Page 74 of Grand Escape

“Come on.” I took her hand in mine and led her toward the tub.

The dark sky and moon flirted with each other outside the open window as I picked her up and sat her on the vanity before moving to fill the tub. Dialing the water to warm, I engaged the stopper and went back to Rylan.

Nestled between her legs, I brought my hands down to either side of her neck and my mouth to hers. We kissed with the water running in the background, and I realized we weren’t rushing. We didn’t have to.

When she broke the kiss and leaned her head into my chest, my lips found the top of her head. My hand slid up to free her bun, and her hair came tumbling down over her shoulders.

“Oh, that feels so good. I didn’t realize how tight I had my bun.”

Tipping her chin up so I could see her, I said, “I did like the whole Robert Palmer-girl look.”

She burst out laughing. “You know what? Chewy said the same thing when Sarah showed him these dresses and suggested we pull our hair back.”

“He would.”

“Well, I had to google Robert Palmer.”

“You’re kidding. You could sing the lyrics to every yacht rock song, but you don’t know Palmer?”

“Not kidding,” she said, palms in the air.

“Well, we can watch his videos later, but let’s get you into the tub.”

I ran my fingers through her hair, tucking it behind her ears, and then slipped my hand under her dress. She lifted her ass a little, and I yanked the dress up and off.

“Fuck,” I said, taking in her black lace bra and thong. “I hope you’re not going to tell me that Chewy picked those too.”

Playfully smacking my chest, she said, “Um, no. Now, let me down. I want to get in the tub.”

She turned around in my arms and walked toward the tub, slipping out of her bra and thong and then dropping them on the floor.

“Here,” I said, grabbing the bath salts and pouring them in as she lifted one leg over the side of the tub.

Rylan slid into the water, moaning in ecstasy as she leaned her head back into the pillow. “Heaven,” she murmured as I sat on the side of the tub, watching her relax.

Outside, the waves were slapping against the shore, and inside the bathroom, I could hear my heart beating. I closed my eyes a moment, smiling at the thought of what a lovesick sap I was.

Clearing my throat, I took in the beauty in front of me and drew on the strength of months of therapy. “I love you, Rylan.”

When she opened her eyes and looked at me in wonder, I spoke quickly before she went down the path I knew she would go.

“Whether we had a week together or longer, it doesn’t matter. I know I love you. All of you. Your stubbornness, your snarkiness, and the way you love the fuck out of just plain living.”

“Is it possible to feel this way so soon?” she asked softly. “I feel it, but it scares me.”

“It’s possible. I don’t want to bring down the mood of your bath, but I’ve spent the last few months working on my issues, the guilt I felt over Becca, and moving past it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s feelings are real, and we can’t deny ourselves what we feel. I felt like Becca doing what she did was my fault, and while it wasn’t, I spent too much time telling myself not to feel that way. But I was allowed to feel how I felt. It’s just what I did with those feelings that was wrong. In my case, they were self-destructive.”

Listening quietly until this point, Rylan said, “Don’t beat yourself up.”

“That’s just it. I can if I want, but then I have to move on. I’m moving on now, hopefully with you. You make me happy, and working endless hours without someone who makes me happy isn’t worth it.” I raked a hand through my hair. “God, I’m all over the place. But know this, Rylan Phillips. I love you.”

She sat up in the tub, pulling her knees to her chest, and stared at me as she whispered, “I think I love you too.”

“Think?”

“Okay, I know I do.” Grinning, Rylan said, “Now get in here. This tub is big enough for two.”

She didn’t need to tell me twice.

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