Page 43 of His Tesoro

I took my pain meds and a muscle relaxer before setting the bag down. “I should be fine now.” I glanced up at my silent husband. “You can go back to bed. I’m sorry again for being a nuisance.”

He crossed his arms across his muscular chest. He practically glowed in the warm light, and I felt the urge to trace my fingers down his skin. I quickly averted my eyes before I embarrassed myself further. Why did he have to be so freaking attractive?

“Why did you fall?”

I chewed my lip. “I was stupid and left my wheelchair too far away. My joints are hurting and my ankle just gave out while I was trying to get to it.”

Matteo glanced at the few feet between my chair and the bed. “You’re in pain?”

I must have imagined the strain in his voice. This didn’t seem like the right time to tell him I was pretty much always in some level of pain, so I just nodded.

“What else helps?”

I blinked. “Oh, um, I don’t know.” At his stern expression, I huffed. “A hot bath with Epsom salts can sometimes help.”

“Okay.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Right. Okay. So anyway, sorry to disrupt your night. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Matteo pinned me with another unimpressed look before turning around and striding into the bathroom. My confusion built when I heard the water running. Was he really running me a bath?

He stormed back into the room, dropping an armful of bath products on the mattress in front of me.

“I don’t know what Epsom salts are. Will any of these work?”

There were colorful bath bombs and oils in beautiful, expensive-looking containers.

“Are you sure I should use them?” I glanced up at my husband. “They look fancy.”

Matteo rolled his eyes. “Choose one, Sofiya.” He looked and sounded irritated, but I cocked my head as I observed him and wondered if there was a chance I was reading him wrong. He could have easily left me alone, but he was still here… as if he cared about me.

I picked up a small floral and gold container of bath salts. “This should work,” I said, handing it to him.

He nodded and then, before I knew what was happening, I was back in his arms. I let out a squeak and clutched at his shoulders.

“As if I would drop you,” he huffed, stepping into the bathroom.

“A little warning would be nice,” I snapped back.

He just sat me down on top of the vanity, his arms caging me in on either side. “Can you sit here? Or will you fall?”

I scowled at him. “I’m not going to fall.”

He smoothed his finger across my forehead. “Whatever you say.”

My lips parted as he turned to the almost-full tub to put in the bath salts. I could have sworn I saw the corner of his lips twitch as if he was teasing me. I didn’t understand my husband at all. He was so cold and closed-off, but in my short time here, he had already been kinder to me than most of the people in my life. Who, besides my sister, would ever care for me like this?

He turned off the tap and then spun around to face me. “Alright. Arms up.”

“What?”

“Do you have a habit of getting in the bath clothed?”

“But you’re in here,” I said indignantly.

“Indeed, I am. Arms up, Sofiya.” He stepped between my legs, his fingers teasing the bottom of the oversized shirt I was wearing.

I crossed my arms. “You can’t see me naked.”

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