Page 73 of This Time Around

Yet, it was never real to begin with, all an act I assumed on her part to get me under her thumb.

Rebecca didn’t have a single manipulative bone in her body.If she asked, I’d probably agree to bathe her every day.Only payment necessary would be her smile.

I adjusted how we were sitting, sliding to the other edge of the tub so we were facing each other.I washed her other leg, searing every single inch of her exposed skin into my brain.Her hands brushed my calves, my forearms.She touched me timidly, growing in bravery with every brush of her fingertips.

I finished her leg, leaned forward.Grabbing her by the hips, I yanked her toward me.

“Oh!”Her hands landed on my shoulders, her knees out of the water until I moved from the edge and she could settle her feet at my back.

She was wrapped around me, breasts rubbing against my chest, hardened nipples exposed over the bubbles that sloshed and swayed with my sudden movement.

I brushed small chunks of escaped hair behind her ear, running my finger along the edge of it.

“I want to wash something else.”

Her lips parted and her tongue dipped out, pressed against her top lip.Then her lips curled at the edges and she tipped her head to the side.“Which parts?”

She wanted to tease me?Play coy?I’d win that game.My hand was on her thigh and I slid it farther up until my thumb was one small brush away from her center.

“Here.”Her breath hitched.I kept my hand in the same spot.Rubbing my thumb back and forth on her thigh, close enough to drive her crazy, far enough away to not be where her body wanted me.My other hand slid from her hip and up her waist until a finger ran along the swell of her breasts, outside and under.

“Cooper,” she whispered.Her lids grew heavy, I continued teasing.

“These places?”

“All of it’s okay.”Goddamn.A month ago, she looked at me with a blankness in her expression I could relate to.Lately, those moments of darkness were coming fewer and farther between.Currently, as my finger swiped over her nipple, the pink bud above the bubbles and my other hand dangerously close to her sex, there was nothing dark in her eyes.

Need.It blared at me as fiercely as my own expression held the same.

I reached for the soap, forgoing the loofah.When my hands were lathered, her fingernails dug into my shoulders.I started at her shoulders, running circles over her arms before moving down to my first intended target.I’d get to the rest once I dried her off.

“Tell me what you love most about the ranch.”

Her body jolted.I kept working.

“You’re asking me this now?”Her breaths came in quickened pants, breasts heaving so much they created ripples of water.

“Yes.Talk to me.”I wanted her mind focused on me, only me, but getting her talking could get her out of her head, too.“Did you ever think of leaving?Moving to the city?”

“No,” she breathed.My hands brushed down, barely caressing the swell of her breasts.“Never.The land is in my blood.”

She lived liked it.I admired the hell out of it.

“What do you love the most?If you could only choose one thing.”

Her eyelids fluttered, lips parted.“Cooper.”

I scraped my thumb over her pert nipple.Hard and pink, my mouth watered to taste her.I’d get there soon.

“I’ll keep teasing until you tell me,” I warned, grinning at her.

“You’re evil.”

Every time she teased me, my dick hardened.You only teased people you trusted could take it.It spoke volumes.

I was mesmerized by the feel of her, the scent of the bubbles and Rebecca.I dropped my eyes, focused on pleasing her, driving her slowly to the brink of madness.I moved to her other breast, repeated my movements.

“You’re not talking.”

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