Page 93 of Everlasting Promises

“Enjoy your soak, Cookie. If you need anything, just shout.” I wink and close the door, dropping my forehead to the wood. It’s going to be murder knowing she’s sitting in that giant tub for two—completely naked.

Nakedandwet.

I blow out a long breath and adjust my sweats. I’m doing this for her. She needs this. She deserves this time to herself.

I get busy slicing the potatoes for the bake and rinse the broccoli. Rex watches me from his bed, his eyebrows shifting as his eyes follow my every move. “Yeah, buddy. I know. I’ve got it bad.”

“Ben!”

I drop the knife and race upstairs, taking the stairs three at a time. Gripping the doorknob to the bathroom, I almost jerk it open. Then I remember she’s naked and I shouldn’t barge in—as much as I want to. “Yeah? You okay?” I call through the door.

“Yeah. Can I please have some more wine?” I hear the tap turn on and water pouring into the tub.

“Uh, sure. Back in a sec.” I probably should have thought to bring the bottle up with me before. I race back downstairs, grab the bottle, race upstairs, and freeze at the door. “I’m back with the wine.”

“Great,” comes her reply.

How in the hell am I going to do this? She’s in the tub.Naked. I pace back and forth, running my free hand through my hair like a crazy person.

“Are you coming in?” she calls, like it’s no big deal she’s in the tub.

Naked.

Nakedandwet.

Fuck.

“Ah, sure.” I try to think of as many un-sexy thoughts as I can and steel myself to keep my eyes averted from the tub, picturing where everything is in the bathroom so I don’t mistakenly look at her. “Are you covered?” Hopefully, the bubbles I poured in earlier are still intact and will keep her hidden in case I accidentally slip and drop my eyes.

“I’m in the tub. What am I supposed to use to cover myself?” she asks, laughter evident in her voice.

Shit. I roughly push my fingers through my hair, then adjust my sweats. “The bubbles?”Is that too much to ask? I’m hanging on by a thread here.

“I hate to tell you the bad news, but they’re gone. I can cover the important bits with my hands if it’s such a problem,” she shares her solution like I haven’t been at war with myself to be a gentleman when all I’ve wanted to do was barge in and wash her back … and front … and everywhere in between.

I swallow and grip the door handle like my life depends on it, twisting it until the catch releases, almost crushing the metal in my fist. Thesnicksounds like a gunshot, and my heart ricochets inside my chest. Dropping my eyes to the floor, I take the few steps over to the side of the tub. Picking up her empty glass, I turn my back to Hope and fill it, then place it back on the side of the tub, aware that her exposed shoulder is right there and it would be so damn easy to lean down and place a kiss on her warm, wet flesh.

She chuckles behind me, and I’m glad she finds my predicament amusing. “Ben?”

Sweat trickles down my spine, and my dick grows thick at the rasp in her voice. “Yeah?”

“Turn around, please?”

Does she even understand what she’s asking?

She’s fucking naked.

Nakedandwet.

As much as I try to be a decent human being, I’m just a man. A mere mortal who’s itching to turn around and lay my eyes on what I’ve only ever imagined. I clench my empty hand into a fist at my side. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here, Hope. Help a guy out.”

The sound of the water sloshing around in the tub breaks the silence in the room, and her wet hand wraps around my fist, teasing it open. Her fingers slide between mine and she tugs. “Ben,” she murmurs. Her tone on the brink of begging.

I clear my throat and clench my eyes closed, turning toward the tub. I deserve some kind of award for this torture. “Yeah, Cookie?”

Can she see my hard on?Her face has to be at eye level with my dick, for fuck’s sake.

“Open your eyes,” she whispers, and I can’t miss the desperation in her voice.

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