He paused for a moment, the temperature scorching, before stepping back, his hands falling away.
The sudden absence of contact had her panting, hungry for more.
“The shower’s through there,” he said over her shoulder, as he pointed to the door she hadn’t noticed. “Take your time, but don’t keep me waiting too long. I’ll grab a shower in the guest room and get dinner ready. I expect you to be ready when I get back.”
Shannon frowned, disliking how the energy between them faded as he walked away.
“Sure,” she said, her voice softer than she intended.
For a moment, he lingered by the bed, his amber eyes dark with something unreadable. Then he gave her a tight smile before leaving.
There was something different about him now. His charm remained magnetic, but it came across restrained, as if he’d braced himself for rejection again.
And deep down, she couldn’t blame the guy for being guarded. He deserved more than what she’d thrown at him.
Entering the adjoining bathroom, Shannon took in the vastness. The floor-to-ceiling marble walls were a striking contrast against the deep charcoal accents of the fixtures.
A freestanding bathtub sat beneath a wide, frameless mirror, reflecting the room’s minimalist design.
She sighed, the weight of the financial gap between them settling in.
Stripping off the dress, she flicked on the water and stepped into the grand shower cubicle, reaching for the shampoo.
As she worked the suds through her hair, her mind drifted back to the events of the day. Her body, heavywith exhaustion, reflected the constant stress she’d been carrying.
Tonight, Jamie wanted answers, and she was ready to give him full disclosure, but how would he react?
Dread settled heavy in her empty stomach. Water poured over her body, splashing her face, and a thick blanket of white foam slid down her forehead, covering her eyes like a mask.
She snapped her eyes shut, a second too late, and the sting hit hard. Her fingers pressed against her closed eyelids as she turned her face toward the jets, trying to rinse the suds away, but it only made it worse.
The relentless burning still lingered.
“Damn it…” she mumbled, stumbling toward the glass door, desperate for a towel.
The door slammed against the wall as she lost her footing, slipping and skidding, her body colliding with the vanity.
“Fuck!” she gritted through clenched teeth as the pain intensified, the heat in her eyes unbearable.
“Shannon?” Jamie’s voice grew louder as he entered. “What happened?”
“Suds… suds in my eyes,” she groaned, now on her knees, naked and shivering.
Large, powerful hands gripped her arms, hauling her off the floor and within a racing heartbeat, she was back in the shower, Jamie’s solid presence a constant at her side.
He cupped her jaw, tilting her head back, and directed the water over her closed eyes.
“Keep your head back, love,” he commanded, his voice unmistakably authoritative.
She couldn’t move, his grip on her face inflexible, his body crowding her. The soothing stream washed away the soap, easing the pain behind her eyes with each drop.
The moment stretched until he finally released her. “Open your eyes. Slowly.”
She blinked, her eyelids fluttering as steam swirled around them. The heat of the shower mingled with Jamie’s damp skin, his body just inches from hers.
His fresh white t-shirt and grey sweatpants were both drenched, clinging to his body, highlighting his muscles and the hard-earned planes of his abdomen.
His brow furrowed, his gaze searching her face. “Can you see me?”
