Page 40 of Bound By Fate
When my arms got tired from shampooing, he rinsed my hair for me. I couldn’t get down to my legs because bending hurt from the aches, so he got down on his knees—I have no idea how he did this—and washed them for me.
He was seeing everything. He had to look. There was no way to get around it. My heart squeezed. Daniel and his friends did a number on my body. I hated that those marks would never go away, always reminding me of their abuse.
The water went off, and Dryerson helped me out and covered me with a towel. He was dripping wet and quickly dried himself. I never understood why guys could look so gorgeous with wet hair.
He wrapped the towel around his waist and took his boxers off, his penis making himself known. He picked the boxers up and tossed them in the tub.
“Are you expecting me to do your laundry?” I joked, feeling a little more like me. What was it between us that his presence always soothed me in a way no one else could?
“Hell yeah. I took care of your ass for days now. What’s a pair of underwear?” The chuckle made his shoulders shake as he wrapped a towel around my hair and proceeded to dry me off.
The bathroom was about as big as a postage stamp, and every so often Dryerson cursed under his breath when he knocked into something.
“Babe, we seriously need a bigger bathroom.”
“We…”I emphasized that word. “Don’t need one.”
He stood in front of me, eyes blazing, and my body tingled. It wasn’t just him here in this moment. No, it was him taking care of me. Him being there for me. Him not making me feel like a scarred-up monster. Him … just him. And I really wanted to kiss him.
Turning my head away, I grabbed the toothbrush and toothpaste and scrubbed my teeth. Hopefully by the time I finished, my body would knock off the vibes for him.
He didn’t leave me for a second, standing behind me and bracing me in case I was about to fall. Looking in the bathroom mirror, him behind me, my head came to the middle of his broad chest. His hair was sending drop after drop of water down it. Gorgeous. That was exactly how I’d describe him.
Shaking my head to clear the hot thoughts of the man behind me, I went back to brushing and looking at the basin instead of the mirror.
Spitting and rinsing, I stood straight up. “I have to get dressed.”
“Unfortunately,” he said, sending tingles down my spine, then his touch on my back added to the feeling.
I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs.
Life just wasn’t fair.
“Let’s go,” he responded, opening the door and leading me into my bedroom. Hesitantly I sat on the bed, naked. With a naked Dryerson in front of me.
“Do you want me to help you get dressed, or do you want Ensley?”
“Ensley!” I answered quickly.
He chuckled deep in his throat. “I’ll get her and then get dressed.”
“Good, you do that.” My voice was a bit higher, and I needed him to go away so I could get my walls up again.
I felt my body relax just a bit as he left the room.
“Woman,” Ensley said, coming in and closing the door. “I love my man, but that guy’s chest is defined, and don’t think I missed the tent in his towel.”
“Stop. I’m tired. Can you get me some clothes so I can lay down?”
She went into the dresser and pulled out some underwear, sweatpants, and t-shirt, slammed the drawer shut, and continued. “What is going on with you?” She handed me the clothes.
“I’m sick.”
Her head shook like I was dumb, but I knew exactly what she was talking about. I didn’t have the energy to argue with her.
“You deserve to be happy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t. Just don’t. I’m tired and don’t feel good. Let’s do this another time.” I pulled on the t-shirt and fell to the bed. “Thanks for changing the sheets,” I grumbled, inhaling the fresh smell.
