Page 94 of Shadows of Obsession

Before I could turn to see what he was doing, I felt him shift. One hand stayed at my stomach, steadying me, while the other reached for something, the faint scrape of soap against porcelain giving it away.

Jaxon's head dipped to my shoulder, his lips finding the curve where neck met skin. The trail of slow, deliberate kisses he left there spoke of tenderness and reconciliation, a quiet vow to bridge the space that grief had carved between us.

I trembled, warmth blooming through me that had nothing to do with the water. My hands found his where they rested on my body, tracing the strong lines of his fingers as he gently lathered the soap over my skin.

His touch was firm yet gentle, his movements unhurried and deliberate. Each stroke felt both cleansing and comforting, an act of care as much as desire.

The scent of cedar and citrus filled the steamy air, wrapping around us like memory. With each pass of his hands and each breath I took, the outside world faded further away until only the two of us remained—steady, present, whole.

I felt the tension gradually release from my muscles as his lips continued their tender path along my neck, each brush of skin against skin a reassurance that our connection remained intact despite the recent turmoil. His hands moved across my stomach, my sides, my arms—washing away more than just the day's worries.

Once he seemed satisfied that I was thoroughly cleaned, and that he'd finished his exploration of my body, his hands cherishing and careful, Jaxon gently guided me back under the spray to rinse away the suds. The warm water sluiced over my shoulders in a soothing cascade, carrying away the soap and leaving my skin tingling.

But as he reached to shut off the shower, my brow furrowed in confusion at the abrupt end to our peaceful moment.

Wait, what?

Jaxon met my gaze with a smile that was both smug and playful, a look I recognized but hadn't seen in days. He slipped past me, moving gracefully in the confined space despite his size, and stepped out to grab his towel from the rack, securing it around his waist.

Then he retrieved my towel from where I'd dropped it on the floor and wrapped it snugly around me, his movements gentle and deliberate.

At my questioning look, because I was definitely confused about why we were stopping, Jaxon chuckled. The sound was low and melodic, sending pleasant shivers down my spine.

His eyes glinted with mischief as he leaned in to capture my lips in a brief, tender kiss that conveyed genuine care despite its brevity.

"I told you I wanted to go slow," he murmured against my mouth, his voice smooth with a hint of teasing beneath the sincerity. "And if we stay here much longer, I'll break that promise."

His words carried a subtle warning, acknowledging the tension crackling between us while still honoring the boundaries he'd set.But my body was humming with awareness, my skin was hypersensitive from his touches, and going slow was the last thing on my mind.

"I'm fine with that," I replied steadily, a playful note creeping into my voice despite, or maybe because of, my nervousness.

Jaxon's eyebrows rose in surprise, his classic charming expression making my heart skip a beat. Amusement and restraint warred acrosshis handsome face, that kind of control only making him more attractive.

Shaking his head with a soft chuckle, Jaxon's gaze held affectionate caution. "Tempting as that is, I don't want to rush this." He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before taking my hand and leading me out of the bathroom.

But I stopped just outside the doorway, my feet planted on the cool hardwood. My hand tightened around his, anchoring him in place before he could lead me farther down the hall.

"Is that for my benefit or for yours?" I asked quietly, the words emerging steadier than I felt inside.

Jaxon turned back to me, confusion flickering across his features. "What?"

I took a breath, gathering my courage. "The going slow thing. Is that for my benefit or for yours?" I held his gaze, refusing to let him look away. "Because if it's for mine… I want you, Jaxon. Right now, a week from now—it's not going to make a difference."

Jaxon froze, his entire body going still except for the faint rise and fall of his chest. His eyes searched mine with an intensity that made my breath catch, looking for doubt, hesitation, any sign that I didn't mean what I'd just said.

But I held his gaze, unflinching, letting him see the truth written plainly across my face.

"Anna…" His voice came out rough, strained. "I don't want you to feel like you have to—"

"I don't feel like I have to do anything," I interrupted gently, taking a step closer. The towel around my body brushed against his bare chest. "That's the point. For the first time in… God, in years, I'm choosing this. I'm choosingyou."

Something shifted in his expression, a crack in his careful control, a glimpse of the raw need he'd been keeping locked down.

"I just…" He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I don't want to mess this up. You're too important."

Oh.

Understanding washed over me—soft and aching. This wasn't about protecting me from moving too fast. This was about his fear. Fear of betraying Nikki's memory. Fear of letting someone in againonly to lose them. Fear of being vulnerable after years of holding everyone at arm's length.