Page 89 of Always Right

Hannah was stronger than she imagined.

Detective Wilson had been in touch with us every day to give us updates...or tell us if there was none, though I imagined he was making progress but he wouldn’t say a word until he was sure.

We didn’t talk about it much, Hannah and I, but we didn’t bother anymore. I wouldn’t let this steal her happiness.

“I can feel you looking at me,” she said, her eyes still closed as she rested her head against the tub. Bubbles covered her body, except for her legs which were bent, exposing her knees. I didn’t need to see what hid beneath the water, I already knew every part of her body, every curve, every crevice.

“You should join me.” She raised a single eyebrow as she bit her bottom lip and my cock stiffened, always reacting to her. She didn't even need to try, she aroused me just with the tiniest actions. I got rid of my clothes, tossing them to the laundry hamper and missing, something she would surely fuss about later, but for now, she didn’t seem to care.

The water was warm when I stepped in. I didn’t fit in the goddamn tub and sat across from her between her legs, looking at her chest as it rose with every breath she took. She’d had a glass of wine and was clearly a little tipsy as she leaned in and kissed me. Hannah took in a shaky breath as she pulled away and my thumb traced her lip, the smell of alcohol invading my senses, but all I could feel was her.

She reached up, touching the stubble on my face with such tenderness that my chest tightened, but didn't say a word, waiting for her.

I'd always wait.

"Remember when we talked about where we would live? Whether we'd buy a house or stay here?"

I hummed, running a hand over her leg. She squirmed, but didn’t stop me.

"I've been thinking, and I don't want to unpack. After this is all over I want us to buy a house."

Interesting. "You do?"

"Yeah. Staying here is not what I want." She spoke with confidence, sure of herself. That’s all I needed to know. I didn’t need details, I just wanted her to be where she wanted. “This house is pretty, and at the time, it served its purpose but this isn’t my dream. I want a house big enough that Evie can stay over, and her kids, or Lisa, Blake...our loved ones. It doesn’t have to be a mansion, just enough for the girls to each have their own room...or maybe if we have another baby, too.”

The mention of another baby caught my attention, but I didn’t say a word. This was her time to speak.

“And I do want a piano. I want a room where I can play and escape and we need an office for you and me, one we can share. And I want a big backyard where the girls can play and maybe a dog...” Hannah laughed quietly, shaking her head, but there was nothing funny about it. She meant every word. “It doesn’t have to be now, it doesn’t have to be right away, but that’s what I want, if you want it, too.”

“And if I don’t?”

Hannah rolled her eyes, already knowing I was bluffing. “Then we negotiate,..maybe. I think I’m going to call the shots on this one. You don’t have good taste when it comes to houses...or decorating.”

I brushed a strand of hair out of her beautiful face and watched as the color rose to her cheeks. I couldn’t get mad. It was true. All I cared about was neutral colors, and her being with me. “You know all you have to do is tell me what you want, Hannah. I’ll give it to you.”

The playfulness returned to her face. “Really?”

“Of course.”

“Then kiss me.”

I did. I kissed her again and again until she was breathless, until my lips found her jaw and neck and my tongue traced her skin. I kissed her until my teeth nipped at her skin, leaving love bites all over, until little moans left her mouth and her nails dug into my skin.

But I didn’t touch her.

Not until she asked.

Two could play this game.

“Derek,” she groaned, leaning back against the tub. The bubbles were gone by now and her chest heaved, but she didn’t give a damn.

“You haven’t told me you want me to do anything else,” I said, running my hands up and down her legs. They were on each side of my body, spread and vulnerable and I wanted nothing more than to touch her.

Fuck her.

She looked like she was barely holding it together, running her hand through her hair and the other one resting beneath her belly button.

Beautiful.

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