I resist because this is enjoyable.
My heart remains at peace.
Ruslan’s sponge sweeps higher up my thigh toward the crease of my hip, and my heart skips a beat as memories of the last time his hand was between my legs floods my mind. I briefly close my eyes and bite hard on the inside of my cheek, praying Ruslan didn’t notice anything.
Cautiously, I reopen my eyes and my heart lurches.
He’s looking right at me and when our gazes lock, his lips melt into a warm smile. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
“How long were you awake?”
“Long enough.”
Ruslan nods. “I’m sorry. I would have had Valentina or Raven to do this but I’m the only one here, and I didn’t want you to have to wait much longer before getting cleaned.”
“I don’t mind,” I reply immediately and my cheeks warm. “I-I mean… given what we did before, you’re probably the only one I’d trust.”
“Trust?” The tip of Ruslan’s nose twitches slightly and he shakes his head. “Those are some heavy painkillers, huh?”
I bite back a smile. “Not the painkillers talking.”
“Sure.” He rolls his eyes slightly. “I can stop if you need me to.”
“No.” I slowly rock my head against the pillow. “Feels nice.”
“You sure?”
I nod.
Nothing else matters right now, not when the warm strokes across my body make my heart sing and my skin tingle. Maybe it is the painkillers, or the fact that I’ve spent the past three days dipping between realities. It’s unclear, but one thing I’m sure of is that Ruslan’s touch isincredible.
His rough, callused hands are soothing against my hip as he strokes upward past the edge of my underwear to my abdomen. As he cleans, he ensures the covers remain over my body to cover the area he’s not working on and the sheets retain the warmth he leaves behind. As he cleans over my abdomen, I can’t take my eyes off his face.
“You came for me,” I murmur.
“Let’s not talk about that now,” Ruslan says quietly. “You’ve been through enough. Just rest.”
“What if I want to hear your voice?”
Ruslan’s hands pause on my skin and his eyes flick momentarily up to my face. “Never had that request before.”
“Really?”
He nods.
I close my eyes. “Your voice is so deep and soothing. If I listen, really listen, I can almost feel it right here.” Slowly moving one hand, I rest my fingertips just beneath the hollow of my collarbone. “It’s nice.”
“Interesting.” He resumes the sponge bath. “No one’s ever told me that before.”
“Maybe you’ve been around the wrong people.”
“Maybe. Most people tell me my voice sounds like the echo of a tunnel, but I’m not sure they mean it as a compliment. Or I see people online trying to imitate a deep voice and they sound like they’re about to tear their vocal chords.”
I’d laugh, but Ruslan’s attention over my abdomen and up to my ribs, along with the soothing tones of his voice, is sending my mind in a completely different direction.
I’m hot.
