Chapter 5 #2
He grabs my hips next and lifts me into the water. It took us so long to get to this stage that the water would be flowing over the top if his tub weren’t so large. He holds me steady until I’m fully seated and then guides my injured hand to the edge of the tub. “Keep your arm out of the water.”
The water isn’t even above my breasts. “Sheesh, we could easily both fit in here, and there would still be room for more,” I say without thinking.
He drops a folded towel onto the floor next to the tub and kneels on it. “Trust me, one day soon, we will both get in that tub and fit perfectly, but we will never be inviting anyone else.”
I flush clear to my roots. I need to think before I speak, but Blade is silently chuckling. He’s not making fun of me. He honestly finds me…cute? Do I want to be cute?
“Tip your head back, honey. I’m going to pour water over your hair so I can wash it.” He grabs a white cup from the corner of the tub, fills it, and gently soaks my hair with his other hand over my eyes.
I think I’m going to swoon. I should be more self-conscious than I am. I’m naked in front of a man I met yesterday. Naked and beaten. He doesn’t mention my bruising or the various cuts. Blade doesn’t say anything while he washes my hair, and I close my eyes and luxuriate in the feel of his hands.
I’m not unaffected. I can’t be. It’s not possible. I’m well aware my nipples are rock hard. I can’t do anything about it, though, and I’m intrigued by my body’s reawakening after years of celibacy.
I am not frigid. Pete can bite my ass.
My pussy is wet, and not just from the water. I’m horny from having my hair washed. That’s not the definition of frigid. The culprit in my inability to get aroused was Pete. Fuck him.
On some level, I’ve always known this to be true, but this is the first time it’s being put to the test. Not only am I smug, I’m beyond curious to see what else Blade could do to me.
Maybe I needed an older man. Perhaps it turns out I’m attracted to older men. It’s not as though he’s old. Just older.
Or maybe I needed to find a partner who wasn’t an asshole.
Blade rinses my hair and puts conditioner on it. “I only own this because of my beard.” He chuckles. “Good thing I have a full beard, huh?”
My eyes are still closed, and I moan before I can stop myself. His beard is one of the sexiest parts of him. I purse my lips and try to keep my damn reactions at bay.
Blade tips my head back, causing me to open my eyes to look up at him. “Little girl, you are a naughty temptation.”
“Sorry?”
He growls, another sound I love. I don’t recognize myself. It’s like I was in a cocoon, and now I’m busting out of it. Maybe I have a naughty side. The word makes me shiver for reasons I don’t understand. Naughty? It’s so…naughty.
My sexy bearded rescuer grabs the body soap next. He pours some onto one palm and rubs his hands together to create a lather.
My breasts feel heavy. He’s going to touch them, and I hope he lingers. I’m trying not to clench the side of the tub with my bad hand because it hurts to do so, but I reach for the other edge with my good hand and hold on.
I hold my breath while he starts at my neck and works the soap down my back and my arms before washing my breasts.
I can’t help it. I try, but it’s not possible to hold back my whimper. My nipples are diamonds. It’s on the tip of my tongue to beg him to fuck me. I don’t even care that I’m tired, hungry, and in pain. I’ve forgotten all three. My adrenaline is racing. I want to know if he can make me come.
“Blade…” My voice is barely above a whisper, but I’m begging.
He purses his lips tightly as he gets more soap and moves to my feet and legs. I spread them for him and hold my breath while he cleans my pussy as quickly as possible.
If I’d known I would end up in this situation, I might have considered shaving my pubic hair. I’ve never done so. I’ve never had a reason to, but I think men like it. And who the hell am I kidding? I never could have imagined a scenario like this in a million gazillion years.
He’s finished too fast. It’s kind of disappointing. I whine when he removes his hands and switches to rinsing the conditioner from my hair.
He lifts my chin again with his bossy fingers. “You’re a very naughty Little girl for someone who doesn’t even know the meaning of the term.” He kisses my forehead and pushes to standing, turning to grab a towel and set it closer.
