Page 76 of The Scars We Heal

Caitlin’s gaze followed, and her mouth gaped into an O.

“If this”—I gestured between us—“is any indication, I’d say I’ll have plenty of time to fuck you properly. I don’t need to get my dick wet to feel good about this, about us. This was about you.” Lifting her off the bed into my arms, I carried her to the bathroom. “Let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?”

Her head had settled against my chest, but she still nodded with a small yawn. “You take such good care of me.”

I set her down on the counter and started the water, letting the spray fall over my hand until it was a temperature I was happy with. Then I stripped off my soiled jeans and boxers, tossing them to the side.

Standing fully naked in the bathroom, I turned around to see Caitlin still with her shirt on.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I approached the counter, standing between her legs. I placed my hands on her thighs, rubbing them up and down her legs in comfort.

She looked away. “I can take a shower on my own.”

“Now, why would I want you to do that?”

Refusing to make eye contact with me, she rolled her lips instead. “My stomach…it’s, uh…it’s rough. The scar.”

“May I?” I reached for the hem of her shirt.

“You don’t want to…”

“Cait, I just gave you an orgasm from eating out your pussy. I came in my pants from that alone. Please don’t tell me what I do and don’t want to see.”

She sucked in a breath then offered me a small nod.

Lifting the hem of her shirt to where the scar was visible, I ran my thumb over the delicate flesh. With one hand holding her shirt up, I lowered my mouth to her stomach to press a gentle kiss over it. Then another. And another.

“This scar is proof that you are stronger than anyone,” I murmured between kisses. “Proof that you brought a human into this world. One of the smartest, sassiest, and most beautiful humans, in fact, second only to her mother. Don’t hide from me, baby. I…” I swallowed the words before they came out.

I love every part of you, scars and all.

Clearing my throat, I pulled the shirt over her head. “Come on, before the water goes cold.”

When I stepped back, she unclasped her bra, letting it fall to the floor before hopping off the counter. She’d seen all of me, and I’d seen all of her.

“Beautiful,” I whispered, tucking a strand of hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear.

The minute she stepped under the hot water, her eyes closed, a content sigh falling from her lips.

I reached for the shampoo, squirting a drop in my hand and lathering it. “Turn around.”

She faced the water, and I massaged the top of her head, working the shampoo into every strand. When I was done, she gestured for me to spin so she could do the same.

We took turns washing each other and exchanging kisses in the steam, and when we finally came out of the shower and got dressed again, I pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and slipped out the door to go back to my own house.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

caitlin

Over the past few days since Jake and I got together, I’d been sneaking over to his house after Whitley had gone to sleep and vice versa. We’d stolen kisses between me picking up shifts at the bar and picking up Whitley from school, too. It was possible we were in some kind of dreamlike, sex-induced haze and the thrill would wear off, but until that happened, I was content with spending the time we had together, even if it was in secret.

Last night, he insisted on trying the new vibrator I’d bought. If I’d known the torture he’d put me through, I never would have agreed. He’d brought me nearly to the edge of my orgasm three times before pulling back and working me up again.

I pressed my thighs together thinking about it, heat pooling in my core at the vision of his body hovering over mine before⁠—

“Mommy, what are you doing?” Whitley tugged on my pant leg, forcing me out of my daydream.

“Nothing, Mommy’s just thinking.”