Page 80 of Just Say Yes

Yeah, but do I trust myself?

I made quick work of pulling off my sweater and dropping my jeans. I hesitated only a second before stripping out of my boxer briefs and kicking them to the side. I slid into the hot water behind MJ. Her skin was warm and silky smooth against mine.

My dick was rock hard and pressing into her back. “Sorry,” I grumbled.

MJ’s soft giggle filled the air. “It’s fine.” She settled against my chest and let her head fall to my shoulder. My heart pounded against my ribs, and I focused on her slow, relaxed breathing.

Under the water, my fingers danced across her arms. She was nestled between my thighs, and her nails dragged delicate circles down to my knee and back up again.

“I’m sorry that I yelled at you,” she whispered.

My fingers continued their slow path up and down her arms. “You don’t ever have to apologize to me for being honest. Your emotions don’t scare me.”

After a long stretch of silence, MJ asked, “Is it true? What you said?”

Soothing heat eased my tense muscles. “Hmm?”

Our fingers tangled under the water. “That you still remember what I taste like?” My chest squeezed and my cock twitched against her back.

She giggled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

I kissed her wet shoulder. “Julep, I don’t think I’ll be forgetting anytime soon.”

In the large tub, MJ turned, careful not to slosh water over the edge. Draping her legs over mine, we sat face-to-face with her arms on my shoulders and my hands beneath the water at her hips. Thick bubbles filled the space between us, obscuring her body from view.

She reached up and leaned in for a kiss. It was soft and sweet.

“Thank you for this.” Her wet fingertips smoothed over my mustache.

I smirked. “I knew you liked the ’stache.”

She flattened me with a stare, a smile twitching the corners of her mouth. “You know what I meant.”

I stared into her hazel eyes, appreciating the way everything felt natural. Easy. “You deserve it.”

You deserve everything.

“Now turn back around. I’ll get your hair.”

MJ sucked her lower lip into her mouth to hide her smile, but she did as I told her. I washed and conditioned her hair, and she told me about meeting her father’s other family. I mostly stayed quiet, offering small noises of agreement.

“They were so ...” She blew out a small breath. “Nice.”

I smoothed my hands over her hair as I poured a cup of warm water over her strands to rinse out the conditioner. “That’s good, I guess.”

“You want to know the worst part?” she asked softly. I hummed to encourage her to continue. “One of the girls, Bianca? She had an old picture of my dad and her. He was teaching her how to ride a bike, and he looked sodifferent. Younger, sure, but more like he was thrilled to be there. The only bike I ever got was a hand-me-down from Syl, and it was JP who’d taught me how to ride. We didn’t get that version of Dad, that’s for sure.”

She let out a disbelieving grunt, but it was laced with deep sadness.

How often had MJ been forgotten?

The thought gnawed at me. It was no wonder her emotions were all over the place today.

I moved her wet hair away from her shoulder and dropped a silent kiss on her warm skin. “You are strong, resilient?—”

“And tired.” She sighed, letting her head fall back.

I kissed her again before moving her forward so I could slip out of the tub. I snagged a fluffy oversize towel and wrapped it around my waist before holding one out for her. MJ rose like a siren from forbidden waters, and my mouth went dry. Heat crept up my back and I looked away, still holding out the towel for her. When she stepped closer, I wrapped it around her.

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