“Bath.”
“What?”
“You can’t stand on your own in the shower. You can take your boot off only for your bath. I’ll help.”
“I have to wash my hair, and that is such a pain in the tub.”
“I got you, Clover.”
“You’re going to wash my hair?”
He wags his brows, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“No–”
Before I finish my sentence, he scoops me up into his arms. Maui runs in circles around us as he leaves the dishes behind and carries me upstairs to his bathroom.
Owen sets me on the counter, then steps away to start the bathwater in the big clawfoot tub I helped him pick out during his bathroom renovation. He pours a hefty amount of Epsom salts under the running water, followed by body wash. Smiling, he says, “I don’t have any bubble bath. This will have to do.”
“Works for me.”
As the tub fills, he saunters toward me, not stopping until he wedges himself between my legs. “Sweetheart, this is gonna hurt. I’m sure all those cuts are gonna sting like hell, but you've got this. The Epsom salts should help your sore muscles, though.”
He’s so close. My instinct is to eliminate the space between us and kiss him. Instead, I nod.
“Let’s get you out of these clothes.” The words come out, but he doesn’t move, both of us content to drown in the eyes of the other. I can see the devotion in his gaze and my heart aches for him. He’s the last person I would ever want to hurt, yet I know that’s what I’m doing to him every time we’re together. Hurting him, because I refuse to return his feelings.
Ending our quiet moment, he gently rests his forehead against mine. “Come on, baby. Let me help you.” Owen reaches for the hem of my hoodie but stops himself. “If this is too much or you’re uncomfortable, please tell me.”
Needing to reassure him, I cup his cheek. “Thank you. I will.”
Clearing his throat and taking a step back, he helps me slip off the counter, then lifts my arms and gently pulls my sweatshirt over my head. He doesn’t drop it haphazardly to thefloor. Instead, he folds it neatly, setting it on the counter looking anywhere other than my naked torso. Next, he pulls down my loose shorts. I brace my hands on his shoulders to keep my balance while he maneuvers them over my boot.
He’s on his knees looking up at me as though at my mercy when he speaks again. “You doin’ okay?”
His fingers shake against my hips where he’s resting his hands.
“Owen, I’m fine. Are you okay?”
This isn’t the first time I’ve taken my clothes off in front of him, but it’s different. More intimate, in a way. I wish I could tell him there isn’t anyone else I would want to help me right now, because that truth is significant. My heart and soul know what it means, but I can’t bring myself to tell him.
He hooks his fingers in the sides of my panties, but instead of pulling them down, he leans his forehead against my stomach. “It’s hard to see you bruised like this.”
I know I’m injured but feeling his breath skate across my skin, so close to the part of me that is always yearning for more when he’s this near distracts me from taking in what he said.
“I swear to God, Daisy. If I ever...”
Abruptly, he pulls back and removes the last piece of fabric from my body, leaving me bare before him. If he ever what?
“Don’t move.” He steps away to check the water temperature before gathering my body soap, shampoo, and conditioner from the counter.
As I turn to watch him my reflection in the full-length mirror shows me what has him so shaken. There are bumps and bruises covering nearly every inch of my body.
Holy shit. I really did a number on myself.
I adjust my stance to look at my back and find it’s worse than I could have imagined. My hands wrap around my middle, fear taking hold for some unknown reason. I tremble as knots twistin my stomach while continuing to come to terms with what is staring back at me in the mirror.
Fixated on the damage done to my body, I startle when he wraps his arms around me. My body sags in relief, knowing I’m safe with Owen. Although I’m clueless about where this irrational fear is coming from.
