“You saw the guest bath last night, but you didn’t go in my bedroom. It has a garden soaker tub in it.”
Her pupils basically dilated. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Go check it out. Take as long as you like. You’ll find everything you need in there.”
She jumped up off the sofa, but then hesitated for a second. “What time is it?”
“It’s six-forty-five. And if Havoc calls, I’ll go pick them up. You just go soak yourself until you’re all pruny and wrinkled.”
“You’re too good to me.”
“Aren’t you in the bathroom yet?”
She laughed and took off down the hallway. “First room to your right!” he called out. He sat up and swung his feet off the sofa and onto the floor. “I’m making coffee,” he grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair. Twenty minutes later his phone pinged. He picked it up and read his message. Then he filled another cup with coffee, cream and sugar, and carried it to his bathroom. He tapped on the door. “You decent?” he called out.
“Not unless you consider all the bubbles suitable clothing,” she called back.
“Can I come in?”
There was only a slight pause before she answered. “Yes.”
Ronan stepped inside the bathroom, and almost choked. She was lying in the tub, completely covered in a bubble bath, but one of her legs was poised above the bath as she shaved that leg.
“I borrowed one of your razors,” she said apologetically.
“Good. I brought you some coffee,” he said, setting it down on the side of the tub. “Havoc texted. He said the kids are still sleeping. He’ll let us know when they wake up if they want us. If not, he’ll let us know when they finish breakfast.”
“Okay,” she said, running a hand up and down her leg to be sure she missed no hair.
“I’m going to go back in the living room,” Ronan said.
“Why? Am I making you nervous?” she asked, seriously wanting to know.
“No. I’m making me nervous.”
“How’s that?” she asked.
“If I don’t leave this bathroom, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep from touching you.” He turned his back on her and moved toward the door, while at the same time he heard a splash of water behind himself.
“Maybe I was hoping that you’d touch me.”
He froze.
“If you want to, I mean. You don’t have to.”
Slowly he turned back toward her.
“I mean, I’ve been just a mother for so long, that I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to be a woman. To pay attention to the feminine side of me. I’ve not even given thought to the needs that come with being a woman. Until now. Until you.”
He continued to stand there, staring at her, though she realized his breath was practically heaving in and out of his body.
“I understand if you’d rather wait, or if you’ve even changed your mind. But I thought, I mean, you said…” she hesitated, searching for the right words. “I just really want to be wanted.”
He was standing in front of her in two steps. He took her in his arms and marched out of the bathroom with her, holding her to his body until he reached his bed. He put a knee on the bed, then another, and moved up the bed until he was halfway to the headboard, then he laid her down and loomed over her.
“You’re getting your bed all wet, and bubbly.”
“I don’t care.” He kissed her, slowly, passionately. Then he pulled back and looked down at her. “Tell me no now, or I’m not sure I can stop later.”
