Page 99 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

Amethyst strands of hair fell over her shoulder, and though her breasts were covered by a black bra, the sight of her skin alone sent heat coursing through his veins. The slope of her sides flared into her hips, giving way to pale stretch marks that wrapped around her thighs—to be granted ownership of such value was no less than the highest honor.

“I will worship you till the day I die, Iv. Inside and out.” Looking back up to take in the flush on her cheeks, he lifted his hand and unclasped her bra, then slid her panties down until they fell and pooled at her feet. “Starting tonight. Go ahead and get started in the shower. After I grab us some towels and brush my teeth, we can pick up where we left off.”

She nibbled her lip as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. He pried her lip loose, debating whether or not to steal another kiss. But before he could decide, she gave him a coy smile and fluttered her eyelashes. “I’ll be waiting.”

Then she stepped into the shower and let the curtain conceal her from his view.

He almost ripped the damn thing off.

Faster than humanly possible, he finished his tasks and joined his sweet, seductive witch. Suds trailed from the cloth as he ran it over the arch of her spine, massaging his fingertips into the muscles of her back and moving between her thighs. He crouched down and inspected her sex, taking note of every place that was slightly bruised or sore, although Ivory had insisted she felt fine.

He’d kissed each mark that bloomed over her porcelain skin but yearned to kiss them again. To mark her again. To do it all over again and again and again.

Only after he cataloged her condition did he continue to wash her legs, working the cloth around the inside of her knees and down to her ankles. He slipped a finger between each toe until she giggled and squealed. Crystal-clear rivets of water rolled down her body, clinging to the tight points of her nipples and pouring over her ribs.

“Okay, my turn,” she said as he stood up and reached for the washcloth.

He smiled and handed it over with the soap. “All right, but I still need to wash your hair.”

“Oh.” She reached over to her shoulder to grab a strand of hair as if she’d forgotten about it. Or as if she was remembering the time he’d washed it before and everything that had led them to this moment.

“Right,” she concluded after a pause, then looked up and twirled her finger in motion for him to turn around.

He did, letting her stay under the stream of hot water as she repeated the process of washing. Her hands were gentle and attentive as she reached for his hips, then splayed her palm over the muscles in his buttocks. She slipped between his legs and prodded her fingers towards his secret places, discovering how a man felt from behind instead of the front.

“Is this okay?” she asked as he tensed involuntarily.

“Of course.” He’d allow her the same freedom to explore as she gave him. After all, she hadn’t seen him fully unclothed before, and although the thought of himself wasn’t exciting in the least, she seemed to be enthralled.

“It’s just,” she continued. “I’ve never really touched a man before. Not like this.”

He resisted the urge to turn around. “Never?”

The sound of the water changed as if she was shaking her head. “No. I didn’t…I’ve never been that intimate with anyone. Sex was more of an in-and-out thing. And everything else…I guess no one ever wanted me the same way I wanted them.”

At that, he turned and took her shoulders in his hands. This would be the most important thing he uttered all day. Perhaps in his whole life. “I want you in every way, Iv. All of you.”

Her eyes flicked to his, then trailed slowly down his body with a shy smile. Keen to rise to the occasion, his cock swelled and bounced to his stomach.

She laughed. “I know.” Then she added reverently, “Thank you.”

He leaned in and kissed every part of her his lips could touch. She melted, connecting them along each dip, along all of their curves and planes. Her arms wrapped around his back and ventured lower to grab his ass. She chuckled into his neck. “It feels a lot better when you do it to me.”

“I agree.” He gladly obliged, kneading her thighs until a shiver went through her body, and she hummed in contentment.

“No more for tonight, though,” he chastised. “Let me wash your hair and tuck you into bed.”

Sleepily, she nodded and let him arrange her on her knees, his back blocking the water for a moment as he ran his fingers over her scalp and through her hair. Careful to tip her head so it wouldn’t run into her eyes, he let the warm water rinse out the shampoo and repeated the process with conditioner, taking extra time to let it work in.

Once they were both washed, he shut off the water and grabbed a towel, draping it over her shoulders. He dried her hair, wove it into a loose braid, and then scooped her into his arms.

“What are you doing?” she giggled, relaxing as she realized he wouldn’t let either of them slip.

“Tucking you in, just like I said.” He strode out of the bathroom with her in his arms.

A yawn overtook Ivory’s reply. She rested her head against him and closed her eyes. “I’ll have to tuck you in, too. Can’t let you do all the chores.”

“It’s far from a chore.”

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