Page 51 of Playing the Player

“You love it.” Can’t argue with that. Conor goes to the tub, pouring a healthy amount of the bubble bath into the running water, its lavender scent hitting me. I can practically feel my muscles relaxing already.

We sit in silence as the bathtub fills with hot, steamy water. I cannot wait to get in there. I just wish I had a good book to read while washing all my worries away. “Is the water okay?” Conor asks me.

I dip my finger into the water, feeling it burn my skin. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

Conor sticks his hand in the water next but hisses and pulls it out just as quickly. “What do you mean that's perfect? Sasha, that’s practically lava.” I snort at his over the top reaction.

“It’s relaxing.”

“It’s skin removal.”

“It’s therapeutic."

“It’s concerning.” I laugh again at his horrified expression. “There is something wrong with you, woman.” Conor turns the tap off when the water is high enough. “Here.” He hands me a fluffy towel.

“Holy shit, it’s so soft.” I rub it against my cheek, reveling in the feeling of a towel that wasn’t purchased at a thrift store.

“Get in the tub. I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Okay.” Wait. What? What does he mean he’ll be back in a minute? Before I can ask him, he’s shooting through the bedroom door, practically sprinting down the hallway.

I strip my clothes as fast as I can, not wanting Conor to come back and see me naked. Stepping into the water, I welcome the burning sensation that spreads throughout my whole body. I’m sweating already. It’s fantastic.

I sink down deep into the bubbles so that none of my body is visible. The more water that washes over me, the more all of my racing thoughts seem to disappear. Resting my head against the smooth ceramic, I close my eyes and breathe in deep, allowing myself to finally relax. God, this feels amazing.

Conor’s footsteps padding back towards the bedroom interrupt me out of my bubbly bliss. He walks in with a glass of red wine and a book. Wine and a book! How is this man still single? “This is the wine you always get when we’re out and this,” He holds up the book for me to look at.

“My favorite book?” I answer for him. “How?”

“You told me this one was your favorite so I picked up a copy in case you ever came over.” My heart swells so much in my chest, I feel like it could burst at any moment.

Conor wears a sheepish grin and it’s the cutest thing I have ever seen. This man never gets embarrassed, but right now he has the most gorgeous shade of pink spreading across his cheeks and honestly, it makes him even more handsome.

“Thank you, Conor.” I smile up at him, and I hope he can see how much I appreciate this. Appreciate him.

He sets the wine on the small table beside the tub and lays the book down beside it. “Well,” He slaps the edge of the bath, standing to full height again. “I guess I’ll give you some peace.”

I don’t want him to give me any peace. I want him to stay right here with me. I don’t tell him that though. I let him leave the room, and I think he’s taken a piece of my heart right along with him.

Walking out of the bedroom, my bare feet slap against the floor tiles as I head to the kitchen. My eyes instantly find Conor, laying on the couch, scrolling on his phone. My gaze moves over him, taking in every detail that I don’t get to see when he’s looking.

He truly is beautiful. His face is clean shaven, his sharp jaw more prominent that way. His long lashes cover the stunning deep blue of his eyes. His arm is bent above his head, his bicep flexing in the sexiest way one could. The bulging veins running down his arm have me licking my lips.

I wish I was licking something else though.

He’s wearing a plain white shirt that strains around his biceps, showing off every single muscle. I wonder what it would feel like to run my tongue over them and then-

“Everything okay?” He’s not looking at me, but at my reflection. I can see the smirk planted on his annoyingly handsome face. Which means… Shit! He just saw me checking him out. Damn those floor to ceiling windows and their over the top clean and shine schedule.

“Yep. Just getting some water.” I smile back, trying and probably failing to act like I wasn’t doing anything. “What are you doing?”

“I’m sleeping here.”

“No, you’re not. I am.”

“No, Sash. You’re my guest so you take the bed.”

“No, Conor. This is your home so you take the bed.”