Chapter 24
Harbor
I cleaned the apartment once Lark fell asleep.
She was exhausted. Just how she should be.
I was left wide awake with my thoughts clouding my better judgment. I shouldn’t want her to move in after a month of being together, but I meant what I said about her being here, sharing my space, taking up more than her fair share of the closet, and coming home to her each day.
The dishes were put in the dishwasher, the roses were collected and put back in the box, and then tossed in the garbage chute down the hall. No way was my girl getting secondhand flowers.
When she wakes, I can’t give her any of the things I bought, but I’ll be here with coffee and ready for a third round since she got her second round wish just over an hour ago.
It could be like this for the rest of the year. Us, together, here, alone. Breakfast after I hit the gym or go for a run, then driving, riding, or walking to school together. It will be so easy for us to combine our lives since our schedules are similar.
A life with Lark isn’t so foreign, but sharing the apartment could be nice. Noah wouldn’t be happy since he’d have to find another place for his hookups, but that’s the least of my concerns.
I leave my boxer briefs on when I return to the room since Lark fell asleep in another pair of mine.
When I climb back into bed, time is creeping well into the morning hours.
I lie next to her staring up at the ceiling.
She closed the window shades, which is something I never do.
I never worried before. There are no other buildings high enough to get a direct view into my room.
Someone would really want to spy on me and need a telescope to make out anything I’m doing.
I still find comfort in the dark with her snuggled to my side. She gravitated over as soon as I was covered. I hold her, listening to her breathe, and hope she can calm my mind.
She keeps asking me about applying to medical school like I have to lift a finger. I don’t. It’s already taken care of. There’s power in the Westcott name. I just don’t know how to tell Lark that, along with the life of privilege I’ve led, the road ahead is paved in gold. It is what it is.
Rolling onto her back, she rests her arm across her forehead. “Are you awake, babe?” she whispers.
“Yeah,” I say, keeping my voice fitting to the hour. Moving to face her, I can see her eyes are clenched closed. I reach over and rub her stomach. “Are you okay?”
I receive a nod, and then she squints her eyes and looks at me. “No, it hurts.”
I sit upright. “What hurts?”
“My body.” Staring at her, I roam her body as if I can find the pain source. She manages a slight smile. “Down there, Harbor.”
“Ah. Yeah . . . About that, I should have given you some ibuprofen before bed.” I flip the covers off and hurry into the bathroom. I’m popping the bottle open when she comes in behind me wearing my discarded T-shirt.
“Can I take a bath?”
“A bath?” I ask, looking back over my shoulder like I don’t understand the meaning of the word. I’ve never taken one here before.
“I think the hot water will help.”
“Sure. Let me get it going for you.” I start the water, push the stopper in, and then reach into the cabinet to grab a towel for her. “You should probably sit, or will that hurt?” She’s eyeing the hard lid of the toilet like it offended her. Setting the towel on top, I add, “This will help.”
She sits down slowly, and asks, “What time is it?”
“Almost two.”
Resting her head on the cabinet, she yawns. “Tomorrow is going to be rough.”
“Maybe we should play hooky?”
Her head pops up. “I’ve never played hooky in my life, Harbor. I try to be cool like you, but I just can’t get there.”
I chuckle and hand her two pills. “You’re the coolest woman I know.
I’ll be right back.” Walking back into the kitchen, I pour a glass of water and return with it.
She takes the pills while I check the temperature of the water.
I don’t know about taking a bath with no bubbles.
I’m not a bath guy, but I’m pretty sure that Lark will want it to be like in the movies.
Remembering my mom once gave me a bottle that I promptly buried at the back of the cabinet, I search for it. Success. I open the lid to smell it. “Does bubble bath go bad?”
“I wouldn’t think so. Let me smell.”
Her eyes widen, and she grins. “Ooh, I love eucalyptus and mint together.” Teasing the hem of my shirt on her hip, she says, “Wanna join?”
I glance at the tub. “I don’t think it’s big enough for both of us.” Taking the bubble bath, I start pouring it in.
She jumps up and grabs the bottle. “That’s a lot, Harbor. Have you never taken a bath before?”
