Tingles course through every limb, carrying his words with them and infecting me with his love. I reach up and hold his face in my palms. “You burrowed yourself into my soul, too. You’re so deep, I don’t know where I begin and you end.”
His lips press against mine one more time, before he unclips my seatbelt and leads me into his home and down the hall, my heels clicking against the flagstone tiles until we reach his room.
“Take your clothes off,” he says, disappearing into the en suite.
I gulp, wondering what else he has planned for me, but then the sound of water filling the tub relaxes me. A sweet aroma of lavender floats through the air. Slipping off my heels, I step into the en suite and lift my jumper over my head, then peel off my leggings for the second time tonight.
Shane swirls the bubbles around the bath, testing the water temperature like you would for a child. “Get in. Let me clean you up.”
My chest swells. Nobody has ever been so considerate before to run me a bath. I take the hand he offers and climb into the tub. The warmth of the water and the lavender scent envelop me like all the comforts of home.
He rolls his sleeves to his elbows and uses a flannel to smooth over my legs as I sit in the bath with the bubbles growing all around me.
“I never had you pegged for a lavender bubble bath type of guy.”
He snorts out a laugh. “Jordan gave it to me from the station. She thought it might help me sleep. She also gave me lavender aromatherapy oils for the bedroom.”
I raise an eyebrow, my body tensing, hoping Jordan is an old lady and not the blonde bombshell he works with.
“You can wipe that frown from your lips. You have nothing to worry about with Jordan.” He chuckles again, lifting the wet flannel to my face and gently washing my cheeks. “She’s gay. Her girlfriend’s a sports massage therapist.”
“Oh.” A smile pushes my cheeks up. “I wasn’t worried.”
He turns the tap off now, the water laps at my breasts. “You were ready to scratch her eyes out. I know that look.” Wiping the flannel over my cheek again, he says, “Close your eyes.”
I relax and do as he asks, loving his hands on me. He wipes my eyes, cleaning all the makeup from my skin. I thought it would bother me, but he’s seen me enough times withoutmakeup over the last month that I feel comfortable with him to just be myself. No masks. It’s as if we’re both laid bare, able to be our true selves with each other, no more pretending or hiding who we are.
I don’t tell him it’s going to dry my skin, and I need my proper moisturiser, because I don’t care. All I want is his hands on me, taking care of me forever.
After wiping my face with the soapy flannel, he presses his lips to my cheek. “You never have to hide this from me, or wear makeup with me if you don’t want to.” He cradles my chin, tilting my head so he can kiss the other cheek. “I’m sorry I ever teased you about this growing up.” He kisses my nose. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making up for it and telling you how beautiful you are.” Holding my chin, he forces my head up to look him in the eyes. “You’re the most beautiful woman I know.”
My cheeks heat. “You said gorgeous before, remember?” I try to look away, but with his fingers and piercing gaze, he holds me captive, then presses his lips against mine.
“You are gorgeous. With or without makeup makes no difference to me, because all I see is your beautiful soul.”
“Take your clothes off and get in the bath with me. I’m sure we can both fit in.” Having him on the other side of the tub is too far away. I need him holding me. Our bodies flush. I need to feel every part of his hard edges against every part of my skin.
“I’ve got to get the squad car back to the station and fill in an incident report.” He reaches for the shower hose and begins washing my hair, holding his large palm above my forehead to prevent the spray from going in my eyes. “I’ll be as quick as I can, and I’ll call at your place and get your clothes. Text me a list of whatever you need.”
“My key is in my pocket.” I point to the faux leather leggings crumpled on his bathroom floor.
“I have my own key, nightingale.” His lips curve at the corner.
“Of course you do.”
After rinsing my hair, he massages shampoo into my scalp, lathering up each lock.
I tilt my head back, almost hypnotised by it all. “I could get used to this.”
“Good. You’re gonna need to get used to it because this is how I plan on taking care of you every night.” He rinses the suds from my hair, blocking the spray from my eyes. Every movement is with the gentlest of touches. A complete contrast to the rough sex we’ve had. Though even amid his bruising thrusts, his gentle soul has always been just below the surface, keeping the animal in him tamed just enough.
A creakof the door wakes me. I jolt upright in bed, still jumpy from everything that’s happened.
“It’s just me, Lil.”
I let out a breath at Shane’s soothing voice. In the darkness, there’s a clink of his belt and then the bed dips as he climbs in behind me.
“You all right?” His hand slides over my thigh, then under the t-shirt he gave me to wear. Rough palms caress the bare skin of my stomach as his other hand moves the hair from my neck to kiss me there.
