She smiled and nodded. “Actually, I’m really glad you’re back. Do you think you could help me? I don’t think I have the strength to do it on my own.”
I froze, unable to breathe or think. Surely she wasn’t asking what I thought she was.
If I were speaking, I was pretty sure I would’ve stuttered. Just the thought of being in there with her made my whole body heat up with a mixture of anxiety and desire.
It wasn’t a good idea, but she was sick and it didn’t mean anything. Even if she wasn’t, I would’ve done anything she asked of me, whether it would bite me in the ass later or not.
“Of course. Whatever you need.” I hoped I looked confident and not at all like I was about to pass out.
She thanked me and I turned, a little too quickly, to get her bath started. She loved anything lavender scented, so I put some bubbles and bath salts in, making sure the water was to her liking. Hot enough totake a few seconds to step in, but not too hot to redden the skin too much.
I also added some eucalyptus oils to help with her breathing and turned off the lights. She had a wax warmer plugged in. It was a little sunflower, of course, that was also a nightlight. So it was dark enough to relax but still light enough to see.
I turned away so she could undress, but after a few seconds, she tapped me on the shoulder. Worry creased my brow when I turned back. There was no way she got undressed that fast.
I was right. When I looked at her, she was still wearing her cute pajamas. The light-blue shorts with stripes and matching button-up shirt. She looked like she was sweating and out of breath.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I can’t. I can’t do it. Can you help me, please?” Her pout was the cutest thing I'd ever seen.
I sucked in a breath. I’d never been that close to her before, but I couldn’t say no. I’d never say no to her. All I could do was nod as I helped her unbutton her shirt.
I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t look her in the eyes either. I was afraid of what she’d see behind mine. I focused on the buttons. One by one until she was shrugging it off her shoulders. I had to hold back a groan when her tattoo came into view. The way it circled her chest had me wanting to inspect every detail, but I couldn’t. I had to look anywhere else.I secretly hoped her house would lose power so I couldn’t see the dream in front of me.
Once she was bare, I had to force myself to look away. I looked in her eyes, which were staring back into mine. I couldn’t read her expression, but she was staring so intently, like she was searching for something. What that something was, I didn’t know. The only thing I could do was stand there, unmoving.
Finally, unable to take the heat of her gaze, I cleared my throat and took a step back. I needed all the space I could get. The bathroom door was open, but between the steam of the bath and the heat coursing through me, it was all becoming too much, too intimate.
“Do you think you can take off your shorts?” I didn’t think I could handle that part. Not with her looking at me like… however she was looking at me.
Thankfully, she nodded and I turned away until I heard the movement of water in the tub. I waited a few more seconds, enough time for her to adjust to the water and submerge her body, which I was fully aware was completely naked. The air in the bathroom was becoming too hot when I turned around and saw her lying in the tub.
Bubbles covered everything, but it wasn’t enough. I’d seen her breasts when I’d taken off her shirt, and I swallowed hard. I had a thing for boobs, and hers were so perfect. Everything about her was perfect, really.
They weren’t big, but they weren’t small, either. Just enough to fit in the palm of your hand with a little flowing over. Her nipples were the same color as her lips, and I tried not to think about how they would feel under my tongue. I coughed, trying to gather myself.
Being in the same room with her while she was naked was such a bad idea. She would have never asked for my help if she knew how I felt about her.
I pushed all my feelings aside. I’d have time to think about them later when I was in my own bed. I had more important things to focus on first. Daisy was sick, and I was there to be her best friend and take care of her, so that was what I was going to do.
I’d have to think very hard about something else if I wanted to get some sleep later. I could not think about Daisy’s body while she slept in the next room and was sick.
Neither of us said a word. I turned off my brain and went into protective mode. I grabbed a washcloth and tapped her shoulder, motioning for her to sit up.
I draped the soapy washcloth over her shoulders, and lightly massaged. I bit my lip when her shoulders fell back and her eyes closed. Bad idea.
With her eyes closed, I allowed myself to be selfish. I used the excuse of washing her to grant my eyes access to roam over her body. Her chest, all wet. Her nipples, hard from the cold. I tried and failed to suppress a groan when the washcloth trailed across her chest, and I felt her suck in a breath.
I tried my best not to linger. She didn’t need some creep trying to put a move on her. She needed her best friend to take care of her because she was sick and weak and she’d asked for help.
My hands started moving down her body, toward her stomach, but when I looked lower, to where the soap was no longer covering her lower half, I squeezed my legs together, ignoring the pulse I felt, and moved to her back. Eventually, I had to stop touching her, so I put the washcloth down and motioned for her to lay back down when she opened her eyes.
“Close your eyes and relax. I’ll be right here.”
She smiled and did just that, settling back into the tub. I was thankful everything was covered again, but it still wasn’t enough.
Not knowing what else to do with myself, I just stood there for a few minutes, staring at her. I didn’t want to disturb her, and she seemed pretty comfortable with me hovering over her while she was completely naked, only the smooth bubbles covering her pert nipples, her toned stomach, and her?—
