Page 252 of The Bonus

Gabriel appears with a plastic bag and electrical tape. “Let’s get your cast wrapped so you can shower.”

I exhale heavily. “I feel like such a burden.”

He stands me up and puts the bag over my arm and thinks for a moment. “You need to undress first.”

“This is awkward.”

“Why?”

“Because you have to help me in the shower and…”

“I’ve seen you naked, you know?”

“I know, but it’s just weird in this context.” Without the pounding body of arousal between us, this all feels a little too…raw and intimate.

“Arms up.”

I hold my arms up and Gabriel slowly lifts my shirt over my head.

My pink bra comes into view. He slides my pants down my legs and suddenly I’m standing before him in my underwear.

His eyes roam over my skin, and he smiles softly.

I can’t breathe.

“Turn around,” he instructs.

I turn to face away from him and he undoes my bra. My breasts fall free.

Thump, thump, thump goes my heart.

“Give me your hand.” I put my hand out, and from behind he carefully wraps it in the plastic bag and tapes it up. He then slides my panties down my legs and takes them off.

I can feel his eyes burning my skin as they roam over my naked body. He steps forward, turns the shower on and holds his hand under the water as he gets the temperature right. He may have seen my body before, but he’s never seen me this naked.

Raw as it comes.

For the first time, his eyes drop down my front, drinking every inch of me in.

I swallow the lump in my throat, waiting for his reaction.

He runs his finger over the large scar across the bottom of my stomach and his eyes rise to meet mine. “What is this?”

“My C-section scar.”

A trace of a frown crosses his face. “Did it hurt?”

I nod.

His face falls as he stares at it. “I’m sorry, Grace,” he whispers. “I should have been there.”

“Don’t.” I hop past him and he takes my hand and helps me under the water.

I could cry, not sniffles and tears. Howl-to-the-moon emotions.

Tonight’s too real, a little close to the surface. It’s like the last seven years are suddenly here and hitting me in the face.

I stand under the hot water with my back to him, unable to look him in the eye, because if I do, who knows what’s going to come out of my mouth.

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