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She snorted and turned around with a flush of her cheeks. "I'm not going to fall asleep in the tub, Mason. Don't worry. But can you unzip my dress? With my shoulder, I can't really reach it."
The nurse had helped her dress earlier, but Mason's fingers on her back felt better. When he finished, she held the dress up and shut the door in his haunted face. She undressed with shaking hands, too tired to figure out why he'd looked like that.
She stepped into the hot, bubbling water. It was the perfect temperature, and she sank her stiff body into it.
She leaned her head back and sighed. Her body was fine, everything was fine. She told herself this was the last time something like this would happen. She'd had a good stretch during college.
Then there was the drug bust incident in December. And now this.
Memories of the past overwhelmed her, and the tears fell. Mason knocked and poked his head inside.
"You alright—oh." He frowned and stepped inside at the sight of her tears.
She sank into the water, quickly dunking herself before popping back up with a gasp. He sat on the edge of the tub and leaned against the wall with a frown.
The bubbles covered her body in the water, for which she was thankful. She still didn't feel quite ready to be so open about being naked in front of him.
"You're not supposed to get your arm wet. Don't do that," he said, dabbing at her left arm with a dry towel. "The point of the bath was to not get your shoulder wet."
Something inside her snapped and the tears fell. She glared at him angrily. "I don't care. It's just a scratch. It'll be fine."
"The doctor said don't get it wet, so you better listen to her."
She scowled and splashed water at him. "Don't tell me what to do, mister. I'll be fine. I'm a big girl."
His eyes flared as he knelt beside the tub and cupped her cheek. She froze at his touch. "I know you're a big girl, but you want to be a good girl for your master, don't you?"
She whimpered, feeling her body melt under his intense gaze and soft words. He traced his hand down her neck and over her collarbone.
"Yes, master."
"That's better. Now do you need anything? Water? Stiff drink? Ice cream? You name it, and I'll find it. I'll give you anything your heart desires," he said softly.
Her smile was wobbly as she rubbed her eyes. "Thanks, I appreciate it. Maybe just the shampoo and conditioner for now?"
He reached into the shower and sat them beside her. She grabbed the shampoo and began to wash her hair with one hand.
Then he batted her hand away and took over, lathering her hair. She moaned and closed her eyes, feeling him massaging her scalp with repetitive strokes. It was just the right amount of pressure.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.
She sighed, and he tipped her head back. He used a cup to rinse her hair. She felt a tug on her hair, and she winced at the painful reminder of the man and the leather couch.
"I just can't believe I was dumb enough to be drugged and kidnapped."
He rinsed her hair more, the movement methodical and relaxing. "Don't talk about yourself like that. You're not dumb. It wasn't your fault, little bird. It's mine. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have even been in that situation."
She shook her head and water fell into her eyes. She wiped them, and he stopped rinsing her hair. She felt the loofa softly caress her back. When he moved to the front, she took it from him and scrubbed her body hard. The pain was good. It kept her grounded.
"I still would have met her at the gala," she grumbled.
"But she wouldn't have suspected you of anything. She just would've been a random woman you met."
"Damn it, Mason, stop arguing with me. Let me wallow in my stupidity."
Silence stretched between them as tears rolled down her face. She buried her head in her hands and sobbed, drawing her knees up and curling into a ball in the tub.
A large, rough hand drew soothing circles on her back. "Sh, it's ok. I won't leave you alone. No one else will dare hurt you."
