20. Chapter 20 #2
“The hearts and minds of millions just broke in two,” I giggled.
I pulled off my clothes under Summoner’s watchful eyes.
He smiled at the sight of my naked body.
Fluttering attacked my chest. The electricity between us was palpable.
It was hard not to cross my arms over my exposed chest; I wasn’t too fond of my body.
Just a tiny bit of well-placed insecurity.
But it felt damn good to be appreciated.
His head cocked toward the tub. “Climb in.”
I quickly scooted into the welcoming water. My muscles melted. Head back, my mouth fell open and a heavy sigh escaped. The tub was so deep I could submerge up to my shoulders. A little slice of heaven.
“Comfortable?” he chuckled.
I opened one eye to look at him. “Mmmm Hmmmm.”
“Good. May I join you?”
I nodded. He pulled a small remote out of his pocket. With the press of a button, the indistinct sounds of classical piano music filled the room.
Bach?
Summoner quickly stepped out of his clothes. My hooded eyes glanced over his body appreciatively. He slipped into the tub behind me. I settled back against his chest. I giggled as his man bits pressed against my ass.
“This is nice.” His arms settled over my shoulders and pulled me close.
His chest rose and fell against my back.
A small hum escaped his lips and tickled my ears.
I had never shared a bath with anyone. Besides shower sex I’d seen in movies, I never imagined that water could be sexy or fun.
I was wrong, because this was everything.
Summoner’s hands caressed down my shoulders.
My tension floated away across the surface of the water.
Our bubble was back. Just him and me together, as it should be.
I love you so much.
“So, Poppy, how are you feeling?”
“Good. Right now, I’m good.”
“You sure? I know how hard those med changes can be.”
“True. The brain fog is less and less everyday now. Thanks for giving me space to bounce back and think about things.”
“Of course. What are boyfriends for?”
Boyfriend.
Just like every time before and probably after, my heart flipped. It was clearly showing off at this point.
“…Why are you so nice to me? Why do you even like me?” I asked quietly.
“Like you? I think you are the most fascinating person, Poppy.”
“…Fascinating?” A bubble of confusion crowded my throat.
“Truly fascinating.”
“Do you have a fetish for sad black girls or something?”
“No.”
“Have you ever been with a black woman before?”
I glanced over my shoulder as a telling smile inched across his face.
“Many, many moons ago…A few background singers. All wonderful women. Nothing serious, just fun on the road. Now, it’s only fair for me to ask, have you been with a white man before?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course. A few white guys, a few black guys. Even a Korean guy who wouldn’t introduce me to his family because I was black, but desperately wanted to be my boyfriend.”
He grimaced. “You seem attracted to assholes.”
“I think I’m attracted to the unavailable. A spiral of my own creation.”
He kissed my shoulder as the implication of his words hung around us. My gaze shifted down to the clear water that was only provided to pricier zip codes.
“I think you were a fish in a past life,” I interjected alongside the quiet between songs.
“Maybe. If I was a fish, what was Poppy?”
“Hmmm…A bird, probably.”
“A bird?” He poured a handful of water over my neck.
“Yeah! The ability to fly anywhere, anytime, sounds amazing to me.”
“Sounds flighty.”
“Ouch!”
“I don’t say it to be hurtful. You just haven’t figured yourself out yet.”
“If I wanted to hear the truth, I wouldn’t be in a bath with my boyfriend,” I scoffed.
“Fair enough. I do believe you’ll figure it out. There’s nothing wrong with it, but you’re too brilliant to be writing listicles forever.”
My heart skipped a beat. “You really think that?”
“I really do. By chance, have you started on your story yet?”
“Maybe a tiny bit.”
“Great. You should send me chapters.”
“Are you giving me fucking homework?!” I glared over my shoulder at him.
“Inconceivable! All I’ll say is you better have it done. I don’t want you finding out the consequences.”
“Consequences?” I wiggled around the tight space to face a grinning Summoner.
His lowered brow darkened his eyes. He looked like a sexy mob boss in a lavender-scented bath.
“Yes, Poppy. They’re for me to know and hopefully for you not to find out. I can be quite the hardarse.”
“I can imagine, Mr. Fish Man.” I flicked water at him.
The beads of wetness trailed over the thickness of his arm muscles.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you to like it, too.”
I raised my eyebrows. “How do you plan on doing that?”
“I’m going to take you swimming.”
I shook my head.
“Let me finish.” Summoner reached into the water and rested his hands on my thighs. “Do you have a passport?”
Passport?
“…Yeah. It’s unused, but I have it.”
“How would you feel about using it? We could go to Spain. I have a sustainable farm there, and as I’m sure you heard, it’s time for me to pay it a visit.”
Spain?!
My eyes widened with glittery excitement.
“But.” He held up a hand, pumping the brakes on my romantic daydreaming. “A few things first.”
I sat back in anticipation of Summoner’s guidelines.
“You must buy a swimsuit. And when we get back, I want to meet your dad.”
I blinked as the weight of his words settled on my chest.
“My dad?!” I sputtered.
Suddenly, our bath wasn’t very relaxing or sexy.
“Yes, your dad. I think it’s time your boyfriend meets the parents. Don’t you?”
Boyfriend. Damn him for using that title against me.