Page 77 of Taste of Forever
A nap sounded excellent but Ineededto scrub that alley off of my skin. Maybe it was just psychological, but I felt like I couldn’t begin to distance the attack in my mind until every physical trace was gone from my body.
“Is that the bathroom?” I nodded at the door a few feet away.
“Yeah.”
If the nearest bathroom was halfway across the house, I might have rethought it. But an ensuite was doable.
“No, I want to keep going.”
I braced myself for an argument, for Laith insisting that I rest some more, and he wouldn’t have even been wrong.
But his fingers gently drummed on my waist and he said, “Ready to move when you are, Science Barbie.”
I took a few more breaths and made sure my feet were solid under me. “Let’s go, Vampire Ken.”
He barked out a laugh. “That’s great. I love it. When you’re better, we’ll get matching T-shirts.”
With slow, shuffling steps, and one hand on Laith’s arm, I made it to the wall. Using him and the wall for support, I made my way slowly over the threshold.
Laith flicked on the light, revealing a clean and somewhat bare bathroom with a small vanity, toilet, and a standing shower with a simple blue curtain.
“Take a rest and I’ll start the shower,” he said, helping me to the toilet.
“Clean bathroomandyou even have theseat down.” I was already dizzy and out of breath by the time I lowered myself down to the closed lid.
He laughed and pushed the shower curtain aside to turn on the taps. “I’ve been single for a while but I’m notthatterrible of a bachelor.”
“Why?”
“Well, I’m not a neat freak or anything but a clean bathroom’s essential. What’s the point of taking a shower when the rest of the room is all nasty?”
“No, I mean…” I started to laugh and had to catch my breath again. He was so damn…adorable. “Why have you been single for a while?”
“Oh.” He paused, looking away while he tested the water temperature with his fingers. “I don’t know. Just never met someone I was that interested in, I guess.”
“Sorry.” I rubbed my eyes until colored dots swam in my vision. “I don’t know why I asked that.”
“It’s okay. You can ask me anything you want.” He tested the water again, then dropped his hand and stepped away. “Water’s ready. All that stuff is yours.” He pointed at the soap, shampoo, and conditioner in the shower wall cubbie, and then at the stack of towels and clothes neatly folded on the back of the toilet.
The room was already humid and warm, and I couldn’t wait to feel the hot water pelt my skin. I placed one hand on the vanity counter, preparing to stand up.
“Thank you, Laith.”
“Of course.” He started backing toward the door and hesitated. “Are you sure you’ll be okay to…”
I pushed down on the counter, using all my strength to propel myself up from the toilet lid, and immediately began to wobble.
“Easy.” Laith was there in an instant, holding me to soften the hard landing of my butt back on the toilet lid. “You’re good. I got you.”
“God damn it,” I groaned, dropping my forehead on his shoulder. “This is so annoying. I hate being helpless.”
“I know, Heather.” He rubbed my back in sympathy. “You’re so strong and capable. I know this is hard for you.”
There was no teasing and not an ounce of malice in his voice. It was almost a shock that he was being genuine and not making fun of me for being less coordinated than a toddler. But that was who he was.
I squeezed my eyes shut against the hot prick of frustrated tears. I had gotten so close. I couldfeelthe water. I was sitting on the toilet for shit’s sake! But I had too much pride to ask Laith to carry me into the shower, even though I knew he’d do it without a second thought.
“It’s okay to accept help, you know,” he said gently, as if reading my thoughts. “It doesn’t make you weak.”
