Her tongue, her teeth. My heart thumped faster for reasons I didn’t want to admit—reasons I should have ignored while I was playing the role of her carer.
“All right, let’s get the rest of you clean.” I kept my tone businesslike, holding her up as she slid off the stool. With my footsteps matching hers, I walked her away from the mirror and faced the bath, so I wouldn’t catch a view not meant for my eyes.
Steam curled above the water’s surface, and bubbles popped. Sadie threw me a fleeting look over her shoulder, seemingly entertained by my expression. “You know… it would probably help if you could make it seem like the idea of taking off my clothes didn’t repulse you.”
With a laughing breath, I steadied her. “It doesn’t repulse me. I just remember how you reacted when you thought I'd changed your clothes after your accident.”
“I was worried about what could have happened while I was unconscious, not because I cared about what you saw.”
“Fine, fine. So we can both agree we’re okay with you being naked?”
Sadie worked on the buttons of her pyjama top. “None of it’s new to you, anyway,” she said. “You’ve seen women’s bodies many, many,many—”
“Hey.” A strange feeling stirred in the pit of my stomach, and it took me a minute to recognise it as attraction. Desire. I could barely remember now why I'd ever called her a princess. “Careful what you’re insinuating.”
“There should have been a revolving door in the building for all your lady visitors.” She finished unfastening the row of buttons and slipped her pyjama top from her shoulders, revealing her slender back and the white lace bra I’d done my best to ignore last time I changed her.
“You’re exaggerating just a tad,” I said. A lot, in fact. I’d practically been virginal for the past couple of years. I forced my eyes away as she reached behind her for the clasp.
“I know. I was just teasing.” She went quiet and concentrated, but after a few fumbling motions and a sigh, it was clear she didn’t have the strength to complete the task. “Can you do it for me?” she asked, her voice strained. “It’s so irritating. I just want to feel normal again.”
She was lucky to be alive, but the novelty had apparently passed. “Patience through frustration builds strong character.”
I didn’t need to see her face to know she’d rolled her eyes. “Thank you. So much. That was incredibly helpful.”
Amused, I flicked the clasp of her bra open one-handed while I held her steady. She didn’t even check to see if I’d averted my eyes before she undressed. Just slipped her bra down her arms and dropped it on the vanity in one fluid movement.
Being a head taller than her, I saw too much and not enough before I yanked my gaze away. Another kick of desire hit me, andI silently swore. She didn’t need me leering at her when all she wanted to do was take a bath.
My pulse thudded in my throat. “Do you need help with your pants?”
“No... I don’t think so.” Sadie pushed the waistband of her pyjama bottoms until they fell to her ankles.
I cupped her elbows so she could lower her panties. When she leaned forward, her long hair swung over her shoulder, and the muscles in her back worked as she dropped the last piece of material standing between her and me. I swallowed and stepped back a bit as she straightened. “All good?”
She nodded.
“Wait a second. I’ll hold a towel up while you climb in.”
“I don’t think you can,” she said. “I need you to hold me up.”
With a sigh that puffed out my cheeks, I steeled myself for the next part. Sadie lifted one leg over the side of the tub, keeping her back to me as much as she could, given our awkward positions. As soon as her right foot touched the bottom, I took more of her weight and helped her move the left one in.
As she lowered herself into the water, it was impossible to miss the curve of her breasts and the pink hue of her nipples. A wave of longing rolled through me before I could shut it down, settling deep in my gut and slowing my heartbeat to a heavy thud. Her knees parted as she sat, and when most of her body had sunk beneath the protective layer of bubbles, the tension inside me eased.
“Laura told me I should wash your hair,” I said, pausing and clearing my throat. “Are you good with that?”
She hugged her legs and tipped her head back, smiling up at me. “If you hadn’t offered, I planned on begging.”
She really was the prettiest view, even in this condition. If I had an ounce of intelligence left in my brain, I’d shut up andget to work. Chatting casually with her while she sat there all slippery and naked only prolonged the torture.
I placed the folded towel on the floor, dropping to a kneel beside her. “I’ve never shampooed long hair before, so let me know if I’m doing something wrong.”
“Anything’s an improvement on the mess I’m working with now. I’m just going to sit here and be quiet.”
Tipping warm water over her head and watching it turn a darker shade of blonde was more sensual than I expected.
Sadie kept her eyes closed and her head tilted back, patiently waiting for the next step.