I’m left reeling from his words. I don’t ask him to explain again. We’ve already been down this path. He’ll tell me what the hell he means when he’s ready. I get the feeling I’m not ready to hear what he has to say, which is why he hasn’t elaborated yet.
I kind of wish I could stay in the tub a while and relax in the warm water, but I’d probably fall asleep and drown, so I don’t mention it.
Blade lifts me out and stands me on my feet, keeping a hand on my hips to make sure I’m steady before he grabs the towel from the counter. It’s endearing. I’m putty.
He pats my skin dry, removes the bag, and wrings out my hair. “Don’t move, Little one.” He spins on his heels, leaving me shivering in the bathroom.
I can’t form rational thoughts. Too many things are running through my mind.
He’s back in seconds, holding a white T-shirt. “Arms up, Little one.”
I lift my arms, though I wince when my bad arm gets too high.
Blade stops me. “Sorry. Don’t do something that hurts, honey. I’ll work around your injuries.” He’s so gentle, taking his time to get the shirt on me and easing my hands through the armholes. I feel…cherished. Babied.
Little?
I don’t get it, but maybe this is what he means by little. Small? Young? Does he think I’m too young for him? Does he see me as… I shake the idea from my head. He sees me as an adult. There’s no question about it.
He pats the bench. “Sit.”
I’m dead on my feet and concerned I might actually topple, so sitting is a good idea. The only thing I’m wearing is his T-shirt, but it’s almost to my knees, so it’s easy to tuck under my bottom.
He grabs a dry towel and squeezes my hair. “I’m sorry. I don’t own a hairdryer. I’ll get as much moisture out as possible and then brush it until it’s mostly dry.”
“It’s thin. It won’t take long.”
He fingers through it. “It’s pretty.”
I scrunch up my nose.
He meets my gaze in the mirror. “What? You don’t like your hair?”
I shake my head. “It’s boring.”
“I disagree. I think it’s lovely.” He bends and kisses the top of my head.
“Am I going to have to reprimand you for putting yourself down, June? Because I will if you think it’s a good idea to disparage any part of yourself.
I assume your dickhead ex told you anything that made you see yourself as less than perfect.
That’s an abuser’s MO. But he was lying.
Every inch of you is perfect. We clear?”
I nod. “I know,” I whisper. “I was smart enough to know he was full of shit when he said mean things about me. I’m not going to say his words didn’t affect me.
They did, but I told myself over and over he was just being an abusive prick.
When I was alone in the bathroom, I looked in the mirror and told myself he was a liar and that I was pretty.
I kept giving myself motivational pep talks in the mirror after I left.
My counselors helped me rebuild my self-esteem.
But I draw the line about my hair.” I crinkle my nose even harder this time.
Blade chuckles. “You are pretty, honey. Even your hair. But I’ll let you have that one as long as I don’t hear you putting the rest of yourself down.
You have the cutest round face and button nose.
Your skin is flawless, or it will be when the bruises and scrapes heal.
” He grabs my shoulders and leans in to set his lips on my ear.
“And your breasts would bring a man to his knees.”
“You say that as though there’s some reason they won’t,” I breathe.
“Oh, they already have, and I might worship them on my knees often, but they won’t ever bring another man to his knees. Not if I have a say in it.”
My breath hitches. My mouth is dry. “We’ve only just met,” I whisper. “I’m flattered, but if you say things like that, I’ll end up getting hurt in the long run. I’m not the kind of person who hooks up with random men and moves on.”
He drags his teeth along my earlobe. “I hope not. I’m hoping I can convince you to never move on again in your life.”
I bite into my bottom lip, unable to respond.
Instead, I watch in the mirror as he combs through my hair so carefully that he never tugs on a single strand.
He’s worshipping me. And I pray he’s not full of shit because I wasn’t kidding.
He has the power to hurt me worse than Pete.
Leaving that asshole wasn’t painful. Not inside. Losing Blade could devastate me.
And I’ve only known him a day.