Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Burn the clothes,” I say to Holden as he gingerly helps me into the shower. “All of them. The mud won’t come all the way out.”
“I’ll trash them,” he confirms as he steps in with me. “I wish I had a stool for you to sit on and get off of that ankle.”
“I’ll lean on you.” I sigh as I plant a hand on his chest and let the hot water run over me. “Holy shit, that feels good. I don’t even want to know if I have spiders in my hair.”
“Uh, I don’t think you do.” I open my eyes and find him watching me with serious blue eyes. “How are you, baby girl?”
“Meh.” I shrug a shoulder and close my eyes again, but he takes my chin in his fingers and makes me open my eyes, focusing on him. “I’m going to be fine.”
“Let’s set some ground rules for this week, wife.”
I sigh, but he keeps talking.
“Number one, when I ask how you are, you tell me the truth, even if you think it’s not what I want to hear or it’ll hurt my feelings.”
“Fine. I hurt, I’m tired, and I might be a little grouchy.”
He nods and helps me soap up my hair.
“Fair enough. Number two, unless it’s in the shower or standing up from the toilet, you don’t walk. I carry you.”
“Hol—”
“I’m not asking, Rosie. I’m telling.” Those eyes flash again, and the muscle in his jaw twitches.
I bite my lower lip. He’s being unreasonable, but he’s also being protective and so sweet and gentle, and I kind of love it.
“Number three.” He urges me to lean back so he can rinse my hair, then he works in some conditioner, and as that sets, we get to work cleaning the rest of me off. This is not a lingering shower. This is just to get us both clean and rid of that hole. I grab a rag and some soap and start washing him off, too, enjoying the way the suds run down his tattoos. I really should ask him to tell me more about them. I wonder when he got this one of a willow tree. “Are you listening?”
“Hmm.”
“Baby girl.”
My eyes raise to his. “I’m listening, husband.”
He pulls in a breath and lets it out slowly.
“God, baby.” His hand covers my throat, and his thumb drifts down my jawline. “God.”
“I’m fine.” Circling his wrist, I drag his hand down to my chest and flatten it over my sternum, pressing my palm over his hand. “Feel that? It’s beating strong, and it’s slowed down. I’m right here, in this moment, with my fucking gorgeous husband, who’s pampering me and washing away a really horrible experience. Stay here with me, okay? Don’t go back there.”
He exhales, his eyelids flutter closed, and he shuffles close to me so he can lower his forehead to mine.
“I love you so much, Millie.”
I grin and drag my hands down his sides. “I know. I love you, too. Now, keep going with the rules, and let’s rinse off so we can snuggle in the bed. I’m really looking forward to that part.”
His lips tip up into a soft smile, and then he shuffles back so we can continue washing each other.
“Where was I?”
“Number three.” I drag the cloth down his hard-as-hell belly and down his cock and then smirk when it stirs. “I’m in no shape right now, but give me a few hours to gain my strength, and I could probably take this for a ride.”
“Cute.” He chuckles low in his chest, and it vibrates through me, spreading more heat and tenderness into me. “I’m not going to fuck you tonight.”
“Party pooper. What’s number three? The suspense is killing me.”
“I don’t know yet,” he admits with a soft sigh. “It’ll come to me.”
“I think you’re tired, too. You have to be. I think we’re pretty clean now, so let’s dry off and get you in bed.”
“It came to me.” He grabs the handle of the showerhead and takes it off so he can rinse himself, including his hair, and then hangs it up again. “No worrying about me.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ve already broken that rule, husband.”
His eyes narrow, but I bat my eyelashes at him, and he just shakes his head.
It takes a little longer than usual to get us dried off, me into loose sweats and a T-shirt, and settled into the bed, but we make it.
And I can’t decide if I’m more tired or hungry.
But then Holden wraps his arms around me, pulls me into his side, and my eyes close.
I guess I’m more tired.
“I’ll take the ice pack off of your ankle in about twenty,” he murmurs against my hair.
“You put an ice pack on me?” I frown against him. I didn’t even feel it.
“You’re so tired, baby.” He kisses me lightly. “Go to sleep. I’ve got you.”