Page 133 of Perfect Rhythm

After standing in front of the shower and making sure the water was warm the way he liked it, I turned around. I gasped, surprised to see Shade standing in the middle of the bathroom with nothing on. Granted, this wasn’t the first time I’d started the shower for him. But he usually stayed in his boxers until I left the bathroom.

I cleared my throat. “It’s ready for you.”

He nodded in understanding, then walked past me to step inside.

I swallowed hard, my eyes unable to look away from the part of him that hung low...so low.

Stop! This isn’t the time for that.

But as if it felt me staring,itrose to attention, and again, I gasped.

Fuck, I need to go.

Before I could make a move, Shade grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him.

He didn’t speak. Instead, he just looked at me with heavy eyes. Although his dick was pointing at me, I could tell sex wasn’t quite what he was looking for.

He wanted comfort.

Giving him a gentle smile, I released my hand from his grasp and pulled my shirt over my head. Seconds later, I was free from every article of clothing that once separated us.

I slipped inside of the shower and stood behind him.

Quietly, I lathered the washcloth with soap and pressed it against his back. He dipped his head under the water and took a deep breath.

There was so much tension in his shoulders.

I pressed my fingers harder against the parts of his flesh that I felt needed it the most. He groaned with every push.

Stepping back, my eyes lingered on his lower back, mesmerized by the work of art beneath my fingertips.

Shade was beautiful in every way. So masculine. So firm. But although his outside was strong, I knew his insides were weak.

“I got you,” I whispered as I moved in closer to him and wrapped my arms around him from behind. “Let go of everything you’re carrying. Jassi’s going to be okay.”

For a moment, there was nothing…just heavy silence.

Then a sound cut through it.

A sob.

I froze, unsure if it was real.

But when I heard it again, and I saw his body shaking, the truth hit me like a punch.

Shade was crying.

I hurried around him and pulled his heavy frame closer to me.

Even his sobs sounded strong. But I needed him to let that go. Just for now, I needed him to be weak for me. I needed him to feel free enough to let go.

“Let it out. It’s just me and you. No one else is watching. No one is judging you.”

Then, as if the floodgates had opened, I watched the man that I’d seen stand tall and unshaken, break down in front of me. His arms tightened around me as a sound tore through his throat, and the weight of holding everything in finally crushed him.

This wasn’t just pain…it was guilt, rage, fear. But it was so fucking beautiful.

I didn’t believe that men had to be emotionless to be strong. Men hurt. Men loved. Men felt…just like we did.