Page 31 of Don't Tempt Me (Nora Jacobs 4)

We don’t speak, and though the moment is intimate, it’s not sexual. Rook is taking care of me and nothing more.

Rook finishes with my hair and grabs my loofah. He turns me to face him, and even though I’m nearly naked in front of him for the first time, his attention is focused on my bloodstained hands. He scrubs them one at a time. His gentle ministrations are so comforting that my eyes fill with tears again. I sniffle, and his eyes flick up to meet mine. His sad smile is as gentle as his touch. “He’ll be okay, Nora.”

Hewill be, I agree silently.But will I?

Rook’s still watching me, waiting for a response. I know agreeing with him is what he wants, so I nod, but I can’t give him more than that. I’m not ready to talk about what’s really scaring me. I’m not ready to explain how evil I am. Not yet. I know I’ll have to soon, but I don’t want to ruin this moment with Rook. I need it.

Rook finishes with my hands and then places them around his neck, pulling our bodies together. The moment we touch, I finally shake off the last of my shock. I squeeze him like he’s the only thing grounding me to reality and bury my face against his neck. He holds me tight and rocks me gently. “Shh,” he coos, even though I’m not crying. “I’ve got you.”

I take a deep, shuddering breath, and the shaking I hadn’t realized I was still doing finally stops. We stand like that for a long minute, beneath the spray of the hot water, and just hold each other. Eventually, Rook starts washing my back. His movements are soft and slow, and suddenly they don’t seem quite so innocent. He gently rubs the soap over my shoulders and down my arms before returning to my back and then, slowly, over the curves of my backside.

I suck in a deep breath and hold it in my lungs when he squats down to clean both of my legs. When he stands back up, he squeezes more soap onto the loofah and spins me around to pin my back against his front. Goose bumps rise on my arms, and I arch my back against him when he starts washing my front. He starts with my shoulders and collarbones, then works his way down, taking his time and caressing every curve I have.

His ministrations ignite an aching need inside me. My head falls back on his shoulder, and a small whimper escapes me. I try to spin around. I need his mouth on mine. But he holds me firmly in place. “Just relax, Nora,” he murmurs. “I want to go there with you, but now’s not the time. Not while you’re so upset and while Oliver is fighting for his life. For now, just let me take care of you.”

He’s right. His words sober me and finally shake the last of my shock away. He finishes washing me, and after I rinse off, I turn around to face him. When he sees the clarity in my eyes, he smiles softly and brushes my cheek with his thumb. “There you are. You back with me now?”

“Yes.” I nod. “Thank you.”

Rook gives me a cheeky grin. “Anytime.”

I roll my eyes, but a blush spreads up the back of my neck and across my cheeks.

Rook gets serious again and asks, “You ready to get out?”

I nod again. “We should check on Oliver.” My voice cracks as emotion clogs my throat again. “Enzo said something about magical poison.”

Rook sighs and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Then let’s go see him.”

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