She patted the edge of the tub, peering up at me with the sweetest expression. “Join me. Please?”
That “please” was my undoing. I adjusted myself, silently willing my erection to go down.
“Here,” I said, handing her the package of wipes as a way to distract myself. Bryn had yet to take off her makeup, and I had a feeling she’d feel better if she did.
She shook her head, eyes closed. “I want to. But too tired.”
Don’t do it. Don’t…
“Do you want me to help you?” I asked.
Her head bobbed slowly. I removed a wipe from the package, the crinkle of the container obscenely loud in the quietness of the bathroom.
I brushed her hair aside, tucking it behind her ear. She opened her eyes, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. She licked her lips, and I wondered if she was thinking about our kiss. I certainly was.
I cupped her jaw to hold her steady. I felt as if my heart might pound out of my chest. We were so close. And this was so…intimate.
“I don’t deserve you,” she whispered as I smoothed the makeup wipe along her skin.
She had it all wrong.
“You deserve everything.” And I wanted to be the one to give it to her.
She shifted so her hand was on my thigh. “Thank you.”
I stilled, wondering if her hand placement was accidental or intentional. But one look at Bryn reminded me how tired she was, so I pushed those questions aside. I took my time, cleaningher forehead, then her cheeks. I catalogued each freckle, every contour of her face.
“Close your eyes,” I rasped, feeling as if my control were slipping away the longer we stayed here.
She did as I’d asked, and I was so damn tempted to kiss her again. Every muscle in me was tight, and it took enormous willpower not to close that gap and press my lips to hers. But then she swayed, and I remembered how tired she was and how much rum she’d consumed.
“There you go.” I cleared my throat. “Now I need to wash off my feet so I don’t get sand in the bed.”
“Exactly.” She straightened, removing her hand from my thigh. “Because that’s gross.”
“But letting a dog sleep in bed with you isn’t?” I teased, knowing she’d been the first to cave when it came to that rule.
I still liked to give her a hard time for it, not that I cared. Most of the time, Bacon and Biscuit preferred to sleep in their dog beds anyway. And if they brought her comfort, well…then who was I to complain? It was exactly why I’d suggested that we adopt them in the first place—to comfort Bryn.
“They’re soft and cuddly. Sand is—” She scrunched up her face, and I tried not to laugh as I rinsed off my feet. “Gritty.”
When I finished, I sat back up, enjoying the warm water on my skin. I craved these quiet moments with Bryn, especially after the chaotic fun of the past few hours.
“Bear.” She slid her hand along the edge of the tub, her pinkie touching mine.
“Yeah?” I took it as an invitation and linked our fingers.
“Thank you.” Her voice echoed gently off the bathroom tiles.
“For what?” I asked.
“For being there for me.” She gave my hand a squeeze. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Bryn.” I smoothed my thumb across the back of her hand. “I’m not going anywhere.” I needed her to know that, to feel it. “Well, Iamgoing to bed. And so are you.” I gave her hand a squeeze and then released it. “Come on.” I pulled the plug, watching the water as it spiraled around the drain.
I woke with a start,blinking my eyes open as I tried to remember where I was. The clock on the nightstand said it was four in the morning, and I squeezed my eyes shut in frustration.Why?
As always, my mind started spinning. I thought about Frasier and how much had happened since we’d arrived in Anguilla. How much had changed in such a short span of time. And thoughts of my relationship with Frasier inevitably led to thoughts about Derek, as they so often did when I couldn’t sleep.
