my knees spread open in the tub. “You need scary.”
His hand continues downward, and I gasp lightly as he traces my folds under the hot water. The hand on my shoulders loosens and moves to use his fingers to continue toying with my nipples. His mouth descends to my throat a second later; he kisses me first, his lips skimming along my skin, but then with a soft chuckle, Larkin bites down hard enough to make me cry out and arch against him.
