“Secondly, you have shampoo dripping down your hair, and you feel like a block of ice. While I’m more than happy to rinse out your hair in the sink, I think a hot shower would do you a world of good rightnow.”
She gives me an owlish blink before her eyes slide over to glare suspiciously at the stall as though an army of spiders might come marchingout.
“Do you want to use my shower? I can make sure the coast is clear before you jump in, and tomorrow I’ll call an exterminator to inspect the house, just to be on the safeside.”
I’d normally think that’s a crazy length to go for one spider, but if it gives her peace of mind, I’ll do it. After hearing that story, I’d do anything to help her feelsafe.
With another groan, she presses her damp forehead to my chest. “Gah! I feel like such a freak right now.” Her words get muffled by my t-shirt.
“If it makes you feel any better, Logan once dated this girl who got so hammered, as she leaned out of his car to puke, she peed in his passenger seat. Now, have you ever peed in someone’s car while hurling chunks all over thesidewalk?”
A snort of laughter makes her shoulders shake, and she peers up at me with a hugesmile.
“See. I thought not. So in the big scheme of things, I’d much rather deal with my gorgeous, naked woman leaping into my arms, than the aftermath of Logan’sdate.”
Her smile turns shy, the vulnerability in those golden-honey eyes piercing something inside me. “Ethan?” She nibbles her bottom lip. “Am I yourwoman?”
I hadn’t meant to convey so much just now, except it feels wrong to hide my feelings fromher.
Suddenly, all that resolve to take things slow, to figure out what the hell is going on with my life before committing to this pull between me and Tori, seems foolish. Because have I ever wanted anyone more than I want her? As a friend or a lover? Never. How she’s engrained herself in my life in such a short time is a mystery to me, but I’m grateful nonetheless. I’m a dumbass for not seizing this chance with hersooner.
“Darlin’.” I press my mouth gently to hers, tasting her minty warm breath. “I’d love nothingmore.”
30
Ethan
Her fingers shiftthrough my hair before she arches up, and I kiss her earnestly. My lips slide across hers, and I yank her closer so I can breathe her in. Breathe in her sweet, warm scent that’s uniquelyher.
With the last thread of restraint I possess, I pause. Because I should take care of her first before I get tooinspired.
Worry clouds her expression when I pull back, but I dip down to kiss heragain.
“Comeon.”
I fold her arms through her robe and toss the towel on the floor to sop up some of the water. I’ll deal with thattomorrow.
Tonight, Tori’s mypriority.
Threading my fingers through hers, I whisk her back to my bedroom, grateful the kids haven’t budged a muscle since I tucked them inearlier.
With a flick of my wrist, the recessed lights above the walk-in shower cast a warm glow into the dimbathroom.
Turning, I reach for Tori. “Want me to wash your hair?” I run my hand over her damp locks, barely keeping back a shiver when I think of how it looks draped over herbody.
Another vulnerable smile tilts her lips, but the look she gives me from beneath her lashes quickens my pulse. “Would you? Wash myhair?”
“Of course,” I say, a prickle of awareness dawning in me that we’re not just un-pausing our relationship tonight. We’re barreling forward at fullspeed.
But this feelsright.
With her eyes locked on mine, that shy smile fades until all I see iswant.
She wantsme.
And goddamn, I wanther.
Everything slows down as she tugs on the thin fabric wrapped aroundher.
