Page 44 of Ashes

Strangely, I felt safe in his arms.

He averted his gaze from mine and helped me stand, loosely tying the robe at the front. Then I wrapped my left arm around his neck to hold on.

It was only a few steps to the bathroom, but each one was more excruciating than the other.

“We’re almost there,” he said softly in encouragement.

Heat steamed up the mirrors and drenched the room in an alluring haze.

We stopped at the edge of the tub and Jamal’s eyes were on mine once again. I didn’t have a ton of experience in the department, but his gaze was drowned in lust.

“I’m taking this off now,” he warned before he untied the loose knot and pushed the fabric off my shoulder, letting it pool down at our feet.

I thought he’d take the opportunity to look, but his eyes never wavered from mine. His intense gaze was becoming too much, so I looked away and tried to grab onto the edge to get in, but he stopped me.

“I’ll do it.”

Without bothering to remove the jacket of his suit, he wrapped an arm around my back and lifted me into his arms.

I hissed when my body broke the hot water.

He delicately helped me inside the tub until I was fully seated, not caring that his shirt and sleeves were now fully soaked.

I closed my eyes and dropped my head against the back of the tub. The warmth slowly seeped into my muscles and the sensation combined with the feel of his skin searing into mine was enough to work out a small moan off my lips.

He removed his hands and despite being submerged inhot water, I suppressed the shiver running down my spine at the loss of his touch.

“Is the temperature okay?” he asked, his voice sounding strained.

I hummed in agreement.

I thought Jamal had left when I felt his fingers gripping my nape and it sent my pulse and mind into overdrive.

I could get used to this.

Despite how much I didn’t—shouldn’t—want to, I let him massage the back of my neck and my shoulders.

The pain in my lower back slowly subsided and the tone of his voice paired with the gentleness of his actions flooded my system with a different type of warmth.

I let myself revel in the way his hands kneaded the tense muscles in my neck that I hadn’t noticed had been there.

I didn’t realize I’d drifted off until I heard my name being called out in a hushed tone. I opened my eyes and tilted my head back, only to find Jamal’s face barely a few inches away from mine.

He slightly pulled back, putting more distance between us. “You should get out,” he said gruffly.

“Yeah, okay,” I murmured.

He moved over to the other end of the tub, removed the drain, and turned his back to me, waiting. While the water drained out, I slowly got on my feet and rinsed myself off with the small detachable showerhead.

After, he shifted to face me and quickly averted his eyesthis time, holding the same robe open for me. I climbed out of the tub and slipped into it.

Then he cinched the belt, tighter this time, which elicited a small gasp out of me.

Before I could register what was happening, I was back in his arms as he carried me out of his room and headed for mine.

He gently set me down on my feet at my doorstep. “Get some rest,” he said and turned to leave.

I nodded although he couldn’t see it and watched him retreat back to his room.