Page 72 of The Future Play

“You just want to see me naked,” I tease.

“Obviously.” He steps in closer, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “Let me help you.”

“Fine. I might need your help to change the sheets afterward too.”

“Whatever you need.” He wraps his arm around my waist again and guides me toward the bathroom.

When we get there, he leans me against the wall, then gets towels from the cabinet.

I make an attempt at getting undressed, but I almost lose my balance several times.

“Need some help?” Jamie asks with a roguish smile.

“Are you that desperate to see me naked? Or did you just want to cop a feel?”

“Why can’t it be both?” He moves closer, the warmth of his body surrounding me. “No. The truth is, I don’t want to risk you falling. You might break a leg. Or a hip. Then we’d have to go to the hospital again. There’d be more needles. And I wouldn’t even get to see you naked.”

“Good to know where your priorities are.”

“You’re my priority.” He says it so simply and smoothly, like it’s nothing. But those words are everything. They mirror the intimacy of this moment.

I bite my lip as I nod, and slowly, he reaches for my shirt.

His fingers trail my navel as he pushes my shirtup, then carefully pulls it over my head. He ends up with his face right in front of my naked boobs—because no one wants to wear a bra when they’re hurling their guts out. I’m sure they’re a sweaty mess of gross, but Jamie doesn’t seem to care. He chokes on a breath, then stands up straight.

“Okay there?” I ask.

“Fine. Just…” He clears his throat. “Don’t hold it against me if youseeanything. I’m staring at the girl of my dreams, and she’s so damn stunning I can barely keep it together.”

My body flushes at the compliment.

I try not to spend too much time thinking about my body. I buy clothes I look good in and don’t pay attention to the size. But sometimes those societal standards of beauty creep in. The same ones I learned from diet commercials growing up. The things that told me I’m not good enough as I am. That there’s something wrong with my body.

I make it a point to call myself beautiful, and say nice things about myself in those moments.

I’ve never felt self-conscious hooking up with someone because they wouldn’t have wanted to hook up with me in the first place if they didn’t find me somewhat attractive. Plus, it’s low stakes.

But with Jamie? I’m weirdly glad him seeing me naked is happening like this. I didn’t have time to feel nervous about my body before he complimented it. And even though I shouldn’t need that affirmation, I want it. Everyone wants their partner to find them attractive—to enjoy their body. And even though he’s not technically mypartneryet, he’s become my person. And that might mean more.

“Wait till you see the whole thing,” I tease in as sultry a voice as I can manage when I’m still way too close to falling over.

His fingers dance along the waistband of my sweats. “Just know, the next time you’re naked in front of me, I’m going to touch you everywhere and enjoy every moment of your beautiful body writhing under my touch.”

I suck in a sharp breath as he pulls my pants down.

“Don’t make promises you won’t keep.”

“Oh, I’ll keep every delicious word.” He sighs as he steps back and looks at me, eyes tracing the length of my body. “You are stunning. So utterly beautiful it’s hard to breathe.”

“That’s probably just because all your blood is rushing south,” I say, eyes drifting to the obvious bulge in his gym shorts.

He cups my cheek and meets my eyes. “Take the compliment. Now, do you have a stool or something you can sit on in the shower?”

“Hall closet. There’s one from after my dad had his knee replaced.”

He nods, then goes to get it.

Once I’m set up, the shower is easy enough. I do all the washing and Jamie uses the detachable shower head to help me rinse off.

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