Page 87 of Heart of The Night

I didn’t reply – didn’t have the energy.

At my lack of response, he laughed and grabbed the butt plug, pulling it out and dropping it on the floor. ‘Maybe next time.’ Gripping my wrists, he unfastened the handcuffs and placed them on his nightstand. The mattress dipped under his weight as he collapsed next to me.

We lay there in silence for several minutes, recovering with our eyes closed. Each breath was slow and calming, the sweat gradually cooling on my body.

Eventually, William reached out, his fingertips barely skimming my skin. The sensation sent a jolt through me, but I was too spent to react fully.

‘Don’t touch me,’ I croaked, my voice rough with exhaustion. ‘I’m dead.’

He laughed quietly, defying my words as his entire palm glided tenderly down my damp back. ‘We need a wash.’

‘I am not moving. This bed shall be my coffin.’

He slipped out of the bed and padded into the bathroom, the sound of running water soon following. Returning, he circled the bed and clasped my ankles, tugging me gently toward him. Next, he slid his arms under my knees and back, lifting me effortlessly against his chest. Completely limp, I opened my eyes and met his gaze, the warmth there making my heart throb.

He carried me into the en-suite and lowered me carefully into the bath, ensuring I was comfortably settled. Then, with one last lingering look, he turned and left the room. As the steaming water gradually rose, I felt it seeping into my bones, soothing my battered body and restoring a measure of my strength. It was exactly what I needed.

My eyes drifted to the open door. William was taking off the bed sheets, and the sight warmed my heart. I loved that he didn’t adhere to traditional gender roles by shunning tasks like cleaning and cooking.

A smile tugged at my lips as I watched him put on a fresh sheet with meticulous care, smoothing out every crease until the fabric was perfectly taut. In that, he was strikingly similar to his brother.

I was still admiring him when he suddenly looked up, catching me in my spying. A crooked smile curved his mouth as he straightened from the bed, his eyes twinkling with affection.

‘For a second there, I worried you’d dozed off and slipped under,’ he said. ‘Glad to see you’re still alive. I wouldn’t know what to do with your corpse.’

I chuckled, turning away as I closed my eyes.

‘Much less what to do without you,’ he added softly.

My breath caught, eyes snapping open. Pure love coursed through my chest as his endearing words echoed in my mind.

Turning back to him, I said, ‘Come join me. The temperature’s lovely.’

‘In a moment.’

Waiting for him to finish, I felt my impatience mounting. When he finally did, he sauntered toward me and climbed into the bath, reclining behind me. He turned the tap off and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me gently against his chest. With my legs nestled between his beneath the water, I snuggled deeper into his embrace and exhaled, content.

‘We have the craziest sessions, Will,’ I murmured, closing my eyes. I heard his heart beating against my cheek, a steady rhythm that was more beautiful than any music.

‘Don’t worry, love. This won’t be the standard we set for ourselves. Next time, we’ll have lazy sex.’

I sighed softly, a smile playing on my lips. ‘That sounds lovely.’

‘Right after this bath,’ he added, his voice laced with playful mischief.

I tensed for a moment, then realised he was only teasing me. ‘Very funny.’

His laughter rumbled through his chest, vibrating against my head and back.

Reaching for the showerhead, he began to wash my hair, one hand shielding my eyes from the water. As he massaged shampoo into my scalp, his fingers worked magic, coaxing me into a state of near-sleep. Drool pooled at the corner of my mouth.

‘That feels incredible,’ I whispered, fighting to stay awake.

‘I aim to please,’ he replied, his voice low and soothing.

‘You’re succeeding.’

When we finished washing up, I was still too weak to stand; my legs trembled like jelly. William wrapped me in a towel with a smug smile on his face, then sat me on the edge of the bath. He went to the basin, prepared my toothbrush with toothpaste, and handed it to me, the simple act making me grin like an infatuated idiot.

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