Torch(37)

A quick glance down told me what I already knew. Wet, the bra was practically see- through. He wouldn’t need to take it off because it left nothing to the imagination.



He fingered the straps, watching me, and when I made no sound of refusal, his touch became a little bit bolder. He cupped my breasts in his hands, gently massaging them, and edging his fingers just inside the top of the cups.



My breath caught at the unexpected sensations that fired through me. Without thought, my back arched, pushing myself farther into his palms. His thumbs traced a circle around my nipples, then flicked over the hardness, causing my thighs to squeeze together. His playing with my chest was causing an ache in my panties.



Next, his hands splayed my waist, holding me firmly as he dipped his head and began to kiss my chest. His mouth was hot and the water was beginning to turn cool. But I didn’t care. I would stand there under the iciest of water as long as he didn’t stop.



He suckled on my skin, something I didn’t know anyone would want to do, as he slowly made his way lower until he sucked my breast right into his hot mouth.



He used his tongue to massage the nipple, and a groan ripped from my throat.



My hands moved to his head, wanting to hold him there, but he made a sound in his throat reminding me I wasn’t supposed to touch him.



How was I expected to follow those rules when the things he was doing to me were driving me mad?



After he fully endowed attention on one breast, he moved over, bestowing the same exact treatment on the other. By this time, my legs were shaking, my skin was rippled with gooseflesh, and my panties were wet—and not from the water.



The sensations overcoming me were so powerful that I was a little embarrassed.



He lifted his head. “The water’s cold.”



I just nodded, my lips not able to form a response.



He reached around me and shut off the spray. Before pulling away, he dipped his head and kissed me. It was slow and gentle; he coaxed my tongue right out of my mouth and into his.



Then he was wrapping me in a towel and drying off my skin. He paid more attention to some parts than others, but I really didn’t care.



“I’ll be right back. I’ll get us some dry clothes.”



When he was gone, I sank down on the toilet, pressing a hand to my lips. I was falling for him. I was falling so hard and so fast that I didn’t know how to stop it. I didn’t think I could.



Was I ready for this? Would I be able to handle this along with everything else I was dealing with right now?



My head said no.



My heart whispered yes.



The bathroom door opened and he handed me in some clothes and then shut the door behind him. I hurried to strip away what was left on my body, taking a minute to drape the wet items over the curtain rod. Then I hurried to comb out my hair and grabbed up the clothes.



A pair of panties and one of his T-shirts. That’s what he brought me.



I smiled the entire time I dressed.



Thankfully, the bandages around my wrists appeared to be in good shape, barely wet, and I was glad I wasn’t going to have to bother with them tonight. I was feeling too blissful to deal with the pain.



When I stepped out of the bathroom, he was there leaning against the wall, waiting. He was dry and dressed in a pair of basketball shorts and no shirt.



I would never get tired of seeing him without a shirt.



He pushed away from the wall, his eyes sweeping over me in his shirt, and I knew by the look in his eyes he liked what he saw.



My entire life I’ve never been concerned with pleasing others, but I desperately wanted to please him.



“You’re beautiful,” he told me.



“I think you are, too.”



“Goodnight, Freckles.” He kissed me on the forehead, his lips lingering, and then he pulled away.



I caught his arm as he turned. “Holt?”



“Anything,” was his reply.



Butterflies erupted in my belly. “Will you sleep with me?”



He glanced inside his room at the bed, then back at me. “Only if you promise not to try to take advantage of me.” He widened his eyes like he was somehow scandalized.



I laughed. “Please. You’d like it.”



“You’re damn right.”



I followed him into the bedroom. He pulled back the blankets and then gestured for me to get in. Once I was settled, he climbed in behind me, pulling the sheets up around us both.



My body still tingled from the shower, and I rolled to face him, leaning over to kiss him. Finally, my hand was free from the fear of water, and I was able to run it over his bicep and slip across his chest.



“Oh, no you don’t,” he murmured against my lips, placing a hand over mine to stop it in its tracks.