Skye’s lips pursed and I knew the answer before she spoke. “I have noticed some significant signs of decline this week.”
I appreciated that she was honest with me, but hearing that information felt like a punch in the gut. I lowered down onto the edge of the bed. This situation with Naomi made me feel helpless and inept. I knew that I should be handling it better, but I honestly didn’t know how. My head dropped down as I leaned forward, resting my forearms on my thighs.
Skye took a single step toward me, stopping a half foot in front of my knees. Her hand gently rested on my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Lifting my gaze to meet hers put everything I wanted, everything I’d been fighting against into sharp focus. I knew exactly what would make me feel better, even if wanting it did make me the asshole she didn’t think I was.
“I miss you,” I admitted.
She grinned. “I’m right here.”
My heart was pounding wildly in my chest as I asked, “Are you?”
I wasn’t asking if she was physically there. I was asking if she was there for me. If I could touch her. If I could hold her.
She searched my eyes, and I could see that she was reading between the lines.
“Yes,” she responded as she took another step, closing the distance between us. Her thighs were touching my knees.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into me. She stepped between my legs and I hugged her tightly, my head resting against her belly. She began to run her hands through my hair. I moaned, loving the sensation of her nails raking across my scalp. I knew that this was crossing a line, but I couldn’t help myself.
This is what I needed. “Not being able to touch you, to hold you. It’s been driving me crazy.”
“It has?” she asked in disbelief.
“Yes.” I tightened my arms around her. “You had to know that.”
“I didn’t.” Her breaths were coming in shallow pants. “I thought you were…that you friend-zoned me.”
“I was just trying to respect your boundaries.” I tilted my head up and saw her staring down at me. “Is that what you wanted? Did you want me to friend-zone you?”
She shook her head back and forth as she licked her lips.
I kept my eyes locked on her as I dropped my arms and leaned back slightly. “What do you want?”
“You,” she breathed.
I swallowed a moan at her admission.
“Can I touch you?” I asked, needing to make sure that I hadn’t misread the signals.
Desire flickered in her hazel eyes, mirroring the need I felt for her. “Yes.”
My hands trembled as I lifted them to the belt that was tied at her waist. I waited, giving her plenty of time to tell me to stop. To tell me she changed her mind, and we couldn’t do this. But that never happened.
Slowly, I tugged on the terrycloth cincture until it came loose. When it did, her robe parted revealing a tiny sliver of naked skin. It was enough for me to see that she wasn’t wearing anything beneath it, just as I’d suspected.
Leaning forward, I softly pressed my lips to her bare belly. She sucked in a slight gasp as her hands once again rested on my head. This time her fingers fisted in my hair. I continued kissing her belly, as my hands traveled up her torso. Her nipples brushed along my palms causing a tingle in my balls as I continued up to her shoulders where I slid the robe off her body. It fell to the floor with a soft thud.
Her knees buckled slightly, and I stood. When I did, she reached up and held onto my biceps to steady herself. I grabbed one of her wrists and pulled her into the bathroom, just like I’d fantasized doing when I walked in.
“What are you…what are we?”
I leaned down and tested the water with my wrist and felt that it was the perfect temperature. When I rose back up, I looked down at her. “You said you were going to take a bath.”
“But—”
Her protest halted and she let out a little squeal when I scooped her up, then set her down in the water. As I helped guide her, my sleeves got wet, but I didn’t give a shit. Once she was settled, I got on my knees beside the tub and removed my shirt.
