Chapter 24
Rowan Rafferty performs a strip tease
I followed Kendra to her houseboat like a lost puppy, my gaze glued to her captivating figure.
The way the damp fabric clung to her curves was mesmerizing.
I never thought she could look more alluring, yet here she was, exuding an irresistible charm heightened by the glistening droplets on her skin.
I hoped the coolness of the water wouldn’t make her sick, but her image at that moment would be etched in my memory for years to come.
I had brought my crutches along, the familiar weight a reminder of my limitations.
As I prepared to remove my prosthetic, Kendra stepped into the lounge, a vision of casual comfort.
She wore dry shorts accentuating her long legs and a soft, fitted T-shirt that hugged her form just right.
Her hair, still dripping, framed her face in wild, wet ringlets, creating an effortless look that sent my heart racing.
“Will you show me?” Kendra asked, sitting next to me on the couch.
I nodded.
“You’ll have to take off your pants, right?” She smirked at me.
“Yes. I do. Is that okay with you?”
“Are you commando like the other night?”
“Not tonight, Goldilocks.”
“Damn.” She snapped her fingers. “Better luck next time, Kendra.”
That made me feel more relaxed. I removed my right boot and set it to the side. I then unbuckled and unzipped my pants, stood up, and let them fall to the floor.
“That’s a lot of zippers in your pants,” Kendra remarked.
“It makes it easier to get dressed - and undressed. Some companies specialize in adaptive clothing, but it can be expensive.”
She smiled. “Maybe Charlotte could fix a few off-the-rack pants for you. Lord knows she’s the president of your fan club now.”
I nodded. It wasn’t a bad idea.
Kendra scooted closer to look at the cuff on the prosthetic and the metal leg. “May I touch you?”
The words caught in my throat. It meant a lot, her asking for permission. I could only nod my assent.
She caressed my left thigh and traced a finger along the cuff. “Does it hurt?”
“The prosthetic?”
She nodded.
“Not too much. This wasn’t my first one. After amputation, you spend a lot of time in therapy, working on your residual limb, getting it to shrink, and adjusting for a prosthetic. You have to work up to something like this.”
“How does it work? Is it okay that I’m asking this? I don’t want to be weird.”
“It’s okay,” I said, grabbing my crutches and sitting on the couch beside her.
“I’m glad you’re curious. You’re asking the right questions.
The prosthetic is almost vacuum sealed to my knee joint here.
” I loosened the knob near the base to let the air out of the vacuum.
“This releases the vacuum, which makes it easier to wear and take off.” I slid off the leg and placed it on the coffee table. “See? Easy peasy.”
“I’m guessing you don’t shower with it.”
“No, that’s a bad idea for many reasons. I usually take off my leg and wash it at night, so it has time to dry completely before wearing it in the morning. I am an expert at hopping on one leg in the shower.”
“You’ve been showering on the pirate ship?”
“I have.”
“Does it have grab bars on the wall?”
I tapped my lip. “No. But that’s a great idea. Thank you.”
“Do you want to shower here? I have one grab bar, not sure it’s a good one, but maybe it’ll keep you steady? It’s a walk-in shower, so nothing you’ll need to climb over.”
My heart swelled. “That is very thoughtful, Kendra. Yes. I will take you up on that. If you do one thing for me?”
“What’s that?”
“Help me out of this shirt and jacket?”
A smile spread across her face like watching the sun shine after a storm.
It warmed my soul and lightened my day. She carefully undressed me and fussed over me as I crutched to her shower.
She folded and refolded a clean towel and washcloth several times before I told her I would kick her out, but I had only one good leg, and that would mean I would probably fall on my arse.
Her mortified look was slightly gratifying, but it did get her to give me a few minutes to shower and regroup, wondering how I would tell her the next part.