Murder_ A Sinful Secrets Romance - Ella James Page 0,128
hand cups my cheek against his chest.
“You’re perfect.” I can feel his lips against my hair. “I didn’t hurt you?” he asks.
“No.” I give a giddy laugh. “Hell, no.”
His legs hug my lower body. I stroke his forehead.
“Let’s get out. This tub is so hard…”
His eyes are tired. His smile is soft. He sits up and scoots us back, so he’s leaning against the back of the tub. Then, with gentle care, he slides out of me.
“Water’s going cold.” He blinks and smiles this funny little smile.
Even as his hand smooths over his thick halfie and I quickly clean myself, I’m dizzied by the most delicious throb.
“That felt amazing,” I murmur.
He leans forward, grabbing my hand and drawing it to his lips. He kisses my fingers, then he stands up, lifting me with him.
He climbs out of the tub ahead of me, thrusting a towel behind the curtain.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Damn—his voice is sexy. I tuck my towel around my chest and step out. Barrett wraps a towel around my hair and kisses my lips.
“You’re so fucking good.” He looks into my eyes.
I smile. “You are.” I can’t resist reaching out to touch one of his curls.
He strokes my jaw. “I like it when you touch me.” His voice sounds lower, rougher than his norm. I realize it’s thick with emotion.
I step closer to him, wrap my arms around his hard back.
“You know you’re supposed to talk or write about your dreams,” I smile up at him, “but maybe I can sex them out of you instead.”
“You volunteering?”
“I think I may be.”
He chuckles. “Sex them.”
“I don’t often say the F-word. Nothing wrong with it, just doesn’t feel right to me.”
He grins. “You’re blushing just from saying ‘the F-word.’”
“You’re dimpling, so there.”
I smack his pec and step to the sink. “I fell asleep last night before I could show you where I keep things.” I open a drawer and get my toothbrush and toothpaste out.
Barrett smiles, crooked and dimpled. “Is that a Nemo toothbrush?”
“Yes. And look, don’t laugh at it, because it’s the only one I have. You can borrow it if you want— have it. And tomorrow I’ll buy both of us new ones.”
His face shutters. My stomach flip-flops. I thought things were going well with us, but—
“You don’t have to use mine. I would totally—”
“I will.”
God—he looks serious. Like he just found out…something awful. I chew my lip.
“Barrett?”
He blinks, still solemn. I step slightly closer to him, and am stunned to see his eyes look glossy.
“Oh…” I reach for him. “Are you—”
He blinks and leans away from me. He smiles, but it’s a half smile—and it’s sad. “I’ll use your toothbrush, Gwenna. I’ll get you another one.”
I realize how he worded that, and I think maybe I understand. “It was the thing I said about getting us both a toothbrush. Too much?” My head throbs. My throat aches. “I get that,” I manage in a steady voice.
He pulls me to his chest so quickly I don’t know what hit me. I feel his big arms lock around me, his cheek press against the top of my head. I feel him take a breath, and then another one, before he whispers, “Not too much.”
I don’t know whose heartbeat I hear: his or my own—but it’s racing.
“Not too much.”
I feel frozen as I press my cheek against his chest. He strokes his big hand up and down my back.
This.
This is what was missing.
This is what I’ve waited for.
I hold him, and he holds me, and warmth seeps into my heart. Words crawl through my mind, but they’re so flimsy, so inadequate. My eyes are closed, and all I feel is his big body around mine. Protecting me—and wanting me.
“Go wait for me in bed, Piglet. When I get in, I’ll rub your back.”
“You figured out my weakness.” I smile against his chest.
“It was easy.”
I run a finger down his abs.
“Another weakness?” He smirks down at me.
“Oh, yes.”
With one more long smile shared between us, I go wait for him in bed. A few minutes later, Bear climbs in behind me, tucking me against him for a long moment before he eases me onto my stomach.
I awaken the next morning to an eyeful of Barrett’s beautiful back, bathed in sunlight. He’s lying on his stomach and he’s reading—
“What is that?”
He gives me sexy side eyes, followed by a hot-as-hell smirk. I lunge at him. He bounces me off his broad back with so much precision, I land right where I was lying to begin