Shehooked a finger in her own panties and dragged them down beforeIcould, and then there was nothing between us, our skin separated by nothing more than the water running down our bodies in warm rivulets.
Whenwe broke apart, gasping for air, her eyes met mine in a look that rocked me to my very soul.Ifshe’d look at me like that for the rest of my life,Iwould go to my grave a happy man.Thedepths of it were unfathomable and so full of emotions that it made my breath hitch.
“Fuck,Rivs,” she whispered, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “I–”
Iput a finger to her lips, forcing her to be silent. “Shhh.Therewill be time enough for emotional declarations later.Rightnow, let’s get this blood off of you so we can jump in the hot tub on the balcony and unwind.”Iran a hand over her shoulders, frowning at the bruises that dotted her pale skin. “Youlook like you could use it.”
“Anythingto avoid taking more pain pills,” she muttered, letting me rinse her off in short order. “I’myours to command.”
“Musicto my motherfucking ears,”Isighed, my hands running over her body asItook the ready-made excuse to feel her against the palm of my hands. “Now, hold still.”
Shewalkedto the hot tub on her own, though she had to stop and catch her breath halfway there.Kenzie’sinjuries were mostly healed now, but the pain would live in her for a long time.She’dneed a tender touch until she was back to her old self, and that could take months.She’dearned them, though.Everyfucking day of them.AndI’dmake sure no harm came to her while she healed.
Iwatched the pain and soreness melt from her face as she slipped naked beneath the bubbling water, transforming her into a new woman as the heat seeped into her bones.
“Fuck, that’s amazing,” she muttered, laying her head against the rim asIslid in beside her, still hard as a rock and very much in awe of this stunning creature next to me.Hereye peeked open for a second as she regarded me with curiosity, then closed again with a sigh. “Thisis like the best post-attempted-murder present anyone has ever given me.”
“Hopefullyit’s the only one you ever need,”Ideadpanned, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “Comehere and lay that pretty head on my shoulder, sweetheart.”
Ibreathed in the scent of her shampoo as she nestled herself in the crook of my arm, humming softly as the jets worked their magic on her aches and pains.EvenIfelt the relaxation bleeding into my veins as the bubbles teased my skin, leaving me pinked up and looser thanI’dbeen in a long time.
Ineeded one of these for the apartment–scratch that.Noapartment left to install one in.I’dhave to settle for one in the next house.Imade a mental note to askDomabout installing one and turned my attention back to her.
“Youknow,Kerenza,I–”
Shetipped her head and frowned at me, batting those lashes coquettishly. “You’venever called me that before,River.AmIin trouble?”
Iswallowed a groan of arousal as she slid into my lap, letting the water lift her until she straddled my groin and wrapped her arms around my neck.Itwasn’t howIplanned to start the evening, but as far as plans went, they couldn’t have gone off the rails in a better place.Islipped my hands downward, cupping her ass beneath the water, and was rewarded by the way her throat worked, a soft sigh of approval escaping her parted lips.
“Youkeep this up, and you just might be,MissDiaz.”
Sherocked her hips and rubbed against me like a cat in heat, purring in a wayIwas sure drove most men wild.Itcertainly had me going feral for her. “Youmight have to punish me, then, sir,” she teased, dragging her fingers through the hair at the base of my neck.Ashudder ran through me at the nickname, butIwasn’t one to play the whole dom/sub game.ThatwasDominick’sthing, not mine.Iwanted to make her feel good, wanted tonight to be all about her.
Iwanted to love her without words.
Ineeded to tell her with my body beforeIcould tell her out loud.
“Sweetheart, you’re playing a dangerous game, andI’mnot in the mood for this one tonight.”Iset her off my lap, sliding over to the other side of the water soIcould face her. “Stayover there and give me one of your feet.”
God,Iloved the way she pouted when she wasn’t getting her way.Butshe gave me whatIasked for, and asIdug my thumb into the curve of her arches, she submitted–finally–and rolled her head back again, moaning her approval softly asIsoothed first one, then the other, and worked my way up her calves.
Iwas careful not to rub too hard, or too fast, or focus on one spot too long.Shewas delicate still, as much as she hated the idea, andIwanted her pampered, satisfied, and calm for as long asIcould keep her that way.Untilthe guys called with the all-clear,Iwas to keep her here, in the lap of luxury, and make sure she wanted for nothing.
AjobIwas more than happy to perform.
Whatbetter place than here, in this lavish room, surrounded by all the creature comforts, to have my first time with her?
Whenthe water started to prune her fingers,Imade the decision to call it, and rose from the foamy water, shaking my hair like a dog.Likea picturesque scene from a romanticHallmarkmovie, she tossed her hands in the air and shielded her face from the spray, laughing at my antics like we were two ordinary people on a regular getaway, cutting loose and enjoying the evening.
Imean, aside from being wanted criminals now, we sort of were.
“Comehere,”Iwhispered, holding my arms out for her, and she came willingly, her arms around my neck, hair dripping in those tight ringlets of chestnut that drove me wild, her nippleshardening in the night air. “Icould hold you forever, and it would still not be long enough.”
“You’resuch a sap,River,” she muttered against my throat, snuggling closer asIslipped inside and kicked the door shut behind us.Thesounds of the world faded away, andIheaded for the bedroom, more than ready to make sweet music together between sheets of satin.
“Onlyfor you, sweetheart,”Imumbled, carefully depositing her in the center of the bed. “Now, don’t move, okay?”
Shenodded and bit that lower lip, andIrealizedIwas a fucking goner, head over heels, madly, deeply, truly in love with this woman.I’dmove heaven and earth for her, no questions asked, and not even bat an eye.