“Eventually, they decided to divorce, but it took them five years of fighting to get to that point. My dad told me later that he didn’t want me to have to choose between them for who I wanted to live with, but I think it did more damage than good. I know it’s a good childhood in comparison, but I just wanted to share something about me with you.”
“I appreciate you telling me.” I pause before speaking again. “I’m sorry that you had to go through that, because although you had your parents with you as you grew up, they weren’t there how they should have been. You’re an amazing woman, Alex. I hope you know that.”
“Hmm,” she murmurs.
“You really are.”
“Just like you’re an amazing man? You’ve really gone above and beyond for me these past few weeks, Bastian.”
“It was my fault you were on that horse, Alex. It’s the least I could do.”
She turns to face me, the water sloshing up the sides with the fast movement. “Do you really believe that? That it was your fault?”
“If I hadn’t forced your hand with my plan, you never would have been on that horse.”
Her hands cup my cheeks, her eyes intent on mine. “God, Bastian. It wasn’t your fault. Something spooked the horse. It could have happened to anyone.”
“But it happened toyou.”
“And all I got was a broken arm.” She searches my gaze. “Promise me you’ll stop blaming yourself.”
I don’t know if I can. The guilt weighs on me every time I see her, and none of what I’ve done these past few weeks will ever make up for it.
“Promise me, Bastian.”
“I promise, I’ll try.”
Fuck, I’d promise her anything she asked of me.
She turns back to face the window, and I rinse her hair. We fall quiet again, and as my hands massage the conditioner, I wonder if maybe I can have it all. The girl. The relationship I’ve always closed myself off from. Thefamily.
Once the conditioner has been rinsed out, Alex stands, my attention on her instead of the fantasies flitting through my mind. She’s naked, her body glistening in the light of the bathroom, New York City lit up behind her. My eyes roam over her.
“Eyes up here, big boy.”
My smirk matches her own as I stand up, towering over her. Now we’re both standing in the bath as the water drains out.
I step from the slippery tub, my arm going round her waist as I tug her to me. She’s over my shoulder before she can protest, my hand landing with a crack on her now damp ass cheek. I grab a towel and carry her out of the bathroom.
“I’ll look overmygirlany way I please.”
“I think you need to get your head checked, Mr. Worthington.”
Another crack on her ass.
“I thought we were past that, princess.”
Alex catches me by surprise when she smacks her hand across my ass. She giggles, and fuck if it doesn’t make me feel light as a feather.
“You’ll pay for that, princess.”
When we reach my bedroom, I put her on her feet at the end of the bed, handing her the towel. She wraps it around her body as an almost overwhelming urge to rip it from her has my hands fisting at my side.
“How, exactly will I pay for it?”
I can’t help the huff of a laugh that leaves me. “Not in any way you’d like.”
She folds her arms over her chest, pouting up at me.