“Option A.”
This certainly wasnothow I’d anticipated my first bath with him going, but right now, I’d take the show he put on for my audience of one.
Especially as he only wore boxer briefs and, trust me, that was a sight to behold on its own.
He sniffed the first gel, then made a ‘not bad’ face before dunking his hand under the running faucet.
“You don’t do things by halves, huh?” I laughed when, instead of pumping the bottle, he twisted the lid and poured three-quarters of the soap into the water.
“Nah. I’ve stolen this shit before. You need the crap they use for kids. That’s the only stuff that really makes the bubbles.”
The prospect of this lab rat-cum-bruiser taking bubble baths had me slipping under the surface until only my eyes and forehead were visible.
Back to puttering, he grabbed some more items from the vanity. When he offered me three bath bombs, I plucked one that had flowers and salt crystals wrapped in a muslin cloth from his palm and dropped it into the water too.
Next came a candle.
“Narnia’s in that cupboard, huh?”
“I told you they have too much shit.”
Then, he surprised me by closing a bunch of shutters so that it was nice and dark in here.
“Do you want the jets on?”
I groaned. “It has jets?”
“Se.”
“Please.”
I released another, deeper, more guttural groan as the bubbles worked on my soreness. Sure, it pummeled my bruises, but I’d take it.
Allowing myself to relax, I sagged beneath the surface, noticing when I came up for air that he’d plunked himself besidethe tub, one leg stretched out, the other bent at the knee, which he used to prop up the arm holding his phone.
“You don’t have to sit with me.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“You really don’t.”
“And let you sink under there? Nope.”
“I’m not going to drown.”
“You sure won’t. Not with me around. Plus, you’ll need help getting out.”
I harrumphed. “You might as well join me.”
His gaze darkened as he glanced at me over his cell. “The next time we’re in a bath,liunissa, I’m fucking you.Ifyou’ll still have me…”
The assurance followed by that glimpse of vulnerability had my already liquifying bones melting some more.
“I wouldn’t have come home with you if I didn’t,” I pointed out.
“A part of me thinks you’re…” When he broke off, I frowned at him until he continued, “…I understand you need someplace safe, somewhere away from your family if you don’t want them to see you like this. But I can get you a suite at The Victoria?—”
“I don’t want a suite at The Victoria.” My jaw worked. Which hurt. Fuck. “My sister-in-law’s father tried to abduct her from our building, Stan. I’m well aware that this stuff happens in our world.
