“I thought this kind of stuff only existed in, like, spy movies.”
“Surprise, they’re real.” The charming idiot does jazz hands. “Knowing you’re wearing it will bring me more comfort than I can adequately express. Please, Princess? Please wear it for me?”
I hold it between my thumb and index finger, softly rubbing the butterfly pendant. “Only because you asked so nicely.” I pass him the necklace and then gather my ponytail over my shoulder. “Help me put it on, please?”
He fumbles with the clasp before bringing the chain around my neck. His callused fingers skate along my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
“There we go,” he whispers, his warm breath fanning over my skin before he presses the softest kiss ever to the crook of my neck.
“Thank you,” I say as he retreats. “For all of this... for everything.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Scarlet. Any decent?—”
“Be so fucking real, Ellis. I can’t think of any other person on this earth that would go to the lengths you have to protect me. I...” I suck in a shuddering breath. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” He rises to his full height, extending a hand my way. “Now, how about that bath?”
I slide my hand into his, allowing him to pull me up. “Yes, please.”
He guides me into his bathroom. “Strip, and I’ll fill the tub.”
“Aren’t you bossy?” I quip, toeing off my shoes. Shoes that will soon have GPS trackers in them, pinging my location at all times. The thought is as unsettling as it is comforting. A total mindfuck of a paradox.
“Only when I think you’ll fight me every step of the way.” He nudges the faucet then checks the temperature.
I finish undressing while he adds bubblesanda bath bomb. “You just have all of this stuff handy?”
“What?” He has the gall to look offended. “Men can’t enjoy a bath?”
“Of course you can.” I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest. “I was just surprised.”
“I’m full of surprises, Princess.” He tests the water one more time and hums his approval. “Plus, I gotta keep you on your toes, somehow.”
My mind wanders back to earlier, and I once again find myself wondering about his hobbies. “What do you do for fun?”
“Let’s get you in the tub, and I’ll tell you.” He steps into my space and wraps an arm around my middle, guiding me as if I’mincapable of walking the few steps from the sink to the bath on my own. I don’t complain though, because deep down, I like his pampering. It’s been a really long time since anyone’s wanted to take care of me.
Ellis steadies me as I step into the tub, his lush lips curling into a satisfied grin as I groan in delight as the steaming hot water surrounds me. “This is perfect.”
He taps his temple. “I know you like your water uncomfortably hot.”
“Guilty.” I lean my head back against the little pillow he has suction cupped to the wall of the tub. “Now, about those hobbies.”
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours. Quid pro quo, Princess.”
“Sure, sure.” I skim my fingers through the bubbles. “But you first.”
“Obviously TV. Running.”
I scrunch my nose. “Like, for fun?”
He nods. “Helps clear my mind. I enjoy cooking, which you also know. I whittle.”
“Like with wood?”
“Do you know of any other way?”
“Smartass.” I flick my fingers through the water, splashing him. “What do you whittle?”
