With those words, the dam burst, and my sobs grew, turning thick and ugly, shaking my whole frame. Paxton whispered encouragement and words of love as he held me. The storm lasted a long time, and my head and eyes ached when it finally passed. My nose was stuffy, and I feared to catch a glimpse of my reflection. I must look hideous. I did.
Paxton met my watery eyes with his patient ones. He rose with a slight wince. He’d been on his knees this whole time.
“I’m sorry…” I began.
“Stop.” He grabbed a tissue from the counter and blotted my cheeks before he swiped under my nose.
I was so stupefied by the crying jag and by the way he cared for me that I let him.I let him.“I should go…” I couldn’t think straight. My head hurt. My heart hurt. My leg hurt.
“Into the tub with you, baby.” Paxton tossed the tissue in the trash can next to his sink and hooked his thumbs into my panties. “Okay?”
Was it? Paxton had just held me through a crying jag, naked on his knees. He stood before me now, big and sturdy and calm. I forced myself to nod.
This might be metaphorical—maybe even silly—to be physically naked together. But I needed him to expose his vulnerability, like he’d said.
He slid my panties down my thighs, and his fingertips left a trail of warmth in their wake. I shivered, and he chuckled with dark intent. At my feet, he removed my shoes and ankle socks, then my pants and undies. I stood before him in just my leg brace.
He touched the brace where it latched above my knee. “Does this need to come off?”
I nodded even as I brushed his fingers aside and undid the clasp. I grunted as the full weight of my leg hit the ground without support. Paxton swept me into his arms and then into the warm, frothy water in the tub, settling behind me. He used his long leg to flick the hot water tap open.
“Got too cool,” he said against my ear. He held me close, my bottom nestled to his crotch, as the water warmed and the tub filled to dangerous levels. He nudged my left leg upward until my knee was positioned right at one of the jets. My head dropped back, and my back arched, shoving my rear end tighter against his lap as the water hit a sore spot.
“Good?” he rasped.
Yes. I could feel his growing interest in my wet body pressed against his. I nodded, too focused on the tension building, building, building in my thigh…
With another moan, I sagged back against him as the discomfort eased. I whimpered, shocked by how similar that release had been to an orgasm. I settled my cheek against his shoulder, my nose pressed into his neck, giving Paxton control over my body.
And it feltright. As it was supposed to be.
Which was when I realized my mind had been fighting my heart since the moment I heard his voice in the hallway of Space Elevated all those weeks ago. I was in love with Paxton. Like he’d said, I always would be. He was a part of me; we’d connected that first time we met, when he was eight and I seven years old, and nothing, not even his leaving me, could make me stop.
He held me securely, and I let myself drift in the safety of his embrace.
“If you get the job at NASA, you should move in with me, Hana.”
“What?”
“Move in with me.” His lips brushed across my brow. “I don’t want to be apart from you again—any longer. We can be roommates, if that’s what you want, need. As long as you’re here with me, I’ll be happy.”
“I…” The tension crept back into my loosened muscles. “That seems fast.”
“I’ve known you for seventeen of my twenty-four years. I’ve loved you for each of those. Nothing about this is fast or without lots of consideration. I’m not asking you to fall into bed with me, though I would love to worship you, believe me.”
“I’m not ready for that.”
“Why?”
He hadn’t asked because he expected me to fall into bed with him. He was asking because he wanted me to elaborate on my answer, which I didn’t want to do. I pulled in a breath from between my teeth. “Because I’m not sexy. Or beautiful like the women you’ve been with?—”
He flipped me over so quickly, I didn’t even have time to gasp. We were nose-to-nose, and his gaze burned into mine.
“You, Hana Sato, are the love of my life. You’re beautiful, smart, funny, and fun. No one else compares.Couldcompare to you.” He waited, his eyes slightly narrowed as if daring me to argue.
“The water’s overflowing the tub,” I said.
He cursed and flipped off the tap, then used the same foot to open the drain. I studied him, considering his offer—gobsmacked to find I was considering his offer.
