Page 179 of The Sidekick

My eyelids close as my body relaxes. I can hear him playing with the water a little. Some cabinets open and then he’s back. He doesn’t say anything as he leans down and lifts me into his arms, startling me. I want to protest that I can walk but I’m enjoying this so much I turn my face into his neck to place a light kiss on a daisy instead. I watch goosebumps pebble his skin and smile.

“Here we are,” he sets me on my feet and jerks his chin to the water. “Test the temperature first.”

Steam is rising lazily off the top and I dip my fingers into it. It’s hot and has some kind of oil in it that leaves my fingers slick as I withdraw them. “It’s perfect. Are you getting in with me?”

“Not right now,” he says, and I deflate a little. He grips my chin and pulls my face up for a gentle press of his lips. “This is relax time. You’re sore and you need this angel.”

“I’m not that sore,” I protest and get a raised brow in return.

Instead of arguing, I slip into the bath and let out a heavy sigh as the water embraces me.

“Just relax. I’ll be back in a minute.” He turns without waiting for a response and leaves. I don’t mind, the hot water has numbed my brain into forgetting how to form words.

It’s odd to hear him moving around out there, especially when a drill starts up. I thought it was the blender at first but this is a drone instead of the bursts I’m used to. What is he doing? My imagination runs wild and the scenes get more and more outlandish as I relax and laugh softly.

When he comes back, he’s wearing his sweatpants and I can’t hide my disappointment. He washes his hands in the sink but doesn’t dry them. When he kneels beside the tub, I sit up and give him a quick kiss.

“What were you building out there?” I grin at his surprised reaction to my affection and lean farther out to drip on him.

“I changed the locks and set up the reinforcement lock. Shade said the manager here didn’t care if we did it ourselves as long as they got a copy of the key. I wanted this done last night, but I got distracted.”

I give him a smug smile and settle back in the water, “Thank you, Asher.”

“Uh-huh,” his eyes narrow at my grin. “I think Max is a bad influence on you.”

“Sorry,” I say the word but I don’t really mean it and he can tell. When he pulls the washcloth off the side of the tub my eyebrows rise to my hairline.

“Are you about to bathe me?” I ask breathlessly. This man is perfect.

“Yes,” he grins. Then he sees the excited look on my face and breaks into laughter. “Is this something you’ve wanted?”

“I didn’t even know to want it but now that it’s here… yay!” I offer him my arm with a grin, and his laugh gets louder. “When do I get to do this to you?”

“You want to give me a bath?” He says in a contemplative tone, focused on cleaning the spots where my nails cut into my skin. I have a few interesting light bruises I’m going to have to explain but I don’t care. I’m in the mood to tell people I had the best orgasms ever last night.

“Why not? You could be relaxing, and I would get to have my hands all over you. We both win.”

He gives me a surprised look and says, “Well, I didn’t even know to want that.”

“And now that it’s here?” I wait hopefully for his response as he massages my arm with the cloth between his skin and mine.

“Yay,” he says in a flat tone but his grin is wide enough that I know he’s excited about it.

“I’ll be gentle, I promise,” I tell him solemnly and he bursts into laughter as he takes my other arm.

“I’m sure you will. Close your eyes and relax.”

I’ve never had anyone do this before. It’s amazing. He takes his time, massaging sore muscles until I feel like a puddle of happiness sinking into the water.

I’ve never been so spoiled. I’m not sure what to do with it but the attention is like a balm to my soul. I watch him as he works. He’s so focused and yet he looks pleased. Like doing this for me is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“This makes you happy?” I ask quietly. It brings his attention to my face.

“It does,” he says as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to admit. “Does it bother you?”

“Being spoiled rotten? Uh, no, it doesn’t bother me,” I giggle, and his smile gets wider. When he refocuses on my leg, I can’t help the melancholy that strikes. Who knows how long this will last? He could have anyone he wants. Why is he settling for me?

The washcloth slides between my thighs and my breath catches in surprise.

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