Page 36 of Shielded Hearts

“Cold?”

“A little.” She burrowed deeper into the blanket draped around her. There was no way the fibers still held the warmth of Colt’s body, but she imagined that they did.

“When we get inside, I’ll draw you a bath.”

Her skin thrummed at the prospect. “That sounds divine. And you don’t even have to heat water on a woodstove.”

When they reached the flight of stairs leading up to the house, she paused and looked back at the lake.

She had lost a lot. From those losses, she’d learned how to live. Stopping to soak in the moment was one of her ways of keeping the memory alive.

Colt stopped too. He didn’t hurry her into the house. Instead, he took in the quiet surroundings along with her.

When she was ready to continue, she squeezed his arm. He threaded his fingers with hers and they mounted the steps to the cabin.

Once they were inside, he set the picnic basket he’d carried on the kitchen counter and went straight to the master bathroom. She trailed behind at a more leisurely pace, enjoying the view of Colt’s muscled body as he leaned over and switched on the tub faucet.

Water trickled out, tinkling in calming music into the modern oval tub. Aspen shrugged the blanket off her shoulders and folded it, then set it aside on the vanity.

Her lover opened a cupboard and withdrew a fancy bottle. When he tipped some fragrant oil into the bath water, she stepped up beside him and dragged in a breath through her nose.

“That smells amazing. What is it?”

He showed her the bottle with a handwritten label. “Something my sister found in town. There’s a night market every weekend.”

“Oh! Clients will love that event!” She pulled out her phone to make a note.

Colt chuckled and placed the bottle back in the cabinet. He extracted a fluffy white towel and draped it over the heated rail. Finally, he flipped a switch on the wall. Warm orange flames came to life in the fireplace, licking at a gas log.

“I’ll leave you to it.”

She set aside her phone and reached for him. “What are you going to do while I relax in this awesome tub in front of the fireplace?”

He directed a lock of her hair behind her ear, a small smile playing on his hard lips. “What would you like me to do?”

She shot a look at the tub and then back to him. “Join me?”

Surprise lifted his dark brows. “You want me to get in the tub with you?”

His question gave her pause. Maybe it was a little too romantic for the likes of the former SEAL, but she wasn’t going to back down now. Her momma always told her to own it.

Taking a step back from him, she reached for the hem of her top. With only a beat of hesitation, she pulled it over her head. Still grasping the fabric, she dropped her arms, letting the cloth graze the floor.

Colt’s eyes hooded as he zigzagged his gaze over her breasts. They filled out the bra cup in the perfect B she’d requested from the surgeon. She could have had any size she wanted, but she only wanted the size she’d been born to have, nothing more, nothing less.

She released the top, and it puddled by her feet. She unfastened her jeans next, aware of the low tingles darting through her belly at taking off her clothes for Colt again.

She wasn’t usually so insatiable, but something about spending time with the hunky man made her body come alive. Soon they’d go their separate ways. She wanted all the good memories she could get.

He whipped off his shirt and tossed it. She followed the arc of the garment as it flew straight into the sink.

“Nice shot.”

He chuckled. “Thanks.” Veins snaked up his strong arms as he reached for his belt. In a few quick moves, he had his belt unbuckled and his fly unzipped.

Behind his tight black underwear, his swollen cock stretched clear up to the waist of his open jeans.

She darted her tongue over her lips, practically tasting that salty-sweet flavor of his precum.

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