As she bent and reached for her clothes, Hunter grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her body against his. “Listen, I will do whatever it takes to help you see who I am, what you are, and how great we’ll be together. Get in the tub.”
Kata glared at him, then turned to glance at the bathtub. Wisps of steam still rose from the water. He felt the tension leave her shoulders, signaling a modicum of surrender.
“Fine,” she muttered. “But only because that bath looks heavenly.”
Yes, and because she was finally learning that he wouldn’t let her derail him. He also suspected that her arousal was beginning to overcome her reluctance. Her pu**y was still throbbing; he’d bet money on that.
Hunter released her, and she made her way to the tub, sinking into the clear water with a sigh that went straight to his cock.
As she settled into the steaming bath, Hunter climbed in behind her, sitting on the wide ledge above. She stiffened and started to sputter something. Hunter silenced her by laying his palms on her shoulders and massaging away the tension. Seconds later, she turned to butter in his hands. He smiled.
“God, you’re good at that,” she moaned.
“If you’re a good girl, you might find out what else I’m good at.”
Kata shook her head. “You just don’t let up, do you?”
“In case you hadn’t guessed yet, I’m generally a relentless guy. You have to be, in my line of work.”
Before she could say another word, he worked at a nasty knot just under her shoulder blade, then pressed his thumbs up either side of her spine until he reached her neck and began releasing the tightness there. Within minutes, she was totally limp under his hands.
“You always do something redeeming just when I’m ready to slap you,” she mumbled.
He grinned as he reached for the soap. To his relief, Kata didn’t protest when he lifted and washed each arm top and bottom, or when he gathered all the gloriously soft hair in his grip so he could soap up her back. After a quick rinse, he hopped out of the tub and leaned over her, urging her to lie back, then took hold of each leg and bent them at the knees until her feet rested flat on the bottom of the tub. In fact, she didn’t have a hint of defiance left in her body as he gently smoothed the white bar and his hands across her abdomen, over her shoulders, and lingered on her br**sts. Then he edged between her legs. As he’d suspected, she was soaking wet.
Suddenly, she gasped and pulled at his wrist. “I can do that.”
Hunter didn’t budge an inch. “Look at me.” And he didn’t say another word until she obeyed. “Get this through your head. I’m going to take care of you. Kata.”
Biting her lip, she looked at him uncertainly. “It’s not that I don’t want you to touch me, but I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“I never doubted that. Tell me the real problem.”
She looked down at his hand, still covering her pu**y, claiming it. “That’s so . . . intimate.”
“Our relationship should be.”
She looked away, seeming to search for a reply. “Hunter, getting comfortable with someone takes time. I can’t just flip a switch inside me and be ready for whatever—”
“Time isn’t the real stumbling block. Both people have to be open.”
She hesitated a long time, then looked down. “And I’m not.”
“Have I hurt you?”
“No.”
“Would I?” he demanded.
“Physically, no. But you want more than that.” Her gaze was earnest as it met his own. “Trusting someone with your body and trusting someone with your soul are two very different things.”
“Agreed. But so far, you haven’t truly trusted me with either. Or really tried.”
Her eyes slammed shut. Pain pinched her brows. She struggled for a moment. Discomfort etched her face, and a part of him wanted to ease up on her. But he’d be sending the wrong message, and ultimately, not providing what she needed.
Finally, she let go of his wrist hovering over her parted thighs. Triumph slid through him.
Gently, he cleaned her slick female flesh. Kata closed her eyes. Her body remained tense, but she let him take over. When he’d finished, he moved back to massaging her neck, shoulders, mid-back until she wilted bonelessly.