Chapter 20
MAREK
I feel bad that Nikki’s so exhausted. She’s still recovering from trauma and I dragged her out onto a hiking trail, then got us lost. I thought exercise and fresh air would be good for her.
I didn’t count on it snowing. And I don’t think I realized how anxious she was.
I would have carried her the whole way if I could have.
But also… I know she has to walk herself to move forward.
She goes into the bedroom to change and I call room service and order dinner to be sent to the cottage along with another bottle of fine Finger Lakes wine. Is it fine wine? I don’t know. But we’re here so we’re drinking it.
Then I join her in the bedroom to get rid of my hiking clothes which are sweaty despite the cold weather. I pull on a pair of gray sweatpants and a black New Jersey Storm hoodie. Nikki’s stretched out on the bed, with one hand draped over her forehead, dressed in her pink and white striped pajamas.
“I’m too tired to eat,” she moans.
I lie down beside her. “I’ll feed you. You need to get your strength back.”
“Okay.”
I grin. “Just relax till dinner gets here.”
“I don’t have a choice. I can’t move.”
“I’m sorry I fucked up our hike.”
Her eyes pop open and fix on me. “You didn’t.”
“Yeah, I did. I didn’t know it was going to snow.”
She sits straight upright. “You know I’m okay, right?”
I wrestle with my smile. Christ, she’s strong. “Yeah. But I still want to take care of you.”
“For once, I won’t argue with that.”
We eat dinner in front of the TV, watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Then I take Nikki’s hands and pull her off the couch and lead her upstairs and into the bedroom.
“Bedtime already?” she says innocently.
“Not quite.” I take her through the bedroom and into the en suite bathroom with the Japanese soaking tub that sits in front of a big, dark window. I turn on the taps and water flows into the tub.
“Oooh, nice.”
“Let’s get these off you.” I move up close and undo the top button of her pajama shirt. Then the next one. And the next. And I slide the silky fabric off her shoulders and down her arms.
Fuck. I’ll never see her like this and not be struck dumb. She’s so goddamn gorgeous it hurts me.
The pajama bottoms slither down her legs easily and she’s naked and exquisite. Steam begins to curl around us.
She steps onto the small wooden step next to the tub, then turns to me. “Are you coming in?”
“Do you want me to?”
She curls a hand around the back of my neck and pulls my face down to hers to press a kiss on my mouth. “Yes.” Then she steps into the tub and lowers herself into the water. “Wow, this is deep.”
I move over to a glass shelf on the wall where a selection of bath products sits. I survey the options. “Bubbles? Or bath salts?”
“Ohhhh. I can’t choose.”
“Bath salts are supposed to be good for muscles.” I choose one and read the label to her. “‘Feels harmonizing, peaceful, supportive. Smells floral, herbaceous, citrusy.’”
“That sounds amazing.”
I pour the crystals under the faucet and the water foams up, releasing a seductive scent.
Nikki leans back in the tub and stretches her legs out.
Christ, she should do advertising for this brand of tub.
Her dark hair sits in a messy knot on top of her head, tendrils escaping around her face, her slender arms resting on the sides of the freestanding tub.
She smiles up at me, a sexy, drowsy curve of her lips.
I go back downstairs to get our wine glasses and when I return the water is pretty deep, so I shut it off.
I set the glasses on the small table next to the tub.
Then I find a bottle of body wash the same scent as the bath salts, and suds up a cloth.
One by one I wash Nikki’s feet, her legs, then arms. I have her lean forward so I can leisurely wash her back, then carefully draw the cloth over her chest, unable to resist the temptation of cupping her tits through the cloth and rubbing.
She makes soft little noises of pleasure.
Done washing her, I stand and pull my hoodie over my head. Her gaze tracks over my chest and down to the front of my sweatpants, and one side of her mouth curls into a little smirk. I grip my cock with one hand through the fabric and her smirk disappears, lips parting, eyes darkening.
“You want this,” I say in a low voice.
“Yes.”
Patience, I tell my dick. I shove my sweatpants down my legs and step out of them, and I join her in the tub, moving behind her to lean against the sloped back and shifting her between my outstretched legs. “I like this,” I say. “Deep enough for me, even.”
She settles in against me and I reach for our wine.
“Look out the window,” she says, her body tightening against mine. “It’s still snowing.”
“It sure is.” I peer out into what appears to be a blizzard.
“We might be snowed in here.” Her voice is wobbly.
I bind her closer in my arms. “We’re safe here, Nikki.”
She doesn’t respond and I’m afraid she doesn’t believe me.
“You’re safe with me,” I add in a low voice.
“I know.” She curls a hand around my arm and squeezes.
“Relax, baby. I’ve got you.”
After a few seconds she softens against me, then sips her wine. “I’m sorry I was cranky earlier.”
I smile. “You were a little grumpy. Thanks for the apology.”
“Wait. You’re supposed to tell me I wasn’t grumpy.”
“You want me to lie to you?”
After a short silence, she says, “No.”
“I know you’re going through a rough time.” I stroke her shoulder. “I know you’re reacting to a traumatic event. But…” How do I say this?
“I don’t get to be a bitch.”
Okay, she did it for me. “Well, yeah.”
She sighs. “I’m sorry.”
“It was colder than a witch’s tit out there.”
