“But, babe, you’re hurt, so no hanky-panky.” He lifted her bandaged wrist. “The water will sting.”
“It’ll be worth it.”
“Come on.” While she watched, he prepped the bath for her and set out fluffy towels. “What else do you need?”
“A way to put up my hair? Clothes to change into?”
“Will a rubber band do? Madison left more clothes, and Bernard washed your bra and panties, so that’s covered.”
Her face went hot, making him grin.
“What?” he teased. “I’m sure Bernard didn’t mind.”
“And if I mind?”
“Too late.” Strange that he could be so concerned for her and also so damned turned on. “Do you need help getting undressed?”
She gave him a look. “No.”
“Then I’ll get your things for you.”
When he returned a minute later, Kennedy was, indeed, naked, and Reyes began wondering if this was such a great idea after all. Just seeing her made him half-hard, but he wasn’t about to—
“Stop it,” she said, taking the band from him, flipping her hair forward and securing it.
He wouldn’t mind seeing her do that a dozen more times—when she wasn’t riddled with bruises. “Er, stop what?”
“Thinking of reasons why we can’t enjoy each other.” She sent him a look so sultry he had to lock his knees. “Just so you know, I need you.”
“Kennedy—”
Her chin lifted. “I feel safer with you. Stronger, too. Being with you is like having everything good rolled up in pleasure. I want that, Reyes. I need to feel alive, and I need you close.”
Damn, he couldn’t breathe. Trying to soothe her, he whispered, “I’m not going to budge from your side, but I don’t want to risk—”
“Did you miss the part where I said I need it?” Her lips trembled before she firmed them. “I need you.”
Yeah, that did it. Whatever control he’d had was just blown to smithereens. He watched her gingerly step into the steamy water, favoring her injured leg. He was used to seeing bruises on himself. On Cade. But on Kennedy?
A light bruise spread out over her right shoulder blade. His dad wouldn’t have seen that one, or the bruise on her left hip. Kennedy had been adamant that she only show so much, and she’d promised that nothing else was hurt.
He understood what she meant. There was hurt, and then there was damaged, like with an injury. On Kennedy, he couldn’t seem to distinguish the two. Even the smallest scratch pained him.
He wanted to surround her with his strength, protect her against the world. And yeah, he wanted to hold her close, sink into her, ride her gently until they both forgot about the near miss.
Ruthlessly he blocked that thought. Just because Kennedy assumed she’d be up to sex, didn’t mean she was.
She sighed as she reclined back, but when the water hit her abraded arm, she hissed a breath.
“Is it bad?”
“No, it just smarts.” She gave him a smile. “I won’t let you slide on sex, so stop looking for a way out.”
What an incredible woman. “Now, how could I possibly deny you?”
“You can’t.” Sinking chin-deep into the water, she said, “Oh, this is nice.”
“Warm enough?” Because now that she was naked and relaxed, he was seriously sweltering. After she nodded, he stripped off his shirt and knelt by the tub.
“There’s room for two.”
True. He’d deliberately chosen a roomy tub for those rare occasions when he wanted a hot soak to relieve stiff muscles. At the moment, it wasn’t his muscles that were stiff, and he wouldn’t crowd her for fear of bumping one of her sore spots. “How about I just enjoy you, instead?”
She eyed him. “Enjoy me how?”
“You stay just like that and let me take care of everything.”
She considered that for a second, then smiled again. “Mmm, that sounds indulgent.”
“For both of us.” Reyes picked up the bar of unscented soap—the kind he used—and worked it into the washcloth until he had a nice lather. Leisurely, he bathed every inch of her, paying special attention to key places, until her breath was choppy and need left her skin rosy.
When he reached beneath the water to touch her, she groaned. Reyes couldn’t look away from her face. He loved seeing her pleasure because it spiked his own. Right now her eyes were heavy, her cheeks flushed and her lips slightly parted.
“Relax your legs, babe.”
Breathing faster, she said, “Maybe we should end the bath.”
“Not yet.” He pressed one finger into her and whispered again, “Relax your legs.”
She swallowed heavily and gradually let her thighs fall open.
“That’s it.” Gently he stroked her, loving the heat of her body, the growing slickness. Her nipples, puckered tight, tempted him until he shifted to lean over her, licking first one, then the other. With a soft sound of need, she locked her hands around his neck and urged him to linger.
While he circled that nipple, playing with her, he withdrew his finger, then pressed in two. Her hips lifted.
“Easy, babe. I don’t want to hurt you.” No matter how he burned, he wouldn’t forget that she’d been injured and was recovering. “Be as still as you can.”
She groaned out a curse, making him smile.
“That’s it,” he praised her, when she relaxed again. He rewarded her by closing his mouth around her nipple, drawing gently first, then sucking harder as he moved his fingers inside her.
He felt her rising need in the way her body trembled, the rush of slippery moisture against his fingers and the sounds she made. Ever so lightly he drifted his thumb over her clitoris, again and again.
Though she locked her fingers in his hair, disregarding his instructions, he couldn’t chide her over that—and wouldn’t have anyway. She was so close to release that he doubted either of them could remember caution.
When the climax hit her, he nearly came, too. Water sloshed out of the tub, but who cared? Her body clenched around his fingers. He lifted his head to watch her expression tighten in honest reaction. So real. So beautiful.
Such a freaking turn-on.
As soon as she quieted, Reyes eased away from her and pulled the drain on the tub. His jeans were soaked so he shucked them off in record time, tossing them over the puddle on the floor. Catching Kennedy under the arms, he lifted her from the tub, set her on her feet and wrapped the fluffy towel around her before picking her up again.