Page 68 of Your Second Chance
“Careful, or I’ll start asking for the full kit,” he quipped, winking as he turned to leave, pulling the door closed behind him.
The sound of the latch clicking left me in the warmth and quiet of the bathroom. Slowly, I peeled off my clothes, letting the fabric pool at my feet. Earbuds in hand, I grabbed my phone and turned on my favorite moody mix. The warmth of the water wrapped around me, the bubbles soft and soothing against my skin. I closed my eyes, letting the weight of the day melt away.
26
nova
“Are you okay in there, love?”
My eyes popped open, blinking as I took in the soft glow of the bathroom. I had no idea how long I’d been in the tub, how many songs had played, or how many times I’d added hot water to keep the lukewarm bath tolerable.
“I read up and saw you’re not supposed to stay in baths too long, so I wanted to check on you.”
“Come in.” My voice was steady, but my heart swelled with something I wasn’t entirely sure how to name. Gratitude, affection—maybe something even bigger.
I had never felt like this before toward another human who wasn’t my mom or aunt, aside from maybe Luna. As many times as she’d propositioned me, I also never saw her in a sexual light either.
The man standing in front of me, his thick form towering over the edge of the tub, was everything. I felt all of the things for him. Every single one.
“You okay?”
“More than okay.” I gripped the sides of the tub carefully as I stood.
His eyes widened, then flicked away for a moment before he turned quickly, grabbing a towel and holding it up for me, shielding me like it was second nature. I stepped into the warmth of the towel, wrapping it around myself as his hands lingered long enough to steady me.
When I turned to face him again, the words I wanted to say tangled somewhere in my throat. So I didn’t speak. Instead, I reached up, grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him down to me, my lips finding his in a kiss that said everything I couldn’t.
When we finally broke apart, he stayed close, his forehead resting against mine.
“Stay with me tonight,” he murmured. “I missed you yesterday.”
I didn’t overthink it. I nodded, my heart full, and whispered, “Yes.”
I kissed him again, my lips crashing into his with a hunger that made my entire body tremble. The towel slipped lower, barely hanging on, as I slid my hands up his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath his shirt. His breath hitched, his hands finding my hips, gripping me firmly, as if he was grounding himself in the chaos of my touch.
I pushed him backward, my body pressing against his until his back hit the cool tiles of the bathroom wall. Sliding my fingers up his neck, I threaded them into his hair, tugging lightly as my lips parted, inviting him deeper.
“I need this,” I murmured. “Please.”
His hands tightened on my waist, his thumbs brushing against my bare skin, teasing the edge of the towel. He groaned, and I couldn’t stop myself from pressing closer, feeling every inch of his body against mine.
My lips left his, trailing along his jaw, nipping gently as I moved down to the curve of his neck. His breath was uneven, hishead tilting slightly to give me more access. I tasted the salt of his skin, his scent intoxicating.
He slid his fingers up my back, dragging the towel loose with each touch. My bare skin met his heat, the friction unbearable in the best way, and I let out a soft whimper as his hands explored, teasing, kneading, and unraveling me.
“If we start this, love, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop,” he groaned into my mouth.
He gripped my hips like he couldn’t let go, his body trembling with the effort to hold himself back. Before I could respond, he swept me up, lifting me effortlessly off the ground. My heart raced as he carried me out of the bathroom.
The bed caught me softly as he set me down before hovering over me, his gaze burning with an intensity that made me shiver.
“I don’t want to stop.”
He shook his head, his jaw clenching, but his eyes betrayed him. “Nova...”
I leaned forward, the towel barely clinging to me, and slid my hands under his shirt, my fingers brushing against his bare skin. “Please, Ollie,” I whispered, my voice low, almost trembling. “I don’t want to stop.”
His resolve cracked, a quiet groan escaping him as his lips crashed into mine again, his hands gripping my waist tighter, pulling me closer. There was no hesitation and no space for second-guessing. His control was slipping.
