the damn thing could hold at least four of me. Easily. And when Ash turned on the water, he used his arm to keep the cold splatters from hitting me as the water poured into the tub.
He’s so considerate.
“Bubbles?” Ash asked.
I looked up at him with groggy eyes. “Are you getting in with me?”
He nodded. “I am.”
“Then, do you like bubbles?”
I watched him tip the bottle over. “I do.”
The water was warm and inviting. The bubbles smelled of vanilla and honeysuckle. They mounted as Ash leaned me up, easing himself into the tub with me. He settled behind me, his legs cradling the whole of my form. I leaned my head against his chest, relishing how his heartbeat felt behind my head. I closed my eyes, drawing in the moment. Committing it to memory before it faded away into obscurity.
This is the best any man has ever treated me.
“Sounds like you’ve been with some real dickheads, then,” Ash said.
My eyes fluttered open. “Hmm?”
“If this is the best a man has ever treated you, then you need to up your standards.”
I paused. “I said that out loud?”
He snickered. “Didn’t mean to?”
I shook my head softly. “Nope.”
When the bubbles and the water covered my breasts, Ash reached forward. He turned off the water and sank down, taking me along with him. I turned to my side and curled against his strength, and his warmth. His arms wrapped around me like a protective jacket, cloaking me off from the rest of the world. I liked this. This thing I had with him. I didn't know what it was, and I didn't know whether it would be more, but I hoped it might go that way.
I hoped things might turn that way.
Good guys like him never go for you.
“Ah, you never know, Hannah,” Ash murmured.
I sighed. “I did it again, didn’t I?”
“Hey, at least I know you can never hide anything from me. That’s reassuring.”
I giggled. “I talk in my sleep, too.”
“So I’ve noticed.”
I looked up at him. “What now?”
He paused. “Uh, well. I mean, it’s just—”
I sat up. “Ash, have you been watching me sleep?”
“I mean, I’m not creeping on you or anything. But sometimes I’ll come downstairs to get something out of your kitchen and hear you murmuring to yourself.”
“Oh.”
He furrowed his brow. “Why do you sound disappointed?”
“I’m not disappointed, you weirdo.”
“Then, why the change of voice?”
I laid my head on his shoulder. “Didn’t you ever think of coming and crawling into bed with me?”
His arm wrapped behind my back. “More times than I can count.”
I smiled. “Well, maybe try doing it next time. You never know what might happen.”
“Mmm, I like the sound of that.”
My fingertips danced against his tattoo on his chest. “Do you have work today?”
“Nothing I can’t get done tomorrow.”
“Wait, so you have to work today?”
I looked up at him and watched him shake his head.
“Like I said, I can get it done tomorrow.”
I paused. “You won’t get in trouble, will you?”
“Nah. I’ll be fine. Besides, Bowser and Link have been off the radar for a few days now. They can’t fault me if I decide not to check in for an afternoon.”
I couldn't believe he blew off work for me. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve it, but an entire day in bed with Ash sounded like heaven. I rested against him and let the bubbles pop against my skin. Every once in a while, he’d swirl bubbles around on my back, or the outside of my thigh. As if he were trying to clean me down. But once the water started growing cold, Ash shifted around.
Before the draining sound of water hit my ears.
“Come on. I’ll order us some food,” he said.
Then, I was sailing in midair again. Cradled in his arms as he walked us into his bedroom.
“Are you not going to give me a choice with anything today?” I asked.
He settled me against his bed. “You can choose what we eat, if you’d like.”
I giggled. “How does pizza sound?”
“Oh, I never turn down a good pizza.”
“Your mattress is going to be soaked, you know.”
He slid in bed next to me. “It doesn’t matter. I need a new one anyway. If it starts smelling funky, gives me a reason to switch it out.”
“Wait, does pizza deliver all the way out here?”
He nodded. “It does when I order from the pizza place the crew invests in.”
“Ah, the perks of being the girlfriend of a—”
The second the word slipped from my mouth; I knew I