Chapter 23 #3
“That sounds nice.” The expression on his face is filled with longing and pain. “Makes sense why you’d want to be close to it.”
I snuggle closer into him, wanting to give him my warmth.
To somehow make up for the lack of cozy safety in his own life.
“I ignored it at first, but about a week later, it was eleven at night on a Friday. I was stuck in a conference room eating cold takeout and staring out a high-rise window, and I realized that it wasn’t the life I wanted.
I didn’t even care about the money. I didn’t have time to spend it.
I wanted to be with my family. I love my job, but I don’t want to be my job, you know? ”
“I do.”
I smile at him. “I guess I’m just a small-town girl at heart.”
“You’re a brave woman.”
“Not really. I just know what I want.”
We fall silent for a bit, content in the quiet with nothing but crickets and the rustle of leaves as background music.
Shoulder to shoulder, he nudges me. “I needed to see you.”
His words warm me all over. “I needed to see you too.”
His Adam’s apple bobs as he takes my hand. “I’m not used to needing to see someone. Is it too fast?”
“Do you care?” I twine my fingers with his.
He brushes his thumb along the dip of my waist. “I don’t think I do.”
“Good. Me either.”
He clears his throat. “It’s not scaring you away?”
“Not even a little bit.” I meet his gaze. “Is it scaring you away?”
“I feel like I might be crazy, but no.”
“We can be crazy together.” I straighten, rising and holding out my hand to him. “Ready to treat me like your own personal fucktoy?”
He rises to join me. “God yes.”
“Then come with me.” I lead him through the house and up the stairs, where we stop every couple of steps to giggle and kiss, trying to be quiet while being too loud.
When we finally make it to the second floor, I don’t turn toward my bedroom. Instead, I take him to the bathroom, pushing open the door. I peer back at him. “This is what sold me on the house.”
He steps inside and comes to a sudden stop as he takes in the scene before him. I’ve set up flameless candles along the perimeter and on the windowsill over the large, claw-foot tub I used the entire hot water tank to fill.
Out of my periphery, I gauge his reaction. The woman I was before I met Charlie is cringing, but the person standing here now doesn’t care. I want to show him softness. I feel like he needs softness.
How could he not? His whole life has been hard. So hard he doesn’t even let himself think about it. Hard enough that he had to cocoon himself in silence to learn another way.
He catches me watching him. “You plied me with weed, the promise of your body, and drew me a bath?”
“Yeah. I thought you might want to wash the tragedy away while fulfilling my fantasies about being fucked in this tub.” I squeeze his fingers. “Kinda a two birds, one stone type of thing.”
He releases my hand and turns to me, sliding his large palms over my hips and tugging me close. When he speaks, his voice is gruff. “How can you be so hot and so sweet at the same time?”
I push at his chest and pretend to glower at him. “I am not sweet. You take that back.”
“I won’t.” He moves his hands to my shoulders, playing with the cotton straps there. “You’re my sweet, filthy girl.”
I curl my fingers into the hem of his T-shirt and pull it over his head. “If you’re not interested in what I’m offering, just say the word.”
“I’m interested in anything you’ll give me.” He pushes the straps down my arms, and the fabric falls, catching on my hips before gravity has its way and the nightgown pools at my feet.
We spend the next couple of minutes getting naked and into the water. I settle between his legs, his erection nudging my ass, and I lean against his chest.
He runs his fingers over my breasts. “Am I really high, or is this water slippery?”
“Bath oils.” I smile, relaxing my weight as we meld together.
“Hmm.” He murmurs in my ear. “This is nice. I’ve never taken a bath, let alone one with a woman.”
I crane my neck to check his expression. “Are you serious? You’ve never taken a bath?”
He shakes his head. “It never occurred to me.”
See? I was right to do this. “Well, I am about to introduce you to one of life’s luxuries.”
“Are we talking about you or the bath?”
“You think I’m a luxury?”
He slides his fingers over my shoulders and rubs my neck. “Yes, I do.”
I moan, angling to give him better access. “I also used bath salts to soothe your tired muscles.”
“This is the best thing anyone has ever done for me.” His voice is very low and Southern right now. “Thank you.”
I want to say something sassy to lighten the mood, but I find in moments like this, when we’re unguarded and intimate, I want to tell him the truth. “That’s what I’m shooting for, to be your best thing.”
His hands still on my skin. “You don’t have to shoot for anything, Jessica. I’m happy to just exist in the same space as you.”
“I know.” I swallow hard, placing my palms on his hard, muscled thighs. “But it’s still true.”
“You are.” His teeth tug on my ear.
I reach behind to grip his neck and bring him closer. “Good.”