Page 49 of Taming Her

“What are you doing?”

“I was too hot. Restless.”

“You’re just cleansing your system. Takes a few days.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, filling her lungs to the maximum.

“Do you need anything?” he asked.

“Maybe some water.”

“I’ll get you some.”

“I’ll go. You stay in bed.” She turned.

“My job is to care for you.” He stood and scratched the patch of hair at the center of his chest. “You enjoy the fresh air, I’ll be back in a minute.” He rested his hand on her shoulder, briefly, then left the room.

She wondered if there was anyone else in her life who would have gotten out of bed simply to get her a glass of water. Perhaps there was… but probably there wasn’t.

Eventually Ava fell back into a deep and dreamless sleep, glad of the relief from tossing and turning.

When she woke again buttery sunlight was flooding through the window and the clock read after nine.

The house was quiet but instead of going down to the kitchen, she wandered into the bathroom.

After relieving herself, she flicked on the shower.

There was no bath towel, so she grabbed a fluffy white one from the cupboard on the landing.

Without bothering to lock the bathroom door, she stepped beneath the hot cascade of water. Tipping her face, she smoothed her hands over her hair, pushing it back. She blew out a breath, water spraying from her lips, and enjoyed a sense of wellbeing. There was something to be said for not partying into the small hours. Her mind was clear and her energy levels had recharged.

Maybe Griff did have a point.

With her eyes closed she reached forward, searching for his shampoo.

“Hey, let me.”

She spun and her hands landed on a hard, wet chest. “Griff?”

He was in the shower, gloriously naked, and smiling down at her.

The water clung to his hair, slicking it to his brow, and on his chest the small dark curls were flattened. Lower down, above his cock—at a semi—his pubic hair shimmered with droplets.

He held forward a bottle of pink shampoo. “It’s better if you don’t smell like a man.” He raised his eyebrows.

“Where did you…?” She dragged her gaze upward again.

“Get this? From a drawer of my sister’s stuff.” He nudged her shoulder. “Turn around.”

She did as he’d instructed.

Gently he massaged the shampoo into her hair, creating a riot of strawberry-scented foam.

Ava sighed and let her arms hang heavily at her sides. She tipped her head into his touch, appreciating every slow rotation of his fingertips on her scalp. He was thorough and tender. There was no rush, no sense of urgency.

The water sluiced down on them and it was as if they were the only people in the world. The rest of society had faded away. There was just her and Griff, in this shower, in his cottage. She had nowhere else to be, no one else to see.

“Like this,” he whispered, shifting her stance slightly so her head was directly beneath the main showerhead. “I’ll rinse the bubbles out.”

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