She gasps. “No! Too soon! We heard a witch ghost! I am not over that.”
I chuckle. “You’ll be fine.”
“We could be cursed!”
“Doesn’t feel like it right now.”
“True.” She sips her wine. “Thank you for not laughing at me about the witch ghost. And the name of the magic spell.”
My chest clenches. “Why would I laugh at you?”
“Because I say stupid things like that.”
“Jesus. That wasn’t stupid.”
“Okay, not stupid. But… kooky.”
“Have you met my sister?” I ask dryly.
“Yes. She’s going to take me to a full moon circle.”
“Oh, fuck me, no way.”
She laughs. “Maybe. It sounds intriguing. We have a lot in common. Oh. That’s what you meant.”
“Yeah. I’m used to ‘kooky.’ Mabel is always fun, though. She has crazy ideas going through her head all the time.” My voice sharpens. “Who told you you’re stupid?”
“Well…” She shifts against me. “Nobody actually said that. But when I was a kid, I often said whatever was on my mind. I didn’t always like following the rules, which got me in trouble in hockey.”
“Yeah, rules are important in hockey.”
“Right? Even in art class, I didn’t always do what the teacher told us to do.
One time when the teacher remarked on that, I felt so scorned and hurt that I picked up my painting and ripped it in half.
It always seemed like people—other kids, teachers, family friends—didn’t take me seriously and when I said something I thought was smart they’d just smile and ignore me. ”
“Christ,” I mutter, a faint ache developing behind my sternum.
“Oh, everyone liked me. I was chatty and cheerful and funny, and so I leaned into that and used my sense of humor to make jokes and make people laugh.”
I press my lips to her temple. “I hate that for you.”
“Thank you.”
She falls silent, drinking her wine and swishing her hand through the warm scented water.
I think of the guitar in my SUV. “Do you miss music?”
She takes her time answering that. “I don’t know. I didn’t think I did. But last night… when we went outside… a song was in my head.”
“Yeah? That’s good.” It’s fucking fantastic, but I stay low key.
“I guess it is. I… thought it was gone forever. But, I don’t know, that was just a few lyrics and a melody and… I don’t know.”
“It’ll come,” I say. “I know it.”
We finish our wine. The water cools, and we climb out of the tub.
I help Nikki into one of the thick white bathrobes and put on the other to head into the bedroom.
My dick is still half hard. I stand for a moment before walking over to my bag and digging around for the massage bar I packed.
I set it on the table next to the bed, turn on the lamp and turn off the overhead light in the room, then turn on the gas fireplace.
A fireplace in the bedroom. That’s top tier.
Nikki follows me, flushed and damp, the robe ridiculously large on her. “That was so good.”
“Good. Come lie down and let me make you feel even better.”
She gives me a look. “I told you I’ll be a total pillow queen.”
After a startled beat, I crack up. “That’s not what I mean.” I hold up the massage bar.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a massage bar.”
“Oh.”
“Take off the robe and lie down.”
Her lips curve into an appeased smile and she slowly tugs the belt of the robe in a provocative gesture.
She’s fucking killing me.
Naked, she lies face down on the bed and folds her arms beneath her head.
Her back view is spectacular. The light of the lamp and the fire illuminate all her smooth skin glowing against the white duvet. Her ass is a fucking work of art. I rub a hand over one cheek. “Nope. Not frozen.”
“Mmm. Not anymore.”
I start at her feet, gliding the massage bar over her warm skin so it melts into oil, digging my thumbs into her arches, massaging her heels. I work up over slender calves, then her thighs, kneading her hamstrings. Then it gets more fun when I slide the coconut and vanilla scented bar over her ass.
I love the sexy little sounds she’s making, which definitely sound like pleasure. “Okay?” I check in.
“Mmmm.” Her eyes are closed, her mouth settled in a soft curve.
I press into supple, smooth flesh, finding tight spots and digging in deeper, making her moan.
And I can’t resist sliding my hand down the crack of her ass and between her thighs into soft feminine heat.
She gasps. I stroke her there a couple of times before returning to her butt and then her low back.
I work my way up the sides of her spine, admiring the shapely curve of small muscles. I bend over to kiss a mole on her right shoulder blade, and dig my fingers into her traps.
“You’re so good at this,” she mumbles.
“Thanks. I’m usually the one getting the massage. But the trainers are a lot meaner than I’m being, and they don’t use lickable massage oil.”
“Is that a subtle hint that you want payback?”
“No! Not at all. This is for you.”
“Okay. But I think some time I’d like to put my hands all over your body.”
I smile. “That wish can be granted. Time to roll over.”
She lifts her head, eyes fluttering open. “You’re going to do my front?”
I bend down to kiss her. “That’s the best part.”
She rolls over and I’m instantly fully hard again. “Maybe we can skip the rest of the massage.”
“Hell, no.”
Her laughter is a light melody.
I shed my robe and join her on the bed. I pick up the massage bar and drag it down her chest, between her breasts, and over her stomach, then back up and across her sweet tits. I get them all slicked up and then toss the bar aside and lean over to lick her there.
“Ohhhhh…” She lets out a soft sigh. “Does that taste good?”
“Yeah. But you taste better.” I lick over a nipple, play with it with my tongue, then pull it between my lips. I love how she responds. “Don’t even move,” I murmur to her. “Just let me play with you.”