Page 54 of Silver Edge
The thought of a warm bath sounded like a good idea. It would ease the aching in my joints and muscles that were still struggling to return to full function. I pushed from the floor, but my arms felt like I’d been doing chin-ups for an hour.
Drake squatted in front of me. “I’m going to help you.”
He waited until I nodded before he reached for my shirt and tugged it over my head, his skin never making contact with mine. I sat there in my thong and utter embarrassment.
“Can you stand?” Drake asked.
I clutched the side of the bed and made it to one knee, then up on two, my legs feeling more like numb stumps. They wobbled beneath me.
“I’m going to carry you to the bathroom.” He stood and opened his arms around me. Slowly, his skin made contact with mine. He paused for a second, then lifted me, and my head fell to the side against his shoulder.
Steam already covered the mirror and the room smelled of fresh lilac. He lowered me to the floor and slipped my thong down before holding my hand to assist me as I climbed into the tub. The warm water welcomed me, the soothing liquid rippling along my skin.
Drake knelt by the tub. “I bought some different shampoo and soap this morning when I went out. This was the mildest scent I could find. I knew you didn’t like mine.”
“It’s perfect.” I straightened my legs, and the trembling subsided. “I like your scents, on you. It’s wrong on me.”
“Have you had an attack this bad before? Is there something else I can do for you?”
“Don’t know. I usually just sit in a corner alone until it passes.”
Drake took a handful of water and dribbled it down my back. “You don’t have to go through this alone anymore,” he said in the raspy tone he usually got when he was upset or worried.
“It’s fine. I’ve been alone a long time. I’m used to it.” My heart told me to send him away. That having someone tend to my needs was a bad idea. I’d either feel smothered, or they’d inevitably get sick of me and leave. Eventually, everyone left, so it would be stupid to get used to anyone being around. “It’s all good now. You can go.”
The water stopped and I assumed he was leaving until the faucet cut back on. “I’m not leaving you. Trust me, I’m not like the guys you used to know. I’m not the guy I used to know. Now, lean back.”
I closed my eyes and arched back until the water poured over my head. It warmed the cold piercing in between my eyes and eased the ache in my neck. His hand slipped under my head, but he was careful where he touched it.
“I want to help you, the way you’ve helped me.” The knobs squealed and the water stopped behind me. “I’m going to shampoo your hair.” He squeezed pale-blue liquid into his hands and rubbed it between his palms. “It might be a little cold.” The lukewarm liquid fell in droplets onto my head, and he massaged my scalp. I sat rigid in the tub, but the rhythmic swirls and perfect pressure of his fingers eased the burning on my scalp.
A small moan fell from my lips, and he continued for several minutes until my body relaxed into the steamy warmth.
“The marks on the back of your neck. They are burns?”
I nodded.
“I would kiss them all away if I could. I would kiss all your troubles away,” Drake said, his voice hoarse with emotion.
I stiffened, feeling exposed and vulnerable in this man’s hands.
“I’m going to rinse your hair now.” His fingers were gone, and I wanted them to return.
The water cut on with a chill to my spine before it heated again. “Sorry, pipes are old.” He leaned me back, holding my head with tender care with one hand and running his fingers through the long strands with the other.
He repeated with conditioner and by the end I was putty in his arms. I leaned into him and he sat cross-legged by the tub and held my head to his chest. Lips pressed to my head, he held me tight. “You’re safe now.”
His phone rang in the bedroom, jolting me back to reality.
I bolted upright and crossed my arms over my chest. “You should get that.”
“In a minute.” He sat for a moment, stroking my hair.
“I’m fine now. Promise.” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.
He handed me the soap and pushed from the ground to stand over me. “I’ll let you do the rest, but don’t stand up until I’m back.” He left me in the tub with a bar of soap, warm water, and a thousand racing thoughts.
I pushed them to the side and finished bathing. The warm water melted the remaining tension from my limbs, and I laid back in the tub. When I lowered my head beneath the surface, Drake’s voice sounded far away instead of in the next room. I closed my eyes and wished we were back in bed with his arms wrapped around me, no more freak-out sessions to interrupt us.