“Not since I was little.”
Cutting off the water, she turns to me after setting the bottle on the counter. “Will you take one with me?” There’s no way I can say no to her, especially since I’m the reason she needs a hot bath to help soothe her body. She presses against me, rubbing my shoulders. “Please.”
I exhale and look at the bath again. “Okay. I guess I get in first.” I grab two towels and set them on the towel rack above the tub, and then strip off my underwear.
Stepping in the hot, soapy bath, I can admit that it feels good so far.
I sit down and then spread my legs as wide as I can to make room for Lark.
She slips into my arms like a missing puzzle piece finding its home.
Where I’m concerned, she is. I wrap my arms around her as she sinks deeper under the water.
Her moan speaks right to my dick. I already know that’s going to be a problem.
She needs to heal, but it’s going to be so fucking hard not to have sex now that we’ve opened those floodgates.
I might have overdone the bubbles because they’re creeping over the sides of the tub. I’ll clean the mess later once I get her back in bed and she falls asleep. Though I’m starting to wonder if she’s falling asleep in here.
Her head rests on my chest, her breathing slow and even, and her eyes are closed.
I kiss the side of her head and lean my head against the marble surround.
Closing my eyes, I see how it would be so easy to fall asleep in here, even my mind is resting.
As much as I like holding her wet and naked body, it’s probably best if we don’t stay too long.
There’s no hiding I’m hard as a rock and pressed against her ass. Sinking my hands underwater, I explore her body—her inner thighs, stomach, the curve of her hips I dig so much, and her breasts. Her body is slick with soap and sexy as fuck.
I clamp down on my lip.
I cannot fuck her.
I cannot fuck her.
I cannot push into her pu—“Babe?” She sits up just enough to turn and look at me. “Your heart is racing.” The movement of her ass over my erection makes it worse, causing words to escape me and my instincts to kick in. I start rocking underneath her, seeking relief. “Harbor?”
“This is fucking torture.”
Her head jerks back as fast as her body does. Already half spun around to face me, shock overtakes her features. Her lips form an O that doesn’t help the situation. I grab the sides of the tub and start to get out. She asks, “Taking a bath with me?”
I freeze. “What? No. The bath is good. Maybe I’ll take more of them now, especially with you.”
Her eyes go to my erection since it’s pointing straight at her, and then she goes, “Ohhhh. That kind of torture.” Grabbing my wrist, she says, “Come back, babe.”
Debating between jacking off in the bedroom while she finishes or maybe getting her to finish me off in here, I make the wiser decision.
I slip back into the water and lean back.
Rubbing my hand over my hair, I don’t care that it gets wet.
I just need to get this situation handled because sleep won’t happen if I’m as hard as a rock all night.
She says, “Straighten your legs.”
I don’t have the will to fight her request or even question it. All the energy in my body has rushed to one member of it. I straighten my legs, and she straddles me. Grabbing her hips, I stop her from settling down. “I can’t. I don’t have a condom and water breaks it down anyway.”
“As much as I’m curious how you know that information, we don’t need a condom. I’m on the pill.”
Holy.
Fuck.
How did I not know this?
All it would take is to pull her down, and I could be sinking into her bliss.
It would be easy to take her offer, just go slow and make love instead of fuck.
And the cleanup afterward would be a breeze.
We could be back in bed in twenty minutes .
. . okay, closer to ten because I know I won’t last this time.
But when I look at her, I’m reminded of the pain she was in. I reach up and caress the side of her neck, staring into her eyes, knowing she’s only doing this to please me.
It’s so tempting to let her, too.
I sit up, and say, “You need to relax, baby. I know you’re sore.”
“But you’ll be in pain if we don’t.”
I shouldn’t laugh, but that’s funny. “It’s an annoyance, an irritation, even an ache, but I’m not injured.” I push up again, and this time, take a towel and step out. Drying off, I tell her, “Sit back and relax. It will help you sleep.”
“If you’re sure—”
“I am.” I move into the bedroom to give her privacy, hoping she’ll stop worrying about me, and focus on her recovery. Because once she’s good to go, there’s no stopping us.