Page 93 of Revive
He offered her an arm to lean on as they went up the stairs. “Xane always has luxury everything.” Sure enough, there were an array of luxury brands occupying the bathroom windowsill. “Hope you don’t mind smelling of Armani.”
“What does that actually smell like?”
Spook held it under her nose, while the bath filled. “Xane,” she said. “It smells like Xane.”
Spook raised his brows, questioningly.
“Yeah, go for it. I mean it certainly doesn’t turn you off.”
“You turn me on whatever you smell like.”
Alle lifted the arm support over her head and let her right arm flop. Luckily Ginny had brought her a top that button fastened down the front, because lifting her arm to get something over her head was a no-go. Spook saw her struggling and helped.
“I’m sure we’ll test that theory out at some point,” she said, letting the warmth and comfort of companionship infuse her sore body. “I can manage to take off my own knickers, naughty boy.”
“They’re not knickers, they’re boy pants. Much harder to rip off.” He gave her a cheeky wink, then about turned to the bath and squeezed shower gel under the running water so that it foamed. “All done,” he announced after another minute or so. “In you go.”
He held her hand so that she didn’t slip.
“Get in with me.”
Alle lay back and watched him undress through the haze of steam billowing off the water. Spook threw her several bemused grins over her scrutiny. Whatever, he was gorgeous, all long, lean muscles and complementary ink. It made her laugh when he wound his hair up into a topknot so that it wouldn’t dip in the water.
“Like what you see?” he asked.
“I really do.”
Naked, he padded towards her, making no attempt to hide any part of himself. “Where do you want me?”
“Behind.” She shuffled forward creating space, then leant back against his chest, as he settled his legs spread either side of her. “I think this must be an extra wide bathtub.”
“Ric probably ordered it based on how easy it would be to photograph an orgy in it.”
Alle frowned at the bright white surfaces. She’d only met Xane’s cousin in passing. He was as blond as Spook, but twice as gruff. His photographs littered the walls of the various cottages and the recording studio. They were all tastefully pornographic. “People have had actual orgies in here?”
She felt Spook shaking behind her in amusement. “Probably not, but I’m sure it’s seen a few make-out sessions. Want me to sponge you?”
Alle relaxed and let him wash her. He was such a dichotomy. Capable of such whirlwind force and also such gentleness. The way he washed her felt more like a massage than an exercise in cleanliness. The warmth of the water and his fingers soothed the aches and stiffness from her joints, while also making her head nod toward the water.
“All done, sleepyhead,” he said having finished shampooing and rinsing her hair.
“I’m not sleepy, I’m just chill.” And thinking. “It’s bugging me that I can’t figure out where I ended up in relation to where we were in the ravine. I can’t map it onto the landscape.”
“Alle, I can show you once you’re well enough if you really want to know. I might tie a rope around you first though. You gave me one hell of a fright, and I’m not desperate to go back there.”
“I gave myself one too. I knew it would hurt the moment my foot slipped. Don’t worry, I don’t think bouncing down jagged rocks is a pursuit I’m aiming to adopt as a permanent hobby.”
Spook leaned in and kissed the back of her neck. His arms wrapped around her middle. “Good to hear it. Anything else rattling around in there?”
“A couple of things.” She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to reveal them. Then again, what good would come of hiding them? “Part of me wishes you’d punched Marshall again when he was trying to have you ejected from the ward. I can’t believe I had to tell two coppers that I like rough sex and having my arse reddened. Talk about embarrassing.” They’d exchanged details of their days during the drive home. “Also, I’m wondering if maybe Ewan’s right, and I should hear Flynn out at some point.”
“If you’re not ready to do that, then don’t push yourself, Alle. You don’t owe him anything.”
Except after this afternoon, she kind of did. “Marsh wouldn’t have left if not for Flynn.”
The statement met with silence.
“Don’t you have anything to say about that?”
