Eli glances, catching something in my expression. “Hey.” His voice is gentle, but there’s an edge there too. “Can we not bring him up tonight?”
I swallow and nod.
“It’s bad enough we had to run into Bunny,” he continues. “If it’s okay with you… I’d like the rest of tonight to be a private party for two.”
Something in my chest blooms at that. I step closer, toeing off my heels, letting them fall forgotten onto the tile. Somewhere on the dance floor, I’d lost one of the satin shoe covers.
“Then I guess it’s time to morph out of my hero costume… and back into just little old me.” I take my time undressing for him—not to tease him, though that’s part of it, but because I want to feel every second of being seen by him.
His eyes darken, watching my every move.
The mask slips free, and I toss it to the counter, ready to return to reality, to just me with Eli. I unzip the mini-skirt and push it down my body to the floor; his eyes practically undress me too. With the bodysuit, I slowly, inch by inch, shimmy out of it until it pools at my feet.
I hesitate but then remember—he’s seen me naked before, worshipped me head to toe, but childbirth and time does things to a woman’s body. If he doesn’t like what he sees now… but Eli doesn’t look away, not once, as I slip out of my bra and panties. The air kisses my skin, cool and thrilling.
He eyes me like I’m something sacred, licking his lips, eyes dark, chest heaving.
By the time I step into the tub, it’s full and waiting, bubbles climbing the porcelain sides, candlelight flickering across the water. I lower myself in slowly, the heat wrapping around me, coaxing every bit of tension from my shoulders.
Eli’s bottom lip is caught between his teeth, waiting, just waiting.
“We never bathed or showered together in college,” I begin, resting my arms along the edge of the tub. I look up at him and hold out my hand. “Join me.” Not a question, but a statement.
He doesn’t waste a second. He undresses with none of my ceremony, all strength and purpose. I take him in—every hard-earned muscle, every broad line, sculpted as if he’s carved from stone. So much more than he was when we first met years ago—now the man he was meant to become.
He steps into the tub behind me, settling in carefully, drawing me back against his chest until I’m cradled between his legs. His arms wrap around me, solid and sure. I melt into him like I’ve been waiting to fit with him all along.
This feels so… right. I’d be a fool not to notice everything about him. The way he takes care of me. The way he looks at me. How he makes space for who I am now, not who I used to be.
Something deep inside me stirs, knows this was meant to be. He’s the only man who could ever give what I need. Affection. Understanding.
Love…?
All the things I was never given before with my ex—and don’t miss anymore because I have them with Eli.
I thread our fingers together and admire the size of Eli’s enormous hands eclipsing mine. Maybe we needed the years apart to appreciate each other better. Maybe that’s why every second with him fills me until all I can breathe is him.
We linger here, and the candles flicker low. I let myself believe—that perhaps this time it’s real.
Laughter erupts from within, and I don’t even know why.
“Still a little drunk?” He asks.
“Not from the champagne. I think from you. And this. Just giddy that we’re actually here. This is really happening.”
“Believe it. Need me to pinch you to prove you’re awake?” He mockingly pinches my arm. I laugh more.
“I enjoy being here with you.” I know he does, too, judging by the hard rod poking into my back. Everything inside of me yearns for it, to know what he’d feel like inside of me again.
I turn in his arms, facing him, slowly straddling his lap.
“Well, hi there,” he quips, a corner of his mouth turned up.
“Just needed to get closer to you,” I explain, now sitting with his thick rod between us, twitching against our stomachs.
“Believe me, I’m not complaining. I’m all about you. We’ll go as far as you want, at your pace,” he reassures.
“That’s not fair. The closet was at my pace. And tonight… but what about yours?”
