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He smiles, a small, light smile, but it still takes over his whole face as I bravely take his hand in my own and squeeze it against my chest, encouraging him to continue. Leaning forward, he presses a soft kiss against my forehead.
“I’ve got you, Baby Girl. Always.”
I nod and breathe into his touch, moving my head to the side as he brings the cloth across my shoulder, my neck, and beneath my chin. He continues to wipe at my arms, then he’s careful to clean my chest, rinsing the cloth every now and then to freshen it up.
His focus on cleaning me is unwavering, like this is his sole purpose in life, and yet he’s so gentle, so careful with me. Every stroke is a soft caress that I savor. He doesn’t touch my breasts, they were covered so there’s no soot there, but something inside me wants him to. I want to know what it feels like to have someone like him, who treats me with such reverence, touching me in the places that are supposed to bring pleasure, taking away the bad memories and replacing them with new ones.
He continues his mission in silence and I sigh happily, then he brings his empty hand up to cup my cheek and uses the cloth to wipe at my forehead before kissing it.
“There, all clean.”
I’m kinda sad about it. Actually…
“Now it’s your turn.” Holding my hand out, I encourage him to pass me the washcloth.
He narrows his eyes and purses his lips. “I can clean myself, Baby Girl. You don’t have to.”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” My aversion to owing people for their kindness has nothing to do with it. Bear’s not like that. I just genuinely want to do for him what he’s done for me. Plus, my fingers are twitching to touch him and this is the perfect opportunity.
“You’re somethin’ else. Of course you can.” Shaking his head, he grins before slowly leaning in, his face level with mine. Our eyes connect again and it’s as though we can speak without words, simply sharing the way we feel through this simple gaze. He leans forward a little more, his lips ghosting over mine, then he kisses the tip of my nose and my whole body heats.
Passing me the cloth, Bear slides off his leather cut then raises a thick, muscled arm and grips the back of his T-shirt at the neck. He pulls it up and over his head, revealing his strong, firm chest. There is a light layer of short black curls from his belly button going down into his jeans and I actually have to resist trailing my finger through the hairs.
In the same silence as before, and without switching positions, I widen my legs and encourage him to step closer. With him now between my thighs, I twist to rinse the cloth in the basin, the same way he did. After squeezing out the excess water, I begin at one of his shoulders, slowly dragging the cloth down his powerful arm, then I move on to the next. I take my time, enjoying the exploration he’s allowing me. He stays perfectly still throughout, not making any moves to touch me back, but I can see how tense his muscles are. He’s definitely holding himself back.
I want to tell him not to, but I’m also not a complete idiot. I’m still healing from Master and his friends, from Mrs. Grouse, and from the explosion at the garage. When I finally give my body to Bear in that way for the first time, I want to be able to do it properly, without restrictions due to my injuries.
Bear’s body isn’t really dirty because his T-shirt was long sleeved so it covered his arms, and the doc helped clean up his face earlier when he tended to the graze on his cheek. Still, I rinse the cloth a final time and replicate Bear’s action by leaning forward and cupping his cheek. I gently kiss the wound, followed by his nose, then I hover with my lips over his.
Be brave, Athena.
“Kiss me.”
“No need to ask me twice, Baby Girl.” His lips are on mine in the same breath and my whole body relaxes into him. He feels like home. Bringing his hands up to my head, he cups my face,his thumbs caressing my cheeks and I could absolutely melt. My body feels like it’s on fire.
His tongue dances with mine and I shuffle forward, a tingle shooting through me when the hardness of his cock presses against me. It’s yet another sensation only he has ever caused, and I can’t wait to explore it, but I can’t right now.
I’m the first one to pull away, resting my forehead against his as we both breathe heavily. My nipples are harder than they’ve ever been when I’m not cold and it’s strange, but I’m embracing it. Just like I’m embracing the scars across my torso. I don’t need a big speech from someone to know that they are a testament to my survival. They make me strong and I’m not ashamed of what I’ve been through to get here… of what I continue to go through to remain here.
None of this is easy for me, but I always knew I was meant for more. The Morai have always had a plan for me.
It’s almost funny to think that the Fates would play out a person’s life like this, with so much danger and trauma before they get their happily ever after, but that’s the way of the world.
“Let’s go to bed.” I talk first, raising my hands to hold the back of his head and placing a gentle kiss on his soft, full lips.
He nods, smiling wider than he has all day, then he lifts me from the counter beside the basin and encourages me to wrap my legs around his waist. Which, of course, I do. With his hands below my thighs, he leads us back into the bedroom and pulls back the deep-gray sheets.
I shimmy out of my pants, removing the socks at the same time, until I’m left in just my panties—again, given to me by Ophelia on the plane with the rest of the brand new clothes she gave me.
“Fucking beautiful.” When Bear curses, it doesn’t send dread through my veins, and after what I did to Master, I’ve decided to take cursing back and make it something I’m no longer afraid of.Though it’s going to take some getting used to because it doesn’t come naturally to me.
“Thank you.” I watch as he oh-so-slowly unzips his jeans before pulling them down, leaving him in dark-green underwear.
“You ain’t doin’ nothin’ wrong, Baby Girl, but you don’t need to keep thanking me. I don’t do or say anything for your gratitude, I just do it to make you smile. Okay?” He kneels on the bed beside me and takes my hands in his, bringing them each up to his lips and kissing them.
My cheeks feel hot and tears spring to my eyes because I’m so damn happy.
Yeah, we’ve only spent about a week together in total, but in that time, he’s done more for me than anyone in my whole lifetime. He’s made me feel and think things that I never knew were possible.