Page 47 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

“I might need help,” she said timidly. A blush rose into her cheeks. “I mean, getting my shirt off.”

“And why does that embarrass you?” A small smile tugged on one side of his mouth. He opened the shower and turned on the water to warm up. “I’m happy to help. I suppose I can close my eyes if you want.”

“You don’t have to do that. I just…it’s a little embarrassing to need help.” It didn’t make sense after everything they had shared, but this felt much more personal.

“Don’t be.” He stood in front of her and leaned close to gently kiss her lips before lifting her T-shirt ever so carefully up and over her arms. She hadn’t been expecting the kiss, but then again, she hadn’t been expecting anything that had to do with Cole—the way he entered her life or the way he surprised her at the hospital.

She knew she was covered in bruises, but he didn’t flinch or stare. Cole acted as if everything was normal, except for treating her with tender care. She appreciated that. A few times in the hospital, a sudden movement had made her flinch. Now, with Cole, she felt safe. Once he had her shirt off, she let her pants slip off and fall to the floor so she was naked.

He paused to look at her.

She’d never felt more on display in her life. She felt like Botticelli’s Birth of Venus standing on a giant oyster shell after having emerged from the sea.

Cole moved toward her slightly and placed his hands on her hips, running his hands along the curves there. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

“Cole, please…”

“Jill, it’s true. Your shape, your soft skin…” Gently, he ran a hand up her side and let it rest at the curve of her breast. He lifted slightly and felt the weight of it while she closed her eyes to savor the sensation.

She shouldn’t be doing this. She was a masochist, she knew, a glutton for punishment, but she couldn’t resist his touch. He leaned in closer and she could feel his heartbeat, his breathing right in front of her. She placed one hand on his smooth, rock-hard chest. He lifted his other hand and cupped both her breasts, squeezing softly and gently pinching her nipples.

“Do you want me to leave?” he whispered.

“No. I mean, maybe. Ugh, I don’t know…” She covered her face with her hands, but he gently took them aside.

“It’s okay.”

No, no it wasn’t okay, she thought. It wasn’t okay to keep going back and forth on her feelings. She had to decide what she wanted and stick to it. She looked up at him, into his deep caramel eyes. “Do you want to join me?” she asked. “I mean, I can’t…I’m not feeling up to…you know, but I might need help. Is that okay?”

“It’s more than okay.” He smiled at her.

She stepped into the warm spray of water, and after stripping down, he followed. His soap smelled refreshingly spring-like, and he lathered his hands on the bar, rubbing the suds up and down her good arm and all over her torso, trying to avoid the bruises. She urged his hands over the lighter ones, and he understood what she wanted, and very softly massaged her entire body. The soft, intimate touches sent tingles all through her, though he never lingered long enough to cross the line of no return.

He washed her all over, then held her under the cascade of warm water. It felt so nice, she wanted to fall asleep right there in his arms, but they used up all the hot water. As it started to cool, Cole turned it off, then helped wrap her in a towel.

Jill could see him struggling with his desire; there was no chance of hiding it given he was naked. He leaned in to kiss her, then pulled back, cursing under his breath. “I want you so bad. I’ve really missed you,” he said.

“It’s only been a day, Cole.”

“Still. Your body, your sweetness, the way you are with the kids, everything, Jill. You just don’t understand.”

She did. She did understand. She’d been struggling from the moment she met him. She reached out and caressed his arm. “I want you too, but I feel so conflicted.”

“No, I want to show you that I can be more, Jill. You don’t need me or sex right now,” he said.

Her eyebrows flew up. “I don’t? And what is it I need, Mr. TDTS?”

He matched her raised eyebrows with his own. “Mr. what?”

She looked down and giggled. “That’s what I dubbed you the first night I saw you in the bar. TDTS. Tall, dark, tattooed and sexy.”

“Ahh, I see. Well, do you want to know what I thought when I saw you?” He placed the lid of the toilet down and sat, looking up at her, holding onto her legs over the towel wrapped around her.

“Let’s see. MPJ?”

“Which is?”

“Miss Plain Jane?”

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