Page 12

Ridge

I t's not fucking perfect, and I don't have the first damn clue how to make it better. Roses are scattered around the edge of the tub, not on the bathroom floor because that could be a slipping hazard according to Trevor. Eye roll .

The water is just a touch too warm for my male skin; I swear women always prefer scalding hot water. The candles are emitting their fragrance and the salts have disintegrated. Beside the tub in a white basket, are the seven bath bombs I bought in case she wants to add one.

What am I missing?

"Here," Kai says, entering Nina's ensuite bathroom. He hands me a tall glass of water with no ice and a bowl of chocolate-covered almonds. I thank him and set it on the tub ledge too. Why hadn't I thought of hydration?

Henry follows behind him with Neen's phone and e-reader outstretched to me. "In case she wants to read. And Trev said she needs her phone just in case she hurts herself or needs something."

Kai chuckles and leans against the sink vanity. "We all know he will be sitting right outside the bathroom door so he can hear her if something happens."

What the hell does my cousin think I'm planning for her in here?

"Her light doesn't have a dimmer switch," Henry notices, looking at the ceiling thoughtfully.

Snapping my fingers as I realize, I yell, " That's it! " I rush into her bedroom and grab the night light she keeps by the closet door.

With it plugged in over the counter and the overhead lights turned off, I finally feel like it's right .

"Wow, man," Kai whispers as I work on cuing up Adele on my phone for the final touch. "I'm impressed."

"Thanks." With the music playing and everything ready, I quickly usher the other two out and close the bathroom door to preserve the heat. A space heater!

"Henry! Can I borrow the space heater you use in the basement?" Henry agrees and runs off.

Kai pats my shoulder and says he'll send her up. Knowing she's saying bye to her parents right now since they want their own space in a hotel makes this gesture all the more important.

Nina's likely to be feeling emotional with her parents walking out the front door, so hopefully this will help keep her relaxed. I feel bad that Meg and Will are leaving. While we agreed the house felt crowded after three days of being up in each other’s business, it's still sad. We make good roommates.

Will is right though. Nina needs the push to rely on us again. They're worried she might fall back into old habits if they stayed. I guess the last three days of her hiding in her room, barely eating and hardly talking, were exactly how she lived at their house.

It makes me feel horribly guilty that I wasn't there to support her. She would have had all the bubble baths and love.

Blinking, I shake those thoughts away and try really hard not to let my anxiety consume me.

Now is the time to make up for my absence.

I'll be here every step of the way and maybe someday she will let me join her in the tub.

My fingers would rub the tension from her shoulders, then I'd flick her little clit until she all but melts into me. ..

"Hmm, I was expecting some rose petals to lead me to the bathroom." Nina's teasing tone hardens my cock further. I hadn't noticed her climbing the stairs, let alone standing just inside her bedroom doorway.

"Nina," I rasp, taking in her short shorts and sweatshirt. Just the fact that she's comfortable showing us her scars means the fucking world to me. "Can I kiss you?"

Fuck, I sound all kinds of vulnerable and weird. But seeing her standing there in front of me, making jokes, and trusting me with her presence? I can't help but sound like a loser.

Slowly, she nods. "Okay."

Blowing out a breath, I descend on her, unable to hold back. I really thought I could let her come to me and I would take her lips in a sweet caress, but I don't even last a second before I decide I need to consume her.

Like a man possessed, I force my tongue into her mouth to dominate hers. Surprise pulses through me and my dick—of course—when she gives me the same kind of fierceness back.

Something in me settles at the realization that she wants me just as badly as I want her. If there wasn’t a hot bath waiting for my woman mere feet away, I would never let her go, but alas.

Nina's eyes are bloodshot but heated when I pull away. Her gasping breath does things to me I have to ignore right now. Fucking hell, she's so sexy with her swollen lips and heaving chest...

Nina blinks, reminding me she was crying not too long ago like I thought she might. "Alright, sweet Nina. Time for your surprise."

As much as it pains me not to haul her into my arms and strip her bare for her toasty tub, I refrain. Taking great pleasure in her gasp and repeated thank yous I leave her to it and move to close the bathroom door behind me.

"Ridge, wait..."

Calm the fuck down , I scold my erection. I pause with my hand on the doorknob. "Yeah?"

Neen nibbles on her lip and glances at the tub, then back at me. "Would you help me?"

Fuck’s sake . I'm trying to be a gentleman. "Of—" I clear my throat. "Of course." Stepping back over the threshold, I close the door, leaving me and Nina in a very warm, very romantic space.

"I don't want to fall," she whispers, staring up at me with her long lashes.

I shake my head. "Never."

Silently I reach for the hem of her sweatshirt and pull it over Nina's head. I've seen her naked once, and this time when her rosy nipples harden in my line of sight, my mouth waters just like before.

"Beautiful," I murmur and dip my fingers into the waistband of her shorts. Tugging those down, I follow them until I'm in a crouch. Like the sweet girl she is, Nina puts her hands on my shoulders without me having to ask. I lift her feet as I peel her panties and shorts away.

My lips tingle as I push them across her dainty little ankles. God, she's so pretty .

"Ridge."

I hum not really listening as I continue to pepper her feet and ankles with love.

She laughs and wiggles her toes until they bump my glasses.

Normally that would snap me out of my haze considering glasses might be the most overstimulating thing in the entire fucking world—behind the dog, Willow—but it doesn't. I’m completely lost in my woman right now and I'm only touching her feet.

"Ridge," she squeals quietly. "My bath is going to get cold and I really want to enjoy it."

Cursing internally, I look up and I swear I choke. Nina's completely naked standing above me looking like a goddamn goddess. Or a queen. Honestly, I'll stay on my knees for the rest of my life if it meant worshipping at her feet.

Grabbing her hips with my hands, I stand and drop a kiss to her right shoulder. "Come on then. Let's get you cozy."

I hold her hand as she lowers herself into the water. Her sigh, while it does make me feel like I'm going to come in my pants, makes me feel like a king.

A king is only as happy as his queen. So when Nina asks me to stay and read to her because her head hurts, you bet your ass I do.

I'll read to her forever...on my knees...kissing her toes. Anything. Because all of her is everything I've dreamed of.