I nibble on my thumbnail as I try to decide how hotmostly redwill be. Shrugging, I set it partway into the red level. Thisis going to be amazing or an epic fail. As mist fills the enclosed space, I strip off my clothes and toss them into the hamper.
It’s already steamy when I step into the enormous shower, and I let out a sigh as hot water pulses around me. The tension knotting my neck and shoulders eases, and I take my first deep breath in what feels like days.
Letting the heat and water pulse against my stress-filled body, my mind calms. Finally, feeling looser, I reach for the shampoo. The builders knew what they were doing when they designed this space. Four people could fit inside without a problem, not that it’ll ever happen.Goodness gracious. Handling one man is more than enough, thank you very much.
I don’t hear Tony step into the bathroom until he speaks. I squeak in surprise and press my hand to my chest. “Son of a motherless goat! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“Sorry, baby. I thought you heard me come in.”
“Nope. I’ve been enjoying this heavenly experience,” I answer as I rinse the shampoo from my hair. It’s half-way down my back now. Might be time for a trim.
“I was hoping it would be. Want company?” he asks through the glass door.
Two little words. He’s never asked before. Usually, he just comes in. Showering together has become one of our things. I’m not gonna lie. I love it. Who knew it could be so wonderful? Before Tony, I always showered alone. But damn, the man knows his way around a shower head, and the built-in bench is begging for me to be bent over. Besides, he washes my hair better than any salon.
I can’t see his face, but his voice is raw with yearning. He’s doubting himself. Probably still kicking his own ass when he didn’t do anything wrong—not really. Sure, he tricked me into signing the contract, but I understand why he did. I did this, and now I’m the one who needs to fix it.
“Yes, please…”
CHAPTER 3
TONY
Thank God.
I’m not sure what I’d have done if Providence had said no. Stripping in two point five seconds is probably a record for me, but no way am I giving her a chance to change her mind.
The peachy scent of her shampoo envelopes me as I step into the steam-filled shower and freeze. Providence’s eyes are closed, her head is tilted back as she rinses out the shampoo. A goddess is in my shower. It takes all my willpower to keep my hands to myself and not pull her soapy body against me.
“Want me to finish that for you?” Any excuse to have my hands on her worked, if she agreed. Right now, after my colossal fuck-up, I’ll probably need to settle for looking and not touching.
“I’m done,” she answers, her gaze guarded as she meets mine. “You can do the conditioner?”
“I’d love to, baby.” I reach past her shoulder for the bottle of conditioner, deliberately skimming my fingers across her wet skin. There’s so much I want to say, but I don’t know how to. What will make things better? So, I go with the first thingthat comes to mind as I squirt conditioner into my palm. “This shower is everything Gretchen said.”
“It really is,” her voice is soft, muffled by the pulsing water.
I wait for her to say something else, but she doesn’t. We’re not this couple. Awkward. It sucks. I don’t think we’ve had an uncomfortable moment together since we met. Yet here we are.
I’m a fucking SEAL team commander. Okay, retired, but I was for almost twenty years. This isn’t me. I don’t second-guess myself. I take charge. Take responsibility. There’s no one to blame but me, especially since no one knew until after the fact except for Gretchen. She sure as hell wouldn’t stop me—she wanted to make the sale.
As I work the product through her hair, I massage her scalp. Her moans tell me I’m doing something right, at least. I need to soothe the ache and worry I triggered with the house.
After rinsing the conditioner from her hair, I turn her around and kiss her forehead. “All done, sweetheart.”
The right thing to do is to step back. Let her finish her shower while I wash myself. But I can’t bear to release her. Not yet. Not like this. Cupping her cheek, I tilt her face up to meet my gaze. I need to see her expression.
Providence’s crystal blue gaze meets mine, and it’s filled with desire.
“Let me take care of you, sweetheart.” My thumb rubs small circles along her jaw as I wait for what feels like an eternity for her to answer. I’m convinced she’d going to say no, when she surprises me again.
Truly, I’m always a little off balance with her unlike anyone else. There’s a part of Providence she hasn’t shared with me yet. I’ll wait as long as I have to. Maybe that’s what she doesn’t understand. She can’t push me away. I’m not going anywhere, no matter what.
“Yes, please. I need?—”
“I know what you need, baby. Just let go and let me give it to you.” Even as I answer, I’m already pushing her against the tiles. My hands slide into her wet hair and hold her head as my lips meet hers. Warm. Wet.
Her sigh allows my tongue to slide inside, to tangle and taste her. Providence tastes like mint and something fruity. I deepen the kiss, moaning into her mouth. She’s everything to me. When her hands slide up my chest and around my neck, some of my tension finally eases. She’s not holding back, and I smile against her lips as her tongue tangles with mine.
