Page 47 of Shark’s Pride

“You mean our shower?” Before she could concoct a quip for that, I directed, “Turn around so I can wash your hair.”

For some reason, she stared at me like I’d just spoken in another language. “Sebastian, I can wash my own hair,” she finally said.

“I’m aware. But I’m taking care of you, remember?” I pushed her to sit on the teak bench that was built into the corner. While I grabbed the handheld sprayer, I instructed, “Tilt your head back.”

Wasn’t like the task was a chore for me. Abbigail’s hair was the most fascinating color of red. When the water soaked it, plastering it to the milky skin of her back, the shade deepened to merlot. I worked the shampoo from her scalp to the ends over and over until even her feet and toes seemed to go limp. The multiple showerheads kept her warm while I worked on her hair.

After rinsing the shampoo suds, I used the conditioner Pia gave me for my last birthday and repeated the treatment. I rarely used the stuff on my own hair, but it left Abbi’s so silky in my fingers, maybe I needed to rethink my routine. Before replacing the sprayer, I passed the water over her shoulders and back to make sure she was free from suds.

My beautiful, content woman let out a happy sigh when I shut off the shower. At once, my chest constricted. A strange feeling overcame me, a tightness I couldn’t connect with at first. And bizarrely, it had nothing to do with my continuing erection. This was much different. And it wasn’t physical.

Holy shit.

It was emotion. Raw, unannounced, unintended feelings.

Sensations that swelled further when I grabbed a couple of towels from the rack outside the shower stall and then wrapped the first one around her body. While unfolding the second, I instructed, “Bend forward.”

“What?”

“Just do it, please,” I growled good-naturedly, though I added a teasing dig of my thumbs into the creases of her hips, causing her to let out an ear-piercing squeal. “Well, what do you know?” My grin spread impossibly wide. “Someone has a ticklish spot.”

“Don’t get any ideas!”

“At least I know one surefire way to make you bend to my will.”

I raised a brow in challenge, discovering it was all I needed to make her comply this time. She finally bent forward, shaking out all her wet hair. I wrapped the towel around her tresses and twisted the end until it folded down on itself like a turban.

“Stand up.”

She reached up and ran an assessing hand over the towel piled on top of her head and grinned. “How, or should I say, why do you know how to do that?”

“Vela taught me.” Just the mention of my favorite little person’s name made my heart swell even more. “But before that, there were the years I took care of my sister. But you know that worn-out story already.”

Abbigail wasn’t laughing anymore. She seemed absorbed by my words like they weren’t all that worn out. She flattened her fingers right over my heart before saying, “You’re an amazing man, Sebastian Shark.”

Every pore of my being was trampled anew by that odd, tight sensation. “Not really.”

She didn’t say anything.

Neither did I.

We stood in that position longer than we should have, with our bodies close and our stares entangled, until I couldn’t stop the rest of my words from coming out.

“But something about you, Abbigail Gibson, makes me want to be better.”

Her answering smile was full and kind. From its light alone, I could feel the sincerity of her trust and honesty. “Bas?”

“Hmmm?”

“I’m glad I’m staying with you.”

I smiled too—glad she was standing where she was, how she was. She’d be able to catch my heart in the next three seconds, when it burst all the way out of my chest. “I’m glad too, Red,” I managed to utter in the meantime.

“I mean…I’m not happy about the situation that’s brought me here, but I’m very happy to be here nonetheless.”

“I’m not thrilled with the extenuating circumstances either,” I admitted. “But this way, I know where you are and that you’re safe.” I slid my hand up her toned thigh to the sexy curve where her leg met her ass. It was one of my favorite places on a woman’s body. Especially hers. “And there are some key extra benefits to having you here too.”

Her blush was more stunning than any peony I could ever send her. “Well, yes. There are definitely those.”