Page 77 of Their Cruel Play
“Yeah, but you still need help,” he growls. He’s a stubborn bastard but I know he cares about me. This isn’t the first time he’s taken care of me after my father got angry.
I lift my arm and find Harper watching me. Her hand rests against her throat. When Caden lifts my shirt, she gasps and covers her mouth. It probably looks worse than it is. My ribs aren’t broken, just bruised. He eases the shirt down my left arm.
What if she decides I’m not worth this? What if she pulls away from me?
Jack goes and stands in front of Harper. “We’ll wait out here if you need any help.”
She stiffens, and her eyes go wide. “What?”
Jack tips up her chin. “Luke needs help, and he needs to explain his ass, so help him with a bath that will soothe his bruised body.”
Her eyes dart to me before returning to him, but she nods and comes into the bathroom, wringing her hands. Caden helps me stand.
“She can help with the rest.” Grabbing the back of my neck, he bumps his forehead against mine and says softly, “Let her in.”
Caden stops at Harper and tips her chin up to meet his eyes. “He’s had a rough night. Go easy on him, little nympho.”
Her head jerks in a nod. He kisses her before leaving the bathroom and shutting the door behind him.
Her brown eyes flash to mine as she walks over and checks the temperature of the bath. “Do you need help with the rest of your clothes?”
I could probably manage, but I won’t deny her help. “Yes, princess.”
Her face softens. She walks over to me. Her hands go to my belt without hesitation and undoes it, sliding it out of the loops. As she works on the button and zipper of my jeans, her breath is harsh against my bare chest. Her thumb brushes over my bruise on my left hip. I suck in a breath at the unexpected jolt of pain.
“Sorry,” she whispers. Her head rests against my chest for a moment.
“It’s not your fault.” Needing to touch her, I lift my hand to stroke her hair. My hand trembles, and I let it fall away as she straightens.
“What happened, Luke?” she asks softly. Carefully she lowers my jeans, helping me take off my shoes and socks, until I stand naked before her. My cock is hard because she’s near me, but she’s not looking me in the eye.
Does she not want to be here? When have I really given her a choice to be here or not? I blow out a breath, ready to step away and let her do as she pleases.
Her fingers ghost over the bruise, sending a shiver coursing down my spine.
“Did it happen at football practice?”
I tip her chin and search her worried brown eyes. I almost wish it had been practice or even Zach and his crew getting one over on me. It would be so much easier to explain. “Get in the bath with me, Harper.”
She turns her back on me. My heart clatters to a stop at the thought of her walking away. She moves her hair over her shoulder. “Undo my zipper, please.”
When I release my breath across her neck, she shivers. I reach for her zipper and lower it, revealing her smooth pale skin. She kicks off her boots and socks, and her dress falls to the floor, leaving her in her bra and panties.
Turning, she shuts off the water. “Practice?”
I swallow as she lifts her hands and ties her hair into a soft knot. I have to touch her. My hands reach out to hold the swells of her hips, trailing my thumb along the elastic of her panties.
“No. Not practice.” I run my hands up her sides and release her bra, pulling her against me, relishing the feel of her skin against mine. Goosebumps raise on her arms, and she presses a kiss against my chest.
No one has ever been tender with me. No girl ever wanted that from me. Harper lifts her eyes to mine, and something shifts in my chest. She’s an enigma.
She lowers her panties and gives me a determined look. Taking my hand, she steps into the bath. She waits for me to step in with her, then she lowers into the bathwater and sits against the back.
“Sit down. You won’t soak anything but your legs like that.” She parts her legs and I lower to sit between them. She draws my back against her.
It feels odd and comforting in the same breath, only because no one has ever held me like this. She wraps her arms around my chest, careful of my side. Her breasts rest against my back and her legs fold around me. She sighs with her cheek against my back.
“What happened tonight, Luke?”
