Page 94 of Everlasting Promises

I peel my eyes open. My greedy gaze sails over the tub, and within seconds, I have her shape seared into my brain. Her curves are slight, and her breasts are smaller than I’m used to, but she’s perfection to me.

Utter perfection.

Stunning porcelain skin, turned pink from the warm water, and neat curls sit at the apex of her thighs. Out of politeness, I drag my gaze away from her body to her face. Her long curls are piled haphazardly on top of her head in that sexy way I’ve grown used to seeing, leaving her neck and shoulders exposed. Her clear eyes gaze up at me, and I swallow roughly.

She’s watching me with a mixture of uncertainty and false bravado. I squeeze her fingers, then flip her hand over and lean down to press a kiss to her palm. Goosebumps race across her body, and her pretty pink nipples pebble into tight points. I placeher open palm against the bulge in my sweats. “Do you feel what you’ve done to me, Hope?”

She swallows and nods slowly as she presses harder against my cock—some of her uncertainty fading. This is a gigantic step for her. It’s been a long time since she’s been naked in front of a man. On top of that, I’m a man who isn’t her husband. I need to remember to slow down and let her take the lead.

Pressing her hand against my dick isn’t taking it slow or allowing her to take the lead, but she doesn’t pull away. In fact, she rubs her palm along the hard ridge. “I feel it,” she murmurs.

I move, dislodging her hand to place the bottle of wine on the shelf behind the tub. “What do you need, Cookie?”

She turns around and leans forward, peering over her shoulder, then back up to me. “I was hoping you’d wash my back for me. And maybe sit and talk for a while.”

I nod sharply. “I can do that.” My voice comes out gruff, so I clear my throat.

It may kill me, but I can do it forher.

Dragging the wooden stool over, I sit and push up my sleeves. She watches with rapt attention as each inch of my forearms becomes exposed. Grabbing the sponge and the liquid soap, I add a generous amount and encourage her to lean forward further.

Once I’m satisfied, I glide the sponge across her smooth shoulders, watching as I cover every inch, ensuring I don’t miss a single spot.

“What do you want to talk about?” I ask, tracing the smattering of freckles scattered across her delicate shoulders.

“Anything.” Her back rises and falls with a deep breath. “How was Evan this morning?”

I chuckle. “He was in heaven. Tori had puppies today.”

“Oh, god. I bet he asks me for a dog again when I pick him up from his grandparents tomorrow.” The water around her ripples with her quiet laugh.

I squeeze the sponge, sending suds streaming over each vertebra down her spine, then dip the sponge into the bath, brushing the side of her body with my knuckles. “Probably.”

She looks at me over her shoulder. “I was sorta hoping the time he spends with you and Rex would satisfy his need to have a dog of his own.”

“Stay strong.” I rub the sponge down her arm, then back up to her shoulder, sweeping it across the slight curve to her neck. She tips her head to the side with a sigh, exposing her throat to me like an offering I can’t resist.

I tried.

I lean forward and kiss the pulse point there, relishing the contact for a moment before kissing my way higher until I can press a kiss to the tender spot behind her ear. Her body rises and falls as she sighs softly. I repeat the process on the other side, my erection growing by the second.

The water in the tub sloshes in waves as she turns her body to face me. My eyes follow the line of her throat, to her clavicles and lower still until they land on her pert breasts … the perfect size to suck and lick.

“Kiss me,” she murmurs. Her pupils are blown so wide they almost eclipse the aquamarine I love so much. She’s so damn irresistible, but does she have any idea what she’s asking of me?

I shift on the stool, making more room for my throbbing dick. “If I kiss you, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop, and I promised myself I’d go at your pace. Let you take the lead.” I keep my eyes locked on hers, so she understands what I’m saying. “But if I kiss you, I don’t think I’ll be able to do that. I won’t be able to stop.”

“Then don’t.”

Disappointment shatters every cell in my body, and I pull away, putting much-needed space between us. I push to stand, to give her the privacy she deserves, but she rises to her knees, looking like a wet dream, and shoots her hand out to hold me in place before I can climb to my feet. When she licks her lips and swallows, I watch her throat move with a fascination I’ve never felt before.

“I meant, don’t stop kissing me, Ben.” There’s a strength to her tone that gives me the assurance I need that thisiswhat she truly wants.

I drop my hand to her shoulder, sliding it across the smooth expanse of warm flesh, up the curve to her throat, and grip her gently, reverently … respectfully. She melts beneath my touch, and I slowly lower my face to hers. Our breaths coat each other’s lips, and I savor the seconds leading up to having my mouth on hers again. I stroke my thumb back and forth across her pulse, watching it flutter wildly, then trace my eyes over her soft lips to her stunning eyes.

“Are you sure?” I murmur, studying her closely.

She nods. “So sure.”

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