Page 140 of The Bitter Words

“Happy New Year, Livianna.”

“Happy New Year, Jax.” She faces me with a gleam in her eyes. “We’re supposed to kiss now.”

After nearly falling into Livianna’s seductive invitation to make out with her at midnight, she promptly got sick from guzzling so much water.

I’m sure it has more to do with the alcohol and drugs she’s put into her tiny body, but either way, I’ve spent the last hour holding her hair as she empties the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

I can add this to the reasons why I should stay away from her. “Livianna, I’m going to try to carry you off the floor and into bed. Do you think you can make it?”

“Um-hmm, but I’ve got to brush my teeth.”

“You can do that in the morning.”

“No, now.” She lifts her head off the rim of the bowl. “Pretty please.”

“Can you stand?”

“I think so.” She tries to push up but slips.

I pull her up by wrapping my arms under her armpits. “I’ll help you to the counter. There’s an extra toothbrush in a plastic wrapper by the sink.”

We wobble through the en suite. I determine she’s not going to be able to do this on her own, so I sit her on a vanity chair and help her get ready for bed. If I felt too old for her before, this is the nail in the coffin.

The hotel has a variety of products for us to use. I’m shocked at how thorough they’ve been in foreseeing what someone might need.

Once I’ve washed her face with a pre-made cleansing wipe and a wet cloth, she makes me put facial lotion on her. Iproceed to make sure she has clean teeth and brush her soft, long hair.

“You’re the best, Jaxon Crowne.” She smiles as her eyelids fight to stay open.

“I’m happy to be here for you.” Warmth ignites in my heart by taking care of her.

Aftercare is one of my favorite aspects of being with a woman. Too bad I didn’t get to create a scene with Livianna before I got to do this.

I instantly berate myself for letting her affect me this way. I steady my breath and lead her into the bedroom.

She lunges and lands on her stomach on the mattress. “This is heaven.”

“Let me get the bed ready and you can get in.”

“Okay.” She rolls onto her back.

I flip the covers over and she shimmies from side to side. It registers that she’s taking off her dress.

My blood pressure spikes. “Livianna, sleep in your clothes.”

“No. This is real silk. I’ll ruin it if I do.” She pulls the material over her head and drops it to the floor.

She has nothing underneath her clothes. And holy shit, if I’m not growing hard in seconds.

I turn away. “Crawl between the sheets.”

“If you insist.” She does something behind me.

I run my hands down my face. What have I gotten myself into?

She sighs as if she’s yawning. I peek over my shoulder and find her falling asleep with the bedding up to her neck.

Thank God!