Even with his words, there’s something steady in his touch.
“I’m just a man. You might need to help me out from time to time and explain things to me like I’m a toddler.”
I can’t help but grin at him. The self-deprecating chuckle he lets out has my desire perking up and taking notice. Again.
“But I’ll never hurt you.” His words soothe me and I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“I believe you.” As the words slip past my lips, I realize just how true they are.
I believe him.
I trust him.
And it has nothing to do with the fact the badge he wears.
When he holds his hand out for me, I slide mine into it. His hold is solid. Steady. His movements are easy as he helps me out and then leads me up to my door. My hands are surprisingly steady as I unlock it to let us in.
The moment we’re closed in together, Rhodes flips the lock and there’s a finality to it and it doesn’t make me want to run. But it should. Shouldn’t it?
I’m not sure anymore, but I know that I want this. I want him.
“Are you hungry?” I offer more out of sheer politeness than anything else. I’m not even sure what I can offer him beyond some goat cheese and white wine. Maybe. “Or want something to drink? I think I have some wine?”
Why amI even babbling? I shake my head and try to calm my racing heart.
Rhodes takes a step closer to me, his grey eyes intense as he takes me in. The way he looks at me makes me feel like everyone else in my life, every single person, has been looking through me. But not him.
Never him.
“Are you nervous?”
“No,” my answer is calm and steady.
Still, he studies my face before nodding once. His voice is gruff as he demands, “Show me your bathroom.”
Fuck, that shouldn’t work for me. It certainly shouldn’t have my pussy clenching around nothing like he wasn’t just inside of me.
As much I would bristle if anyone else spoke to me like that, with Rhodes I simply lead him down the hall and into my bedroom and then into the ensuite. It’s not much. Nothing in this house is.
But it’s big enough for me at the moment, even with my second room being taken up by all my lampshade crafting goodies. I’m certainly not going to show Rhodes that room anytime soon. Then he would know about my obsession.
Rhodes efficiently starts the shower and then strips me slowly. He even puts every article of clothing into my hamper. My knees go a little weak.
I don’t look away as he undresses and my mouth waters. I couldn’t see him in the truck, not really. It was all lines and moonlit planes. But the light in my bathroom is unforgiving in a way which usually makes me want to cover up.
Except Rhodes is looking at me like he’s never seen anything more perfect. He’s looking at me like I’m art and I don’t think anyone has ever looked at me like that before.
I’m distracted by the smattering of hair covering the top of his chest. And then there’s the strip of hair leading down. I follow it with my eyes as he pushes his pants and boxer briefs down and off. He kicks them away along with his boots. When did he even unlace them?
I don’t know. I don’t care.
When he stands up at his full height, I don’t even know where to look first. Everywhere.
And it’s all yummy.
Even though my shower isn’t huge, he gently leads me into it and slides in behind me as if it’s comfortable. It isn’t. But there’s only reverence on Rhodes’s face as he proceeds to wash me. Thoroughly.
I let out little sighs and moans as his hands glide along my skin. Every touch feels like he’s worshiping me, like the reverence in his touch is pure.
