“If today wasn’t like this, then what would we have done?” I wonder.
Ford leans back in the tub, and I rest between his legs. “We would never leave the room. I would have taken my time with you before we only stopped to have dinner for energy. After I had you in a state where you couldn’t move, we would talk about what comes next with us. I might have had a gift for you.”
I interlace our fingers and marvel at how perfectly we fit together. “A gift?” I raise my brow.
“You still deserve it; I’ll give it to you when we are dry and wrapped together under the blankets.”
“Now I’m curious.” Although I think it’s probably jewelry, that’s Ford’s thing.
His other hand is underwater, and even feeling sick, the sensitivity of his fingertips gliding up my thigh combined with the water makes me aroused, and he isn’t even trying. My legs part open, wanting more of his touch, but a wave of dizziness hits me, and my head falls back onto Ford’s shoulder as I close my eyes.
“I hope I don’t make you sick with my flu.”
“I’d take it ten times over if it meant you feel better.”
“So sweet,” I tease. “This is kind of a challenge. Being in a bath with you, naked, and I can’t do very dirty things to you.”
“Dirty, you say?” He groans into my ear just as his hand travels up my thigh, getting dangerously close to my pussy.
“I would have let youexploretonight.” My tone dances, and I wait for his filthy thoughts to take over.
His fingers dig into my thigh, holding on for dear life. “Fuck,” he grits out. “Everywhere, huh?’
“Everywhere,” I reiterate. “If you tell me what my gift is, then maybe I will tell you how I would have used my mouth.”
“You have tricks, Elle.” He’s amused. “But I wouldn’t have let you lead, and you know that.” Ford’s lips brush along my cheekbone. “I would let you suck me the way you enjoy but only while you sit on my face because I’m always starving for your pussy.”
The bath, this flu, or Ford. One of them is the culprit for the extreme heat wave flowing through my veins.
To make matters worse… “I’d do it while you wear an upgraded ring that’s burning a hole in my pocket,” he adds.
Bingo. That’s my gift.
I glance over my shoulder and see he is satisfied with breaking the news to me. “I haven’t bothered you about it since you gave it back, but make no mistake, I haven’t forgotten.”
“That’s abigdiscussion. But by all means, I should consider your proposition and standpoint.” I toy with him and even reach up over my head to hang off his neck before he kisses me on the lips. My entire body stretches out, with bubbles failing to cover me.
“I think,” he pulls away, “that we should head to bed, rest, or maybe I lay you down and relax you. You can’t lift a finger.” Ford kisses me once more then encourages me to scoot up so he can stand, and the sound of water moving fills the room.
Ford grabs a towel to wrap around his taut waist and heads into the other room. I step out of the tub, grab the terrycloth robe, wrap it around my body, and then my world alters.
A pain as sharp as the day I labored Connor hits me. Gripping the sink mantel for support is useless because I fall to the floor, and my world goes dark.
18
FORD
Ihold Brielle’s hand as she lies in the hospital bed, with the sound of monitors beeping in the background. Her eyes slowly begin to flutter open, and I’m quick to swirl my fingers along the back of her hand.
The nurse who was reading her screen gives me a nod.
I’ve been sitting here for what feels like hours, worried and terrified. I’m not even going to comment on how I must look like shit because it’s nothing compared to her ordeal.
“Elle, baby, hey,” I attempt to greet her back into the world again. She woke a few times already, but she was out of it, so I bet she doesn’t remember.
“Ford.” Her voice is dry and groggy. She blinks a few times, and I can tell she is trying to register where she is.
“You’re okay.”
