Page 37 of His One True Wish

“Let’s get your clothes off,” he growled, unbuttoning my coat. Then he pulled off my clothes, stripping me down to my bra. He tugged off my wet jeans, clumps of snow falling to my feet by the fire.

Axl wrapped me in a blanket and lowered me to the ground. The heat felt delicious soaking through the blanket, but my body still shook, and my teeth were chattering.

Axl stood up. “I’m starting a bath. We need to raise your body temp.”

“The fire will be fine,” I said.

I heard a door open, and the sound of running water carried down the hall. Axl’s heavy footsteps followed as he came back to the great room.

“The fire is doing the trick,” I said, looking up at him. “I’m fine.”

“No, you got snow down that stupid coat of yours, in your shoes, down your pants. You need to get your core warm or you’ll get sick.”

“Oh,” I said, shaking.

“Let’s get you in the water.”

“Did you put some of your fancy bubbles in it,” I asked.

He ignored my joke and took my hand. I stood up, unsteady. “You good?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. He swooped me up into his arms for the second time in minutes and carried me down the hall.

I didn’t fight him, but I was aware that under the blanket I wore nothing but my bra and panties. I wasn’t self-conscious. I was grateful, even if I wasn’t used to needing someone like this. Preston women did things on our own.

Inside the bathroom, Axl closed the door behind us so the room filled with steam.

“It’s like a spa,” I murmured, inhaling the smell of rosemary and mint. “Do you have fancy bath stuff, too?”

“I told you. I like nice things,” he said softly, setting me down. The blanket fell to the floor. I stood with my back toward him, wearing only my bra and panties.

“You should take those off,” he said, nodding at my almost naked body.

I gripped his arm and wiggled out of my panties. Then I let go of his arm to struggle with my bra. The hook wouldn’t come undone, or maybe my fingers were shaking too much.

“Let me,” he said. I glanced over my shoulder to see him staring into the corner of the room while he fiddled with the clasp. It popped open.

“Well, aren’t you talented,” I said. My mouth was dry, and I felt dizzy, not sure if it was from being trapped in the snow or from the way Axl’s hands felt on my bare skin.

“Get in the water,” he said. “I’ll look away, and then you’ll be in the bubbles.”

“Okay,” I said. Holding his hand, I stepped into the warm bath. It felt amazing against my cold feet.

“It shouldn’t be too hot. We’ll have to warm you slowly.”

I nodded. As he held my hand, I lowered myself into the warm bubble-filled water and leaned against the back of the tub. I stretched my legs out, wiggling my toes.

Axl stood above me, a smile on his face.

“Were you a Boy Scout?” I asked.

A cloud passed over his face, and his smile vanished. “No,” he said, “but I spent a good amount of time in the snow.”

“The military?” I asked softly.

“Yep.” He sat on the edge of the tub, and using a small plastic bowl, scooped up more water and poured it over my shoulders.

“Well, this is a full-service spa.”

He didn’t react, but instead continued to bathe me. The water felt like liquid gold running over my skin. I closed my eyes and breathed, grateful for his caring touch.

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