Page 23 of Hale's Pawn
I smile. “What can I help you with?”
“Nothing.” Oran shrugs.
“Okay, so you’re just what? Going to sit on the edge of the tub like a nanny? Get in.”
“No,” Oran says firmly.
For a second, I just stare at him. I don’t say anything. I lift my leg out and poke him with my big toe. He flicks my toe away but I do it again. Oran looks at me and I gaze right back at him. After a moment, he smiles and I die a little inside. He’s so mesmerizing to look at. Does he know that when he smiles, his entire face transforms? He looks so happy. So carefree. I want to smile like that.
“Please…” I beg. I poke my lip out, knowing that I have one power of persuasion, my pout.
Oran widens his eyes. “Really?” He sighs and instead of removing his sweats and t-shirt, he gets into the bath with them on.
I can’t help but laugh. “You know, you’re actually kind of silly once you get past all that extra-ness that you give off.”
“Extra-ness?” Oran repeats.
“Mmhmm. So, you came in here to sit with me in the tub with clothes on?” I ask again. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“Yeah, I took a break for a couple of minutes,” Oran answers.
“Why?”
“I need a reason to take a fucking break now? What am I, your employee?” Oran answers with no bite in his voice.
“Sheesh, Mr. Hale, that tone will not be tolerated in my company.” I grin.
Oran reaches under the water and pulls my foot out. “You know, I found out something about you.”
“What is that?”
Oran surprises me as he tickles my foot. I can’t help it as I laugh wholeheartedly. “Stop, Stop it. Okay, okay, I quit. I surrender!” I can’t stop laughing, but Oran stops tickling me and kisses the sole of my foot.
“How are you feeling?” he asks. “Come over here, let me see your heart rate.” I roll my eyes and move closer but I take advantage of that. I wait until Oran is distracted monitoring my watch and I slip into his lap. “Ains…” he calls my name softly.
“I just want to be in your lap. You don’t touch me, you won’t even kiss me.”
Oran smirks. “It’s only been a week, you fiend.”
“It’s been a long week.”
Oran’s smirk turns into a full blown grin. “That’s what this is about? You want me to kiss you?” I nod. He rolls his eyes at me but he closes the space between us and kisses me quickly. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him back for another kiss. I want to show him my gratitude for being with me even though I’m annoyed. Oran automatically kisses me back. I moan into his mouth and he pulls away. “Good?”
I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, trying not to grin. I nod. Oran looks at my bottom lip when I pop it back out of my mouth. He licks his lips and he looks down at my exposed breasts that the suds have all melted off of. “Oran…” I call his name huskily and after a moment of silence, he looks up at me.
“Come on, bug, I need to go back to work now,” he says.
I pout, but I nod my head. I stand up right in front of him and he grips my legs. He leans in and for the first time, I’m pretty sure my pussy being right in his face is something he enjoys about my height. Oran’s hands move up to my ass, gripping both cheeks, and he inhales my scent. He exhales and stands, getting out of the tub. He gets me out even though I can do it myself. He wraps a robe around me. “You know I can manage to do this right? I’m good,” I say camly.
“Doesn’t matter,” he says. I shake my head because this is so weird for me.
ORAN
I know that Ainslee is getting annoyed with me checking on her, but I just can’t help it. Even now that I try to work, I can’t help but move around to where she is. After the bath, I changed my clothes and really tried to give her room, but memories of how I had to do this with mom swept over my mind, taking me hostage . She doesn’t get it. I’ve lost someone before and I won’t lose another. Ainslee sighs again as she lays back on the couch and then she sits up. “What do you need? I’ll get it.”
Ainslee glares at me. “I’ve got it. I’m just getting a snack.” I stand too, instead of doing my work. “What are you doing?”
“Helping.”
