When he’d rinsed the shampoo from her hair, Amy turned around, prepared to give him the same treatment. But he didn’t let her. Without a word, he just pulled her into an embrace.
They hugged for a long time, their wet skin slipping against each other’s as the water pounded down on them.
Finally, Amy looked up at Owen’s familiar face. “Thanks,” she whispered.
“For what?”
She just smiled and reached up to press a kiss on his chin.
Out of habit more than anything else, she glanced down toward his groin. He usually got hard when they showered together, although—had she thought about it—Amy would have known better to expect any physical response at the moment.
“Uh,” Owen began dryly, following her gaze to his lack of erection. “I hope you weren’t getting your hopes up.”
Amy laughed and slid one of her hands down to fondle his soft cock. “Nope. I’d already told you—remember?—there’s no way we’re having sex again this weekend.”
“Good. Because, no matter how nicely you touch it, it’s not going to be doing anything for a while.”
Repressing her giggles, Amy let him slip out of her fingers.
She wanted to hug Owen again. Wanted to squeeze him with all her might. Never wanted to let him go.
“I’m getting out,” she said at last, her voice changing back to normal. “Did you want to stay in here any longer?”
Owen shook his head and turned off the water. “No. I’m done.”
Stepping out and reaching for a thick, soft towel, Amy started to dry herself off. “I’m not sure how long I can stand up. I’m going to bed, and I’m not planning to move for a really long time.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me. We’ve got leftover Thai food from last night. We can have that later.”
And that was what did it. His dry, prosaic comment about dinner.
Amy felt a wave of irresistible emotion rise up in her chest—made up of tenderness, familiarity, need, and absolute trust—and there was no way she could hold it back anymore.
She knew how she felt. Knew how he felt.
And it was stupid that both of them were still hesitant about saying it.
So she stopped towel-drying her hair and let the damp towel fall to the floor. Stood in the middle of the bathroom naked and told Owen, “I love you.”
Owen had been drying his legs, but he froze at her words. Naked, bent-over, and staring at her in astonishment, he looked as undignified as she’d ever seen him.
She hid a smile, not even nervous now that she’d finally said the words. “Did you know that?”
Owen’s mouth fell open, and he finally managed to straighten up. It took him a moment, but he recovered enough to say in a semblance of his characteristic, ironic voice. “I was hoping maybe you did.”
He was trying to act cool, but she could see both hot excitement and shattering relief, pulsing just beneath the surface of his composed face.
Amy reached for her bathrobe and pulled it on over her shoulders. She was feeling almost giddy, but she tried to hold herself back from dancing a jig of pure exhilaration. “Well, I do.” She held her breath to hear his response.
He didn’t answer immediately. He just kept staring at her with a blaze of joy in his blue eyes.
Finally, Amy frowned at him in annoyance. She wasn’t afraid of his not returning her feelings, but she certainly didn’t want to have her declaration left hanging in the air. “Well?” she demanded.
Finally, he broke into warm chuckles. “I love you too.”
Her whole body relaxed into a near slump at hearing the words at last. “I don’t know what we’re going to do when you go back to London, but maybe we can work something out.”
His smiled deepened. “I’m going to talk to my supervisor on Monday. Maybe I don’t have to go back.”
She gasped. “What?”
He arched his eyebrows. “They like me, you know. I think they might be able to find a longer-term position here for me.”
“You’d stay here?” Her voice broke on the last word.
“Of course.” He was frowning at her now, looking a little confused. “Didn’t we just admit we love each other? I’d really rather not live on separate continents.”
“But I thought…” She trailed off, so blown away she could barely speak. “Thank you.”
He gave a half shrug. “I love you a lot. I thought you understood that.”
“I do. I mean… Me too.” She felt like she might cry again. Or maybe collapse to the floor. “Why didn’t you say so before?”
His smile was soft and fond now. “I was waiting for you.”