Page 174 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“I know it’s going to take time, and I need you to know that I’m gonna be here for as long as it does.”

A smile twitches at her lips as she stares up at me, her eyes still glassy.

“Don’t go anywhere,” I warn as I finally step away from the bed. I walk backward through the room, keeping my eyes on her.

Fuck, she looks good in the middle of that bed with her dress around her waist.

The need to crawl back between her thighs and feast on her all over again burns through me. But as much as she might enjoy it, it’s not what she needs right now.

“Promise?” I ask, aware that she hasn’t agreed.

“Trust me, I’m not letting anyone but you see me like this.”

“Too fucking right. You’re mine, Hails. And I can’t wait until the rest of the world learns that.”

My words hang in the air as I disappear into the bathroom and set about getting it ready.

The sound of the water running fills the room a beat before I find the coconut-scented bath foam on the side.

I don’t hear her join me, and she scares the living shit out of me when I stand and turn after swirling the water around to check the temperature.

“Holy shit,” I gasp, my heart racing. “I told you to stay.”

“Clearly, I’m not as good at following orders as you are,” she quips with a smirk.

“I was going to come and get you.”

“Well, I’m here now,” she says, walking deeper into the room, taking me in before her eyes drift to the bath full of bubbles behind me.

“I know it’s nowhere near as good as your tub at home, but⁠—”

“It’s perfect,” Hailee says, pressing the front of her body against mine, wrapping her hand around the back of my neck, and stretching up to kiss me.

“Mmm,” I moan, fully diving into the kiss.

My fingers dance up her bare arms, causing goose bumps to chase my touch before I get to the thin straps over her shoulders.

“Can I?” I ask once my fingers are tucked under the soft fabric.

“Yes,” she breathes into our kiss.

It doesn’t matter that I’ve seen her naked numerous times now; she still takes my breath away.

Cool air rushes over my legs as the fabric of her dress cascades to the floor. My eyes drop, and I find that she’s wearing a strapless bra.

“Oh, hell no,” I mutter, reaching around her back to unhook it.

It drops seconds later, and I groan at the sight of her bare before me.

Her nipples are hard, and her chest is heaving.

If I were to suggest carrying on from where we left off earlier, I have no doubt that she’d agree. But I don’t. Instead, I lift her feet from the floor and spin around, letting her legs lower into the water.

“How’s the temperature?”

“Perfect,” she breathes.

I lower her down into the bubbles and take a moment just to watch her.