Page 88 of My Summer Girl

Raevar

Name – The Goo Goo Dolls

Contentment consumes me as she settles into the basin. Her hair is still curly and bouncy, but there’s flyaways and almost a dullness to it from all the outside exposure. She explained how it takes so long to do her hair, so I made sure to bring the necessary conditioners, oils, and creams to keep it full, springy, and healthy.

Her eyes glaze over as the running water hits her skin. She lets out this little whimper, shuddering with pure joy.

Removing the bag of supplies I brought, I notice her eyes scanning the collection of jars, unaware of their contents.

“I thought you were joining me?” she mumbles, her body sinking into the tub gleefully. Her eyes close as if she’s forgotten the little pleasures life brings. It’s amazing to see her so serene. It’s a side of her I haven’t witnessed yet.

Kneeling, I cling to the lip of the bath, making sure I’m as close as possible. “I will, my little sweet. But first, let me take care of you.” Her gaze connects with mine, a bit of hope, and a whole lot of admiration ignites in her peachy expression.

The water nears the top—hot, but not scalding—and she scoots back. Even on my knees, I tower over her small frame, able to maneuver and assist.

“Can I touch your hair?” A small smirk tilts her lips as she nods, and I lean forward, kissing her forehead.

“Thank you for asking. Most people touch without thinking twice.”

I don’t know what to say other than she deserves to be touched within her desires, not outside of them.

Slowly, she dips her head underwater as I softly massage her scalp with my fingers. Her nose, mouth, and eyes are above the water, but I can tell she’s holding her breath in a normal fear of getting water everywhere.

Each touch of her scalp brings me a type of peace I’ve never experienced before, taking care of someone in this way never occurred to me before now. It sends tingles through me and the only reasoning I can come up with is that I’m pleasing my mate, being exactly what she needs.

After her hair soaks, softening and moisturizing each tendril, I grab the first salve. It’s a shampoo meant for curly hair. Working it into her coils, her scalp, and making sure to exfoliate, she moans.

“Raev,” she whispers, her voice elated with satisfaction. “Whatever this is smells divine.”

I chuckle, thinking of the tree these specific leaves come from. They produce this material without drying out hair too much.

“I hoped you’d enjoy it.”

“I love it. Seldom do I find myself wanting to inhale shampoo.” Her voice is so far away and relaxed. I make sure to continue to work the product in, and once I’m done and rinsing it out, she’s practically purring with satisfaction.

There’s nothing quite like the peace that comes with making your mate happy. She scoots forward, looking back toward me. “Join me? You can do the rest inside. I want to cuddle.”

“As if I could deny you anything,” I reply with a low rumble. While standing, I remove my shirt. Once my linens are gone, I’m grateful for her closed eyes. Otherwise, she’d see my mating marks and the results of that conversation scares me. What if she runs?

I lower into the tub, making sure to grab the conditioner. Pressed against me, I inhale the sweet scent of her mixed with the shampoo.

She smells like peaches and sunshine.

“What’s your favorite color?” she randomly asks. Her tone is soft, caring, like she truly wants to know.

I want to be cheesy, tell her the peachy shade of her thighs, especially after I’ve bruised them with the grip of my hands, but I settle for the next closest thing.

“There’s a flower here,” I note, visualizing the solena. “It’s this shade of yellow that’s more amber than lemon, and the center is brown, almost like there are fillers there.” I wiggle my fingers to describe the center as little wiggling bits.

“That sounds a lot like a sunflower,” she considers, her head tilted toward me. I grip her throat with one hand, wanting to devour her whole.

Leaning in, I kiss her forehead, tilting mine for a better angle to kiss her neck too. “It’s a solena,” I correct teasingly, thinking of the flower. The only distinct difference is that sunflowers have seeds you can eat. Solenas would kill you upon ingestion, but their petals are often used as paint coloring agents after the pollination occurs.

“Tell me more.”

I leave a lingering kiss on her collarbone, wanting to trace every inch of her but letting out a breath of defeat instead.

“Solenas are special. Each year before the dark times, they pollinated the ground.” My mind wanders to the fields and how they exude actual yellow pollen. It’s almost smoky, a powdery substance that fills the air. “When they sent out spores, it would create a frenzy. Couples who wanted babies came to these fields every solstice. They’d fuck under the stars, and Solera would gift them fertility.”