“When I say strip and take a bath, I mean now. I don’t care who watches, because at the end of the night, I’m the one you belong to,” he growled in her ear before dunking her again.
She struggled and fought against him, losing what little air she gulped before he forced her head underwater. Black spots formed, and she knew he planned to kill her when he abruptly let go of her. She rose from the edge of the tub, coughing and throwing up water. Her chest burned, and she gaped like a fish, trying to get air into her lungs.
“Clean this mess and get into the tub,” Cain demanded before walking away.
“Caroline?” Jameson said softly. “You’re at your dad’s home, and you’re safe,” he reassured her.
The breath she unknowingly held finally escaped. She gulped and turned, wincing in pain at her sore muscles.
His eyes narrowed as he took her in, noticing her stiffness.
“I see Victoria didn’t take it easy on you,” he said softly. “How badly do you hurt?”
“On a scale of one to ten? A twenty,” she groaned, glancing back at the water.
“Did you plan on taking a swim?” he asked. “It’s not safe to do it alone, especially after Victoria has gotten ahold of you.”
“No. I barely know how to swim. I’m not a fan of water. Nancy put something in my bathroom and told me to soak. I’m not sure I can make it there. The pool house seems a mile away,” she said weakly, hating herself for it.
“How about I help you? I’ll leave as soon as we get you inside,” he promised.
She gave him a shaky nod, and he stepped forward, wrapping an arm about her waist.
“I’m sorry about last night,” she murmured and stopped, letting the pain flow through her body like the many times she spent with Cain.
“We’ll talk about it later,” he assured her. “Did you take anything for this?” he asked her worriedly.
“Nancy gave me acetaminophen. It hasn’t kicked in yet,” she said, whimpering with each step. She glanced toward the pool house, thinking it seemed even farther away.
“Fuck this,” Jameson muttered. Bending, he gently picked her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the distance. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her head fell against his shoulder.
Opening the patio door, Jameson entered the living room and headed straight to her bathroom. He knelt by the tub, turned on the faucet, and removed her shoes and socks. Spying the Epson salt on the counter, he poured a generous amount into the tub.
“I’ll wait until you’re done, and then I’ll leave. Call if you need me,” he said gently.
Caroline’s gaze met his. “Jameson, I...I,” the words failed her. She wanted to trust him. Her heart ached with guilt and pain.
“Do you need me to help you?” he asked. “You can barely move.”
“I don’t like baths either,” she said, staring at the water.
“Oh, but they have their advantages,” he said, testing the water. “I brought you some cream for your muscles. I’ve seen Kassie after Victoria trained her. I guessed you might be feeling a bit sore.”
“Did Kassie live?” she joked.
“Yes, and she’s a badass,” he replied. “I’ll remove your shirt and pants, but will keep your bra and panties on. I’ll stay with you and help you apply the cream.”
“Why are you acting nice to me? I treated you horribly. I thought you were my…friend and then you told me?—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “You’re tired, and you’re overthinking everything. Let’s get you inside the warm water to soak, and then you can rest.”
His fingers slowly unbuttoned her top and slid it from her shoulders and down her arms. His hand fumbled with the button on her jeans. Heat from his touch warmed her as he knelt to slide them from her legs, and she held onto his shoulder to lift her feet.
He guided her toward the tub and held on while she sat in the hot water, sighing.
Jameson picked up her dirty clothes and tossed them into the clothes basket.
“How are things going with your dad?” he asked, sitting on the toilet while she soaked.
