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“I’m almost done, then you can lay down and get some rest. Most of these are superficial, and nothing needs stitches.”
I shake my head a little bit, careful not to dislodge his hands as he finishes cleaning the last scrape. “I’m not getting into bed like this. I need to take a shower, but I need to muster up the energy first.”
“Alright. Wait here a second, sweetheart.”
I lean back until my shoulders hit the mirror behind me and rest my eyes. I’m so tired that I actually think I might be able to fall asleep just like this. I startle awake when I hear the water running. My head snaps forward, and I see Nova on his knees, bent over the bathtub.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re too tired to stand, so you’re gonna take a bath. And I’m going to help you.”
25
EVANGELINE
My mouth parts on an exhaled breath. “But?—”
“No buts. C’mon, Evangeline. I know you’re not worried about a little thing like nudity.” He shakes his head with a rueful sort of smile. “Damn, I already miss that sauna though.”
I don’t know how it’s possible, but this man never fails to bring a blush to my cheeks. The sauna memories live rent-free in my head, that’s for sure.
He adds some bubble bath underneath the faucet and drops a tie-dye bath bomb in the water.
“Don’t be shy on me now, sweetheart. Let me help you in?”
“Alright.” I slide off the counter and shimmy out of my clothes in record time. Despite my objections, Nova really does take it seriously. He doesn’t so much as ogle me when I’m standing in front of him in nothing but my birthday suit. Honestly, I can’t say I would be as chivalrous if I were in his situation.
He holds out his hand, palm up, and I settle mine into his. I use his hand for support and step into the pink water. Fragrant bubbles hit my senses, and I close my eyes as I sink into the water’s warm embrace. It smells like sugared lemons.
“Good?”
“Mmm,” I groan and lean back, letting my head fall on the natural curved headrest in the tub.
The slow drag of a loofah against my leg has me cracking an eyelid open. I peer between my half-open lids to see Nova sitting on the side of the bathtub, his arm fully submerged into the water. My breath hitches when he slowly pulls the soapy loofah from my ankle to my knee and back down again. He sinks his other hand inside the water and gently grasps my ankle, lifting my leg out of the water. He cradles my heel like it’s something precious, dragging the loofah all the way down my leg so every single inch of skin is covered in suds.
He shifts his hold, dropping the loofah into the water so he can run his thumb down the middle of my arch. It’s a delicious amount of pressure, and I feel something releasing inside my chest. Like I’ve been coiled so tight, spun even tighter and tighter with every passing hour the last few days. And with every pass of his thumb on my arch, and every drag of the loofah down my skin, it unwinds one rotation.
Nova replaces my leg back in the water and picks up the loofah once more. He repeats the process with my other leg, dragging his thumb down the arch of my right foot, and eliciting more groans from me.
I settle back against the tub, content to let him pamper me like this. I might’ve expected something like this from Bane, but not him.
I quickly realize my mistake the moment the thought floats across my head. I shouldn’t put any of them into any boxes. They’re all multi-dimensional men, and to place them into these stereotypes is a disservice to our relationship.
Nova’s fingertips graze my inner thigh as he drags the loofah upward, pulling me from my musings. My breath stutters inside my chest when he gets close to the apex of my thighs, but he doesn’t attempt to take it there. I think I’m both grateful and disappointed.
Grateful because I don’t think I have the energy to be any sort of active partner to him right now, but disappointed because nothing feels better than his touch. I might’ve made a noise of protest, and Nova might’ve smirked at me, but he kept his movements even as he diligently washes my legs.
He moves on to my arms, taking the time to apply pressure to every single finger, releasing tension in other parts of my body. I have half a mind to ask him if he has some kind of training, because he seems entirely too good at this. But I also don’t really want to open my mouth and ruin this magic little oasis he’s created in here.
I’m not sure if talking would ruin it, but I don’t want to chance it. And besides, I’m enjoying myself too much. I’m drowsy, one step away from actually falling asleep when he curls his hand around my shoulder and guides me forward.
I sit up and pull my knees toward my chest, resting my cheek on them.
“Head back, sweetheart.”
I arch my neck, tipping my face toward the ceiling. Warm water runs down the length of my hair. It feels heavenly, like a mini waterfall cascading over me.
I hear the pop and snick of a bottle and imagine him getting more body wash. But it seems he still has more surprises for me. His hands are in my hair in the next breath, his fingers digging into my hair and massaging my scalp. I was wrong, this is the best feeling ever.
