“I’m shattered, Cash,” she finally said. “Shattered in the best way. I…”
She blinked, and confusion dented that little wrinkle between her brow. “I never dared hope for this, and after last night…”
There were a million questions wrapped in the statement. Every rejection I’d meted since she came here glaring between us.
I set my palm on her cheek, my thumb stroking slow and sure as I gazed over at this woman who had changed everything. One who had stood before me and made me recognize that maybe I wasn’t just purposed for the brutality.
Maybe I was more than living in the shadows and succumbing to the grief.
Maybe…maybe I could stand for something so much more.
“Guess I didn’t expect it, either.”
“What happened?” she asked.
A sigh pilfered free. “Suppose we need to talk.”
I needed to find a way to tell her.
Would she forgive me? Would she understand?
She let go of a soft, throaty laugh. “That would probably be a good idea.”
“Think we’d better clean you up first.”
Maybe I was only delaying. Terrified that she might finally look at me for who I truly was.
So, I scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom, never putting her down as I reached into the shower and turned it on.
I swayed with her in my arms, trying to keep my shit together and not pin her to the wall because the only thing I wanted to do was live in that body, and I had every intention of doing so as often as I could.
When it warmed, I stepped with us into the spray, tilting her head to wet that cinnamon-kissed fall of hair. Those eyesremained pinned on me like she didn’t want to look anywhere else.
Emotion clotted my throat, and I set her onto her feet so I could lather shampoo into her hair.
I washed it thoroughly.
Doting on my girl.
My wife.
Then I turned and did the same to her body.
She moaned as I ran a loofah all over her slicked, shimmery flesh.
Taking my time to quietly worship her.
To show her no matter what, I was always going to take care of her.
When she was rinsed, I reached out and grabbed a towel, enfolded her in it, then wrapped one around my waist.
Then I took her hand and guided her out into the bathroom.
There was something about the shelter of that small room that had me sitting on the floor with my back leaned against the tub and pulling her down onto my lap.
My arms curled around her while I listened to the steady rhythm of her breaths. Letting it calm me because I was about to delve into hazardous territory.
Our hearts thundered in the dusky light of the bathroom. Both of us clearly trying to catch up to the flip that had been made. Silence echoed through the enclosed room, but in it, the understanding was acute.
