Page 110 of The Chase
He went for his coffee again and wrapped his hands around it.
“Tobias?”
“You should take a shower.”
Those few moments of his vulnerability slipped away.
And so did mine...
“Sometimes love, like art, cannot be defined,” I said. “It can’t be contained. Controlled. Owned. It needs its freedom to become fully realized.”
“Would that ever be enough for you?” he asked softly.
I raised my chin proudly and headed for the door. “Tobias, I was referring to me. I’ll take that shower now.”
Inside the bathroom I stripped off my babydoll nightdress. After turning on the faucet and adjusting the temperature I stepped in. That burst of heat felt incredible, the pressure pounding my head and flowing over my nakedness, cleansing my body as the water cascaded.
I’d allowed myself to go there and imagine what a relationship might be like with Tobias. It didn’t take the wisdom of the ages to sense his reluctance to delve into a passionate affair with me. He’d realized our chemistry too. Something was holding him back, something more than just those seeds of doubt sewn by Logan. The self-respect I’d not known I had rose to the surface right when I needed it.
Our relationship also deserved to be on my terms as much as he wanted it to be on his. The challenge of learning more about Tobias had been a delicious pursuit.
Movement caught my eye and through the veil of steam I watched Tobias walk over to the corner chair and sit, crossing a leg over another. He stared at me with an expression void of any emotion.
Merely watching.
Lathering my body, I massaged soap over my heated skin, along my arms and legs, my abdomen and my sex, flitting a glance his way now and again and catching a glint of affection in his expression.
The way his tongue flickered and moistened his lower lip. His glare roamed over me, proving his desire, a stark passion reflected in his fierce green eyes.
I lathered shampoo into my hair.
This felt as sensuous as when we’d made love, a connection so profound I couldn’t define it. His need to be close to me was more endearing than anything I’d experienced and I sensed he drew strength from me, just as I did from him.
Tobias rose from the chair and came over.
He pressed his palm to the glass and held it there. This, this was the reassurance I needed, that he felt the same way about me and no force or fear could keep us apart, and whatever the world might throw at us we’d handle together.
Mirroring, I raised my hand and placed my palm opposite his, my stare captured by his warm gaze, this moment of intimacy so honest.
Water continued to shower over me...
Silently I conveyed I had what it took to guide us where we needed to go and just as he’d asked me to do, I gave over my trust to him.
Tobias’s hand slipped from the glass. And he left the room.
20
With my towel wrapped around me, I strolled into the bedroom feeling refreshed and with a sense of peace. These frantic hours worrying overSt. Joanlooked like they were over.
“Let’s go out for breakfast,” I called out to him. “You only had a slice of pizza. You must be starving.”
My phone rang and Clara’s bright face lit up the screen. I lifted it off the bedside table and yanked it out of its charger.
“Hey,” I said, “how are you?”
“I left a message for you,” she said. “What’s going on over at Christie’s? Didn’t your dad once own that one?”
“St. Joan?”
