“Was it worth it?” he asked, his breath tickling my ear.
“Yes, it was…wild.”
He gave a huff of amusement and my body jostled against his. “Well, you are a wild thing.” He scooped up a handful of water and dribbled it across my collarbone.
I watched it trickle to my breasts resting just above the water line.
“I hadn’t planned on doing that today though,” he said quietly.
“So why did you?”
“I don’t know, I mean it’s not like I haven’t enjoyed a little spanking fun before. But after what you said earlier, about it being a while since you’ve been with anyone, I’d told myself to take it easy, be gentle with you.” He tucked his thumb beneath my chin and twisted me to face him. “It didn’t hurt in the wrong way, did it?”
“No,” I said, thinking back to the intense orgasm he’d given me as we’d rutted like animals on the floor of his cinema. “You didn’t hurt me in the wrong way, after the initial shock it was…nice.” I giggled suddenly. “It was more than nice.”
He squeezed me a little tighter. “Good, ’cause that’s all I want to do, make you feel nice, and I pride myself in knowing my own strength.”
“Yes, you do.” I studied my painted toenails as I poked them out of the water. If he’d really hit me, put his muscle behind it, I would be a bag of fractures right now. Heck, his opponents on the ice wore loads of padding to protect themselves from his brawn. “Even in the heat of the moment, I didn’t feel like you would lose it and please don’t worry about being easy with me, I’m a big enough girl to tell you no if I don’t like something.”
He sighed in a contented way and cupped my breasts, his thumbs just gliding over my nipples. “Why don’t we get some food organized? I’m starved after all that excitement.”
I laughed. “Yes, me too. Got to keep our strength up.”
After soaping each other down we stepped out of the bath and dried. Rick made a point of applying a cooling, creamy moisturizer to my butt before I slipped on sweats and a T-shirt. It was such a gentle and caring gesture that I almost forgot it was him that had delivered the sting to begin with.
I was admiring the way the muscles in his back rippled as he stooped to drag on his jeans when his cell trilled to life.
“Yep, speaking,” he said, stepping up to the window and fastening his button fly one-handed. “Great, okay, thanks for letting me know.”
He snapped it shut and turned to me. “They’ve picked Laurie up from her apartment. Apparently she confessed instantly to breaking and entering your place. Dale says they’re just waiting for her lawyer.”
I swiped a watermelon balm over my lips. “That’s great news. Does that mean we can go—?”
His cell ringing again interrupted me.
“Yeah, oh hi… Yes, that would be great… Nice so far, yes… Nope, not been up to much… Okay, half an hour.”
I raised my brows questioningly as he shoved the cell into his the front pocket of his jeans.
“That was Mom. She and Dad are on their way over with two of my sisters and their kids.” He shrugged and made a face. “They want to see me on my birthday.”
“Of course they do.” I tugged the knots from my hair and dropped my brush into my purse, zipped it up. “Perhaps you could give me a ride home, if there’s time, or should I call a cab? I’m guessing I can go now if Laurie is in custody?”
He tipped his head and narrowed his eyes. “Of course you can but why do you want to go?”
“It’s your birthday and I’m sure you want some family time.”
“Dana.” He stepped up to me, encased me in his wide arms and hugged me tight. “I want you here. I don’t want you to go anywhere. I was about to suggest a romantic meal at a fabulous little Italian restaurant I know.” He dropped a kiss to my forehead. “I want to spend the rest of the day with you. The night too if you would consider that.”
My heart swelled in my chest. The last thing I wanted to do was go home. I knew I would only sit counting the minutes until I could next spend time with Rick. “But are you sure?” I looked up at him.
“Of course I’m sure.” He looked bemused. “I wouldn’t say it otherwise.”
“But what will you tell your family about me?”
His lips brushed mine as his hands spread on my back, squeezing me close. “Mmm, you taste fruity.”
I frowned.
He grinned. “I’ll introduce you as my girlfriend.”
My heart fluttered. “Girlfriend?” I whispered.