“Go get in the bath. I’ll bring you your book and some champagne.”
Her eyes sparkled, and she nodded, heading into the bathroom to do just that.
I waited a beat and grinned when her excited little squeal met my ears. Manifesting a flute of bubbly and grabbing one of the dark romances we had picked up from the library, I followed her into the bathroom.
I had arranged to have the large obsidian tub filled with steaming water and rose petals while we had been in the kitchen. There was a bath tray with a box of chocolates and some hand towels for her to choose from. I set the book and the champagne down on the tray and smirked.
“I thought people just had baths like this in the movies.” Lilith grinned at me, shaking her head. “Well, and maybe on Instagram,” she joked, cocking her head to the side.
I slid my hands over her hips and buried my nose in her soft hair, breathing in her scent.
“Do you like it?” I asked, and she leaned back, smiling up at me.
“Yeah. It looks so relaxing.”
“Get in,” I ordered softly, running my fingers over the edge of her crop top, tugging gently.
She glanced up at me, her little cheeks flushing again, and I frowned.
“What’s that look for?” I asked, somewhat amused.
She shrugged and turned in the circle of my arms, her face turning even more red.
“I don’t know. This feels… different than all the other times you’ve seen me…”
“Without any clothes on?” I asked dryly, raising an eyebrow.
She was shy?I literally had my dick in her ass less than twelve hours earlier.
She nodded at me, somehow unable to meet my eyes. I touched her chin, smiling down at her adorable little pink face, unable to stop myself from chuckling.
“You have no idea what you look like, do you?” I asked gently. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid my fucking eyes on. Every time I look at you, I feel like I’m seeing you for the first time again.”
It was true. Even now, with her standing before me so hesitant and shy, my blood felt hot, and my entire being was urging me to claim her, to consume her. It was an impulsive need that I could barely control.
“Take off your clothes, Lilith,” I demanded, adding a soft edge to my tone. Slowly, almost bashfully, she stripped. Her adorable little blush staining her chest.My amusement faded, however, the moment my eyes caught the stark white bandages wrapped around her thighs.
I crouched before her, gently unwrapping her dressings and inspecting the wounds. They still hadn’t fully scabbed over. She would benefit from some time in the open air so they could dry out a little bit. I resolved to make sure we cleaned them, and she could wear shorts until the party to give the wounds time to breathe.
I placed a gentle kiss on each thigh, pausing only briefly between her legs, teasing her with my breath but resisting the urge to go any further. I wanted her to relax and unwind. Doing all the fucked up shit I never seemed to tire of doing to her was not going to accomplish that goal. With the evidence of what could happen if I pushed her too far staring me straight in the face, I forced myself to stand.
Her eyes were full of heated surprise when they met mine, but she didn’t comment on my obvious restraint. I gestured to the tub behind her, nodding my head once.
“Get in.”
She obeyed, sliding into the hot water. I watched as her skin pebbled and her breath hitched. I bit back a groan, resisting the urge to tear off all my clothes and follow her in. Fuck. I felt like I would never get enough of her. I cleared my throat.
“Is it too hot?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from giving away how fucking hard she was making me.
She shook her head and sank in, the water coming up to her shoulders. Her hair floated around her, mixing with the crimson of the rose petals. “No, it’s perfect.”
I sat on the edge of the tub, giving her a smile as I watched her get comfortable. She reached a hand out for her flute of champagne, and I grabbed it off the bath tray, handing it to her, unable to stop myself from glancing at the deep pink scar on her wrist from the last time I had watched her take a bath. That time, the water had been filled with blood instead of roses.
She caught me staring, and her face flushed again. She dropped her gaze and curled into herself. I hated that she pulled away from me.
“Hey,” I said, slipping my hand in the water and grazing my fingers against her sternum to get her attention. “Don’t hide from me.”
“I’m not hiding,” she said, though she kept her gaze cast down.
