Page 98 of The Ecstasy of Sin

I grab it, inspecting it briefly for blood, before tossing it into the laundry basket.

As she sits on the counter, the steam rises around us and wraps us in a veil of warmth.

Even like this, covered in blood and dirt, she’s so incredibly beautiful. Soft, pliant, and vulnerable. It makes my chest ache to see her this way.

I want her like this forever. I refuse to ever see her out on the streets again, starving and hurting. And worse, alone and hopeless.

Her fingers reach for my pants, tugging the zipper down slowly. “You ruined these,” she murmurs, tugging at a frayed thread where the button used to be.

I shrug. “I can buy a million more if I want. No big deal.”

She tugs my heavy black cargos down past my hips—and gasps again. I follow her gaze, smirking at the blood dried all over my cock.

“Fucking beautiful,” I murmur.

She blushes, and I don’t fight the urge to lean in and steal a kiss.

“Come here, baby.” I lift her into my arms, her legs hooking around my waist and her arms around my neck.

“Really, I can walk,” she protests, but she’s clinging to me anyway as I step into the shower and pull the glass door shut behind us. I set her gently on her feet and guide her beneath the stream of hot water.

She groans, her head falling back as the water rushes through her tangled hair, over the curve of her shoulders, and down her stained skin.

I step closer, letting the spray drench us both, waiting as blood and dirt swirl down the drain between us.

I wash her hair first, my fingers massaging her scalp so gently that she nearly falls asleep standing up. When she sways, I step into her, letting her body lean into mine instead of drifting away. She moans softly, a sleepy sound of contentment that makes me smile.

Yeah, I really fucking love her like this. Safe, pampered, and comfortable. Even after I showed her some of the ugliest parts of me. Not only did she choose to stay after everything we've been through, but she still sees me as a source of safety.

I press a kiss to her forehead, then curl my fingers beneath her chin and tilt her head back into the stream, rinsing the suds from her hair.

I reach for my shampoo next, but her hand slides over mine before I can flip the cap open.

“May I?”

I nod, holding out the bottle for her to take from my hands.

Her eyes sparkle, mischief breaking through the haze of exhaustion. “Kneel,” she orders, a smirk slowly taking over her face.

I sigh, the sound heavy with fake exasperation, then lift my hand to roughly collar her throat. “I beg your fucking pardon?”

My fingers tighten, drawing her closer, pressing just hard enough to make her breath stutter as she gasps.

She melts under my grip. Her knees wobble, her body going soft and yielding in my hands. “I…” Her voice is a breathless whisper, arousal blooming red across her face and neck. “You’re too tall.”

I release her throat, allowing her to draw in a full breath, then pull her against me. “Let your body recover before this pretty little mouth of yours gets you into any more trouble,” I warn.

I press my lips to hers, kissing her deeply, before pulling away and dropping down onto one knee.

Shock flickers across her face as I hold the shampoo bottle out to her. She hesitates, then a small laugh bursts from her lips as she takes it.

I smirk, watching as she pours some shampoo into the palm of her hand and begins working it into my scalp.

A man could get used to this. Her fingers are fucking magic, her nails scratching gently as she massages through my hair. She’s making me feel drowsy and relaxed, but it makes me want to get this shower over with so I can drag her to bed and curl up with her in my arms.

When she’s done, I rise and rinse the shampoo from my hair. I grab a bar of soap next and begin thoroughly washing her entire body.

By the time I’m done, she’s barely conscious as she sways in my arms like she can’t find the strength to keep herself upright. I rinse her off, then tilt her chin up to kiss her.