Page 80 of Wicked and Ruthless

All he could do was show her.

“Because you’re a good friend and a good person. You’ve had a lot going on and everything tonight has been a lot.”

“Too much,” she agreed.

“Let me take some of that off your shoulders.”

“Oh, you don’t have to?—”

Nash didn’t let her finish. He just lifted her into his arms and headed into her bedroom.

She gasped, surprise flickering across her face. “What are you doing?”

“You need to relax and de-stress. I’m going to give you a bath.”

Haisley sputtered. “Y-you don’t have to?—”

“I want to.” No doubt she was stunned because he’d always been sexually attentive, but never this sweet or romantic. Never reverent. He saw now that had been a big mistake—one he wouldn’t make again.

“Why?”

She couldn’t figure it out? Maybe she was too raw or overwhelmed. But rather than leaving her to handle all her feelings alone, he needed her to see that she could count on him.

“Do I need a reason to make you feel good? To take care of you?”

Slowly, she shook her head. “That sounds…nice, but?—”

“Then it’s settled.”

Naked, he carried her across the room and into the attached ensuite. Gently, he set her on her feet and turned on the bath, adjusting the temperature of the water. He found her bath oil, then added a splash of the lavender scent to her tub until it was a relaxing haven.

As gestures went, it wasn’t a lot. But he wanted—needed—to show Haisley that he wasn’t just her booty call and that love wasn’t just for the lucky few. What they had was real, precious, and worth fighting for.

He hoped like fuck he could convince her of that.

Nash turned to find her watching him prepare her bath, shoulders hunched, arms crossed over her chest. She looked small and vulnerable. Chastened and lost. Damn it, his Haisley was full of life and big personality. She should never be this withdrawn or less than ecstatically happy.

He needed to figure out exactly how he’d fucked up and fix it.

Without a word, he scooped her into his arms again and lowered her tense form into the steaming bath. As the water enveloped her, she slowly sank against the back of the tub with a sigh that told him she liked what he’d done.

Bolstered, Nash grabbed a washcloth, then knelt beside the tub and began to tenderly wash her.

Haisley’s eyes fluttered closed, her tension visibly melting. “You don’t have to do this.”

“You already said that. I want to.”

She had more objections; they were all over her face. But she didn’t voice them, and he didn’t say anything else. Instead, Nash massaged shampoo into her scalp, marveling at the silky strands slipping through his fingers. He loved the quiet intimacy and the way she let him cherish her. Why hadn’t he treated her like a queen before?

He took his time, working the lather through her hair with gentle, circular motions. His fingers traced the curve of her neck, kneading away the tension he found there. A soft moan escaped Haisley’s lips, sending a shaft of answering satisfaction through him.

“Feel good?”

She hummed, relaxing into his touch and giving herself over in a way that wasn’t sexual, but still required her trust. “Heavenly.”

Nash smiled as he cupped water in his hands and rinsed her hair with meticulous care. Once he’d washed away all the suds, he reached for a fluffy towel.

“Ready to get out?”

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