Page 58 of A Taste of Whiskey
“You want totake careof me?” she asked with a hint of incredulity and a little sass.
“I do. I care about you, Sash, whether or not you want to keep seeing me.”
“Iwantto keep seeing you more than anything, but that’s just me being selfish. I was so caught up in being with you, I didn’t slow down enough toreallyunderstand what you had at risk. But today it hit me. This is the only place Ieverwanted to work. It’s my heart and soul, and I realized today that it’s yours, too. I was there when you were interning and studying and preparing to become the incredible therapist that you are. But, Ezra, you’re risking everything for an arrangement that can never be more than temporary.”
“Maybe right now we seem temporary, but I don’t think of us that way.”I think of us as…Finally.He had to be careful not to promise more than he could give, but he didn’t want her to give up on them. “Who knows what the future will hold? You could hate me next week.”
“Not likely, since I’ve known you forever and never once hated you.”
“Yeah, I’m not very hateable,” he teased, earning a smile that made him want more. “Seriously, Sash. We don’t know what’ll happen, and we both want to be together. Can’t we hope for the best? Maybe one day things will change.”
“You mean, like when Gus goes away to college, and we won’t have to worry about messing up his life?” she asked with pained amusement.
He sure as hell hoped he’d figure something out before then, but for now he tried to lighten the air. “That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?” He reached across the seat and took her hand. “I don’t have the answers yet, but you have to know that I went into this with my eyes open. I know the risks, and Iwantto be selfish with you, Bo Peep. But if you’re not comfortable with it and don’t want to continue—”
“Iwantto. I just don’t want to mess up your lives. I don’t think I could handle that.”
“I love where your heart is, but you could never mess up our lives.” They were parked by her cabin, shrouded in darkness. He leaned in, sliding his hand to the nape of her neck and drawing her closer. “You make our lives better in every way. If things go south and trouble hits, that’s onme, baby, not you. Do you understand?”
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s kind of on both of us.”
“No. You’re not responsible for me and Gus. I’m the only one who holds that responsibility. Got it?”
She nodded. “You and Gus make my life better, too.”
“I’m glad.” He kissed her softly. “Is there anything else on that beautiful mind of yours?”
She bit her lower lip, trapping a smile. “Just one thing.”
“Then let’s talk about it.”
“It’s more of atouchingthing,” she said sweetly.
“Even better.” He kissed her again. “What did you have in mind?”
“A bubble bath for two.”
“Now, there’s an idea I can get on board with.”
Chapter Sixteen
SASHA SETTLED BACK against Ezra’s chest in the warm bath and closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his thick thighs nestling her body, the vanilla scent of the bubbles, and the soothing touch of the man who was gently bathing her. He kissed her shoulder as his capable, caring hands moved slowly over her skin, pampering her in a way no man ever had.
“I haven’t taken a bubble bath in years, and I’ve never taken a bath with a man.”
“Neither have I.”
She tipped her face up, taking in his playful expression over her shoulder. “How about with a woman?”
“You’re the first.” He pressed his lips to hers.
“Really? I like that.”
“So do I.” He ran his hands along her thighs. “Warming up?”
“Mm-hm.No one has ever taken care of me like this before.”
“You were obviously going out with the wrong guys.”